Teffi: 'Sobaka' - " Prinyalsya on za menya kruto"

[Robert Chandler]

Dear Edward, and all,

Edward has written to me, “I have not checked my email for a while and am
surprised that no one has replied to you on SEELANGS. Some of the meanings
that you consider can be ascertained only if you include "kruto" there, i.e.
“kruto prinyalsya za”   (e.g., keen on her, appeared passionate). However, I
have a different question; it is a question about your choices. 1. Would you
compare your translation of "Рассказывать об этом сейчас не буду" as "I
don’t propose to tell you about it now" with "I am not going to tell you
about it now"?”
I (Robert) WILL PUT MY ANSWERS IN CAPITALS, FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY.  I
DON’T HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THE ABOVE.  THE TONE AND MEANING ARE
SIMILAR AND I WOUD BE HAPPY WITH EITHER. 2. Considering 6 different Russian
variations: i. А без него жить не могла ii. А без него не могла жить iii. А
жить без него не могла iv. А жить не могла без него v. А не могла без него
жить vi. А не могла жить без него, they all have different emphasis. How
would you render all of these differences into English? Which of the 6
variations is closer to the version that you have proposed? THIS IS VERY
INTERESTING, BUT I AM AFRAID IT IS BEYOND ME, AND I AM STRUGGLING TO FIND
TIME FOR WHAT I ACTUALLY NEED TO TRANSLATE.  BUT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR
ATTENTION TO ONE THING: THE ROLE OF CONTEXT.  THE PARAGRAPH AS I NOW HAVE IT
GOES, “The strangest thing of all is that when I was with him, I felt
repelled by him.  I felt a sharp sense of disgust, as if I were kissing a
corpse. But I was unable to live without him.”  THE WORDS “WITHOUT HIM” COME
VERY SOON AFTER “WITH HIM”  THIS GIVES THEM A GREAT DEAL OF EXTRA EMPHASIS.

VSEGO DOBROGO,

Robert On Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 10:13 AM, Robert Chandler
<kcf19 at dial.pipex.com> wrote: > Dear all, > > Have I understood this
“prinyalsya za” correctly?  The possibilities, as I > see it, are > 1. that
he really seemed keen on her, that he did not waste time, that he > appeared
passionate. > 2. that the meaning is more like “prinyalsya za ee
vospitanie”.  It is clear > from the context that he starts teaching her to
sing his own compositions > when she performs in the Brodyachaya sobaka
café.  Previously she had been > singing, amongst other things, settings of
Kuzmin’s poems. > > Vsego dobrogo, > > Robert > > > Жила я тогда в
меблированных комнатах на Литейной. Туда же переехал и Гарри. > > Принялся
он за меня круто. До сих пор не понимаю — считал ли он меня > богатой, или
действительно увлекся. Отношения у нас были странные. Тоже > «зеленые и
уродливые». Рассказывать об этом сейчас не буду. > > Страннее всего было то,
что, когда я была с ним, я чувствовала к нему > отвращение, острую
гадливость, точно я целуюсь с трупом. А без него жить не > могла. > >      
     At the time I was living in furnished accomodation on Liteiny >
Prospekt.  Harry moved in with me. > >            He latched on to me in a
big way.  I still don’t know whether he > truly fancied me or whether he
just thought I was rich.  Our relationship > was very strange.  ‘Green and
hideous’.  I don’t propose to tell you about > it now. > >            The
strangest thing of all is that when I was with him, I felt > repelled by
him.  I felt a sharp sense of disgust, as if I were kissing a > corpse. But
I was unable to live without him. > > >
------------------------------------------------------------------------- >
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription >
 options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at: >    
               http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/ >
------------------------------------------------------------------------- > 


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------