conuly: (Default)
conuly ([personal profile] conuly) wrote2007-09-07 12:41 am
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On translating Harry Potter into Hebrew

"
As an example, Bar-Hillel points to a conversation at the beginning of Book Seven, in which Mrs. Weasley orders her son, Ron (Harry’s good friend), to clean his room.
Chafing at the order, Ron starts to say, “Why in the name of Merlin’s saggy left …” before he is interrupted by his father, who scolds him not to talk to his mother like that. We never find out what noun Ron was going to use at the end of the sentence. The omission creates a problem for Bar-Hillel because in Hebrew, adjectives are placed after the nouns they modify. Without knowing exactly what item or body part of Merlin’s was saggy and on the left, Bar-Hillel will be hard-pressed to translate Ron’s question without using judicious guesswork.

“I’ll either have to decide on a noun or completely rearrange what he was going to say in some creative way,” Bar-Hillel predicted."

Okay, now, come one now, everybody, 'fess up. I think we all know exactly what item or body part of Merlin's was saggy and on the left, don't we? Indeed, I do believe this is time for a well-placed poll!

[Poll #1051453]

[identity profile] wodhaund.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, when I read that line, I filled in the blank as "...Merlin's saggy, left tit."

No. I don't know why. But I did.
ext_620: (Default)

[identity profile] velvetchamber.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
I pick armpit because that is closest to being a manbreast.

[identity profile] joeymew.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
http://bri-chan.deviantart.com/art/DH-merlin-s-pants-61904861
ext_78: A picture of a plush animal. It looks a bit like a cross between a duck and a platypus. (Default)

[identity profile] pne.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
The first thing I thought of was "butt cheek" (or whatever they're called).

I picked cheek because that seemed closest.
ancarett: Change the World - Jack Layton's Last Letter (Default)

[personal profile] ancarett 2007-09-07 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Saggy Left Tit was my presumption. I'll vote testicle to keep your count consistent!

[identity profile] wakasplat.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I filled it in as "saggy left nut" or "saggy left ball". So, yeah, testicle.

[identity profile] lizziey.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Saggy left big toe. *giggle*

Anyway. Dear. Can you pass me links on mei-tie carries. Not carriers, but the way to tie and carry, aside from the way I already know. (I have one in the process of being customized for me! *yay*)

I don't think Annika will approve of being high on my back as a 2 day old infant. :-p


Thanks you much!

[identity profile] wodhaund.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, when I read that line, I filled in the blank as "...Merlin's saggy, left tit."

No. I don't know why. But I did.
ext_620: (Default)

[identity profile] velvetchamber.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
I pick armpit because that is closest to being a manbreast.

[identity profile] joeymew.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
http://bri-chan.deviantart.com/art/DH-merlin-s-pants-61904861
ext_78: A picture of a plush animal. It looks a bit like a cross between a duck and a platypus. (Default)

[identity profile] pne.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
The first thing I thought of was "butt cheek" (or whatever they're called).

I picked cheek because that seemed closest.
ancarett: (HP Silly 50 Things)

[personal profile] ancarett 2007-09-07 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Saggy Left Tit was my presumption. I'll vote testicle to keep your count consistent!

[identity profile] wakasplat.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I filled it in as "saggy left nut" or "saggy left ball". So, yeah, testicle.

[identity profile] lizziey.livejournal.com 2007-09-07 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Saggy left big toe. *giggle*

Anyway. Dear. Can you pass me links on mei-tie carries. Not carriers, but the way to tie and carry, aside from the way I already know. (I have one in the process of being customized for me! *yay*)

I don't think Annika will approve of being high on my back as a 2 day old infant. :-p


Thanks you much!