GR translation: silver ringing the fields of white

[David Morris]

In conjunction with the word "fields," I would say #2 is more likely
correct: "silver ringing (forming a border around) the fields of white."
 Since the image is a visual more than an aural one.

David Morris

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 9:19 AM, Jochen Stremmel <jstremmel at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Would you say (1) is possible in the phrase "ringing the fields"?
>
> And if there is no chinese homonym for ringing (1) and (2) Mike has to
> decide, which was the reason for (re: translation).
>
> 2016-01-29 16:08 GMT+01:00 David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>:
>
>> 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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