Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010455, Thu, 28 Oct 2004 18:45:41 -0700

Subject
Re: Fwd: ADA: hysteria - hysteritis
Date
Body
Hi, Tomasz

I couldn´t find the pun.
Also I don´t understand why the correct translation should be "hysteritis",
instead of "hysteria". I always understood that without wearing panties and
riding freely on the branches Ada´s body should carry lots of webs and
moss.I never thought that she´d be unhealthy, only dirty.
Jansy

----- Original Message -----
From: Jansy Berndt de Souza Mello <jansy@aetern.us>
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2004 8:03 PM
Subject: Fwd: ADA: hysteria - hysteritis


> While translating Ada into Polish, I've noticed in my notes a pun,
> unnoticed in Boyds' Annotations to Ada.
>
> ADA Part 1, Chapter 15, 95.09-11
> "when Van removed a silk thread of larva web from his lip and remarked
> that such negligence of attire was a form of hysteria."
>
> In my opinion, what Van actually has in mind is hysteritis, inflamation of
> uterus. It might not be a major issue, but every translator of Ada should
> take it into account, I think. I'm actually punning on some other
> affliction, but still.
>
> Cheers,
> Tomasz
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
>

----- End forwarded message -----