Translation question: from "Svetlyi prazdnik" by Teffi

[Robert Chandler]

Thank you to everyone who has answered this question - and yes, John, I like your shortened version very much!

Though I'll probably not be quite so radical in my pruning.  Perhaps this:

"She spun on her heels and left the room, strutting off in the manner of all mistresses who have just quarrelled with one of their servants – sticking her chest out, taking quick little steps yet moving slowly."

All the best, Robert

On 23 Dec 2012, at 13:42, John Dunn <John.Dunn at GLASGOW.AC.UK> wrote:

> I suspect you may have answered your own question: dos 'strutting' not in itself describe this manner of walking?
> 
> She spun on her heels and departed, strutting off in the manner of all mistresses who have just quarrelled with one of their servants.
> 
> John Dunn.
> ________________________________________
> From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Robert Chandler [kcf19 at DIAL.PIPEX.COM]
> Sent: 22 December 2012 21:21
> To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
> Subject: [SEELANGS] Translation question: from "Svetlyi prazdnik" by Teffi
> 
> Dear all,
> 
> A young woman, the daughter of the house, has just had a row with the kukharka.  And then:
> Она быстро повернулась и ушла той самой походкой, какой всегда ходят хозяйки, поругавшись с прислугой: маленькими шагами, ступая быстро, но двигаясь медленно, виляя боками и выпятив грудь.
> 
> She spun round on her heels and swaggered (??strutted) off in the manner of a mistress who has quarrelled with a servant: sticking her chest out and swaying her hips, taking quick little steps yet moving slowly.
> 
> I find this all rather odd and hard to imagine.  In any other context I would imagine that виляя боками was meant to be sexy - but in this context that cannot be right, which makes me unhappy with "swaying her hips".
> 
> All the best,  Robert
> 
> Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD
> 
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Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD

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