A question about Bazhov's life, and some translation questions

[Robert Chandler]

Olga, Hugh, Rafael, Svetlana and others who have responded off line,

Many thanks - it has taken me a long time to grasp this Few things are harder to understand in a foreign language than ironical exchanges in a colloquial conversation.  But Olga's explanation below is crystal clear.

And in case this is of interest to others, Mark Lipovetsky has pointed me to a very interesting article of his about Bazhov.  It is included in RUSSIAN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND CULTURE, ed. Marina Balina and Larissa Rudova.

All the best,

Robert 

On 28 Dec 2010, at 21:17, Olga Meerson wrote:

> I agree with Hugh fully: she is laughing but bitterly. Interesting:
> Сами-то не забудьте - мимо похаживайте! 
> It sounds as if she were inviting them over, even if she doesn't seem to mean it but means the exact opposite. The irony, however, is embedded in yet another phenomenon--like a Freudian slip:
> мимо похаживайте at first sounds like захаживайте, когда пойдете мимо -- but actually means the opposite:
> когда пойдете мимо, мимо и идите, a ко мне не заходите. So it is a tongue-in-cheek invitation--like drop by when you are in the area--but not really.
> 
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Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD

tel. +44 207 603 3862





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