GR translation: silver ringing the fields of white

[David Morris]

Again, these offerings are interpretations, not translations.

The translation should simply be the words.  The only questionable word in
this phase is "ringing," which could mean:

1. A ringing sound.
2. A circular (or closed loop) border.

I don't know which makes more sense, which was probably Pynchon's intention.

David Morris

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 8:55 AM, Jochen Stremmel <jstremmel at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Some Google hits like these
>
> the dogwoods ringing the fields bloomed flaming pink
>
> But under the new system, they would grow nitrogen-fixing beans and peas
> along with staple or cash crops such as cassava, ground nuts, sorghum and
> soybeans in rotation in fields ringed by trees newly-planted to prevent
> erosion.
>
> Ringing the fields is a paved trail, and beyond that are woods.
>
> make me consider that P wanted to invoke rather a visual than a sound
> effect (re: translation), meaning the diners' places; quite a clear image
> (although not circular; circular fields being the exception).
>
> 2016-01-29 15:07 GMT+01:00 Monte Davis <montedavis49 at gmail.com>:
>
>> I nodded at your "trying to invoke": it's blurred for me.
>>
>> The white could be banquet tablecloth, napkins, and/or empty dinner
>> plates. But given the typical sizes, shapes, and positions of those, I
>> don't get a clear image of silverware "ringing" either a single diner's
>> place or the table as whole. And reading "ringing as Doctor Who
>> S09E0ringing" a metallic/musical sound doesn't work well, either.
>>
>> The last hundred pages of GR have always been tough for me. Gottfried's
>>  launch and the ending "at the movies" are absolutely great, and there are
>> many other fine things. But for much of those hundred pages, it feels as if
>> Pynchon was exhausted, exalted, or both, trying to pull all the themes at
>> once into crescendo. With every reason and right to be, god knows -- but
>> there are costs in clarity and coherence.
>>
>> On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 4:45 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> V715.36-716-3, P730.9-16   “Cyst salad,” Roger continues, “with little
>>> cheery-red squares of abortion aspic, tossed in a subtle dandruff dressing.”
>>>        There is a sound of well-bred gagging, and a regional sales
>>> manager for ICI leaves hurriedly, spewing a long crescent of lumpy beige
>>> vomit that splatters across the parquetry. Napkins are being raised to
>>> faces all down the table. Silverware is being laid down, silver ringing the
>>> fields of white, a puzzling indecision here again, the same as at Clive
>>> Moss-moon’s office . . . .
>>>
>>> What is "silver ringing the fields of white" trying to invoke here?
>>>
>>
>>
>
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