Platonov and God

[Edward M Dumanis]

I like Olga's suggestion as well but "chto li" is not "chto-to." "Chto li" 
means "I('d) really hope!"

Sincerely,

Edward Dumanis <dumanis at buffalo.edu>

On Tue, 13 Jan 2009, Robert Chandler wrote:

> Dear Olga, Sasha and all,
>
> I like the lameness of the last part of Olga's
> "I wish You at least were there somewhere--or something!"
> But I prefer
> "O Lord, Lord, if only you were there somewhere--or something!"
>
> Another possibility, probably not quite so good:
> ŒO Lord, Lord, if only you really were, or something!¹
> The 'really' may be justified by the fact that 'byl' carries far more
> emphasis than 'were'.
>
> Or: ŒO Lord, Lord, if only you were there, or something!¹
>
> I'm less keen on Sasha's "Dear, dear Lord! If only you were
> around...".  It sounds a bit too much as if the speaker is himself trying to
> be funny.  Platonov, of course, may want one of our responses to be
> laughter, but the speaker certainly doesn't.
>
> O, Gospodi, Gospodi, khot¹ by ty byl, chto li!
>
> R.
>
>
>> "I wish You at least were there somewhere--or something!"
>> cf. the longer note I sent you off list.
>> o
>>
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