translation question

[Edward M Dumanis]

I guess I was probably too quick to make the analogy.
I recall now that I heard an explanation similar to Vladimir's explanation
of the origin of the "babie leto" expression.
On the other hand, until today, I thought of the Indian summer expression
as being originated from the same word "red" used for both the autumn
leaves and the skin color.

Edward Dumanis <dumanis at buffalo.edu>


On Mon, 18 Nov 2002, Vladimir Bilenkin wrote:

> Edward M Dumanis wrote:
>
> > Even for "Indian summer" translated as "bab'e leto" with 'a disguised
> > element of bigotry' and with the same idea of not been trustworthy, the
> > target of this bigotry is a different class: women rather than the
> > Indians.
>
> Wow!  I never thought of this expression in these terms.  My grandma used
> to say that those last sunny days in September were called "babie leto"
> because they
> were as short and bitter sweet as woman's last, somewhat wilted beauty and
> love before she is on her
> way to become a babushka.  But then she did not know the ways of politically
> correct thinking.
>
> Vladimir Bilenkin,
> NCSU

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