Babel

[Timothy D. Sergay]

Dear Janneke and SEELANGERs,

    In Odessan slang 
(http://odessaonline.com.ua/go2.php?dir=humor&m2=6&m3=1), "zmeika" evidently 
means "molniia." For Babel, it would seem, these up and coming Odessan 
chanteuses are "lightning flashes" or "glimmers," auguring a bright cultural 
future for the city.

Tim Sergay

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Janneke van de Stadt" <Janneke.vandeStadt at WILLIAMS.EDU>
To: <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 2:45 PM
Subject: [SEELANGS] Babel


>  Dear colleagues,
>
> Can anyone enlighten me on how best to translate this sentence in  Babel's 
> "Odessa"?
>
> "Ia dazhe vizhy malen'kikh, sovsem malen'kikh zmeek,  predveshchaiushchikh 
> griadushchee--odesskikh pevits"
>
> I'm interested in how to render "zmeek," which has been translated by 
> Constantine and Hayward as "signs" and "girls."
>
> Many thanks!
>
> Janneke
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------