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Re: Wer ist Iris?
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I am sorry to say that in German "acht" is just "eight" and not the imperative form of "achten" (to respect, to pay attention), not even coloquially. The correct imperative of "achten" would be "achte", "achtet" or "achten Sie". As a noun, "die Acht" survives only in old idioms like "in Acht und Bann tun" (to ostracize). "Acht" is an albeit very rare German surname. Currently there is no "Iris Acht" in the telephone directory.
Dieter Zimmer, Berlin
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 5:20 PM
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Wer ist Iris?
Clayton Smith on Iris Acht... Translated,“acht” would have a meaning akin to the authoritative command, “Pay attention!” Given Nabokov’s knowledge of German and penchant for linguistic games, there can be little doubt that he is telling astute readers in no uncertain terms to look at this passage, and specifically Iris Acht, very carefully."
Dear Mr Smith,
Please don't forget the original Iris Acht - - an unfortunate actress who dies young in a wild novel, the victim of a gray villain.
Carolyn Kunin
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Dieter Zimmer, Berlin
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 5:20 PM
Subject: [NABOKV-L] Wer ist Iris?
Clayton Smith on Iris Acht... Translated,“acht” would have a meaning akin to the authoritative command, “Pay attention!” Given Nabokov’s knowledge of German and penchant for linguistic games, there can be little doubt that he is telling astute readers in no uncertain terms to look at this passage, and specifically Iris Acht, very carefully."
Dear Mr Smith,
Please don't forget the original Iris Acht - - an unfortunate actress who dies young in a wild novel, the victim of a gray villain.
Carolyn Kunin
Search the archive Contact the Editors Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"
Visit Zembla View Nabokv-L Policies Manage subscription options
All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/