GR translation: silver ringing the fields of white

[Mike Jing]

Indeed they are, although as I mentioned before, interpretations do
sometimes affect word choice based on their connotations.  Also, sometimes
I'm just curious and the question may not have any direct effect on the
translation, but I'm keeping them all under the same banner for future
reference.

Also, many of my questions arise when I think the published translation has
made a mistake of some kind but would like to confirm my suspicion.  In
this case though, I'm quite confident that the second meaning is the
correct one.  I'm just curious if there is some reference behind the image
that I'm not aware of.


On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 10:08 AM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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