translation question

[VANCHU, ANTHONY J. (JSC-AH) (TTI)]

To that end, though the pejorative meaning of the phrase "Indian giver" is
undeniable, I wonder if its origin might not be connected with the practice
among some Native American tribes know as potlatch.  Potlatch (as I recall
from some undergrad anthropology courses) involved the exchange of all sorts
of items, many of which would be traded back.  The importance of the
exchange(s) was not the inherent or perceived value of the item exchanged,
but rather the contact and social bonds that the exchange(s) fostered
between the groups involved.  This practice, however, as perceived by
non-Native Americans--more interested in the acquisition of items of
value--was a negative pheonomenon.

Tony Vanchu


-----Original Message-----
From: Alina Israeli [mailto:aisrael at AMERICAN.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 12:02 AM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] translation question


With all the bab'e leto discussion we got away from the subject.

While "Indian giver" to my knowledge doesn't exist in Russian, I would
suggest for translation purposes

        Bojtes' danajcev dary prinosjashchix.



As for bab'e leto, it's not such bad or offensive thing in either language.
In English, according to my trusted Cambridge Dictionary, it also means 'a
pleasant or successful time nearly at the end of a particular period, such
as the end of someone's life'. If it's "pleasant" or "successful" it
couldn't be too offensive.

As for the Russian, think of it in conjunction with

"sorok pjat', sorok pjat', babka jagodka opjat'" (or something like that),
so it is like second wind in woman's life (as some female Prime-ministers
have proven).

AI

_____________
Alina Israeli
LFS, American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016

phone:  (202) 885-2387
fax:    (202) 885-1076

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