queries/An-sky

[Alina Wyman]

Dear Michael,

In Belarusian, "lyubka" is a sweetheart, "a dear one" (from "lubaia" --
darling, beloved), especially in folklore. In your context it can be
"girlfriend," "a man with girlfriends / a womanizer."

Best,
Alina Wyman

On Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 1:52 PM, Katz, Michael R. <mkatz at middlebury.edu>wrote:

> Dear colleagues:
>
> I am finishing my annotated translation of S. An-sky's novel "Pionery"
> (1906) and am mystified by three phrases:
>
> 1) An irate father says to his daughter (who is refusing to marry the man
> he has picked out for her):
>
> "Tebe, mozhet byt', okazhetsya bolee podkhodyashchim zhenikh s belymi
> pugovitsami i s 'lyubkami'"?
>
> What could "lyubki" mean in this context?
>
> 2) A yeshiva boy studying read Russian is given a simple story (fable?) to
> read entitled:
>
> "Priznatel'nyi Vanya."
>
> I can't find a source. Any ideas?
>
> 3) One of the lads sings a sad song that begins:
>
> Chto ty, glupyi, coloveika,
> Pod moim zapel oknom?
> Al', ne znaesh', chto evreika
> Obitaet etot dom?
>
> I would be grateful for any hints, suggestions, clues you might have to
> help solve one or more of these puzzles.
>
> Michael Katz
> Middlebury College
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  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/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------