In The Cyberiad, how did the letter n manifest in Polish?
The short story “How the World Was Saved”, from Stanislaw Lem’s The Cyberiad, opens as follows:
One day Trurl the constructor put together a machine that could create anything starting with n. When it was ready, he tried it out, ordering it to make needles, then nankeens and negligees, which it did, then nail the lot to narghiles filled with nepenthe and numerous other narcotics. The machine carried out his instructions to the letter. Still not completely sure of its ability, he had it produce, one after the other, nimbuses, noodles, nuclei, neutrons, naphtha, noses, nymphs, naiads, and natrium.
This paragraph seems highly coupled to the English language, but the book was originally published in Polish. Do all these words also start with n in Polish? Did the original use a different letter? What choices did the translator have to make, and did this change the meaning of the text?
translation stanislaw-lem
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
add a comment |
The short story “How the World Was Saved”, from Stanislaw Lem’s The Cyberiad, opens as follows:
One day Trurl the constructor put together a machine that could create anything starting with n. When it was ready, he tried it out, ordering it to make needles, then nankeens and negligees, which it did, then nail the lot to narghiles filled with nepenthe and numerous other narcotics. The machine carried out his instructions to the letter. Still not completely sure of its ability, he had it produce, one after the other, nimbuses, noodles, nuclei, neutrons, naphtha, noses, nymphs, naiads, and natrium.
This paragraph seems highly coupled to the English language, but the book was originally published in Polish. Do all these words also start with n in Polish? Did the original use a different letter? What choices did the translator have to make, and did this change the meaning of the text?
translation stanislaw-lem
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
5
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
2
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52
add a comment |
The short story “How the World Was Saved”, from Stanislaw Lem’s The Cyberiad, opens as follows:
One day Trurl the constructor put together a machine that could create anything starting with n. When it was ready, he tried it out, ordering it to make needles, then nankeens and negligees, which it did, then nail the lot to narghiles filled with nepenthe and numerous other narcotics. The machine carried out his instructions to the letter. Still not completely sure of its ability, he had it produce, one after the other, nimbuses, noodles, nuclei, neutrons, naphtha, noses, nymphs, naiads, and natrium.
This paragraph seems highly coupled to the English language, but the book was originally published in Polish. Do all these words also start with n in Polish? Did the original use a different letter? What choices did the translator have to make, and did this change the meaning of the text?
translation stanislaw-lem
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
The short story “How the World Was Saved”, from Stanislaw Lem’s The Cyberiad, opens as follows:
One day Trurl the constructor put together a machine that could create anything starting with n. When it was ready, he tried it out, ordering it to make needles, then nankeens and negligees, which it did, then nail the lot to narghiles filled with nepenthe and numerous other narcotics. The machine carried out his instructions to the letter. Still not completely sure of its ability, he had it produce, one after the other, nimbuses, noodles, nuclei, neutrons, naphtha, noses, nymphs, naiads, and natrium.
This paragraph seems highly coupled to the English language, but the book was originally published in Polish. Do all these words also start with n in Polish? Did the original use a different letter? What choices did the translator have to make, and did this change the meaning of the text?
translation stanislaw-lem
translation stanislaw-lem
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
edited Nov 12 '18 at 8:34
Jenayah
14.3k473107
14.3k473107
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
asked Nov 12 '18 at 8:19
jl6
1685
1685
5
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
2
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52
add a comment |
5
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
2
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52
5
5
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
2
2
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The translator for this, alas paywalled, version seems to have selected similar items in Polish beginning with the letter n (thread for needles, etc)
Konstruktor Trurl sporządził raz maszynę, która umiała robić wszystko
na literę n. Kiedy była gotowa, na próbę kazał jej zrobić nici, potem
nanizać je na naparstki, które też zrobiła, następnie wrzucić
wszystkie do sporządzonej nory, otoczonej natryskami, nastawniami i
naparami. Wykonała polecenie co do joty, ale ponieważ nie był jeszcze
pewny jej działania, kolejno musiała zrobić nimby, nausznice,
neutrony, nurty, nosy, nimfy i natrium. Tego ostatniego nie umiała, i
Trurl, bardzo zmartwiony, kazał się jej tłumaczyć.
Constructor Trurl once made a machine that was able to do everything
as a letter n. When it was ready, he tried to make her a thread, then
thread it on thimbles, which she did, then throw it all into the
burrow, surrounded by showers, settings and infusions. She commanded
it to the letter, but since he was not yet sure of its operation, she
would have to make nimbs, ear-rings, neutrons, currents, noses, nymphs
and natrium. She could not do the latter, and Trurl, very worried,
told her to explain why.
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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The translator for this, alas paywalled, version seems to have selected similar items in Polish beginning with the letter n (thread for needles, etc)
Konstruktor Trurl sporządził raz maszynę, która umiała robić wszystko
na literę n. Kiedy była gotowa, na próbę kazał jej zrobić nici, potem
nanizać je na naparstki, które też zrobiła, następnie wrzucić
wszystkie do sporządzonej nory, otoczonej natryskami, nastawniami i
naparami. Wykonała polecenie co do joty, ale ponieważ nie był jeszcze
pewny jej działania, kolejno musiała zrobić nimby, nausznice,
neutrony, nurty, nosy, nimfy i natrium. Tego ostatniego nie umiała, i
Trurl, bardzo zmartwiony, kazał się jej tłumaczyć.
Constructor Trurl once made a machine that was able to do everything
as a letter n. When it was ready, he tried to make her a thread, then
thread it on thimbles, which she did, then throw it all into the
burrow, surrounded by showers, settings and infusions. She commanded
it to the letter, but since he was not yet sure of its operation, she
would have to make nimbs, ear-rings, neutrons, currents, noses, nymphs
and natrium. She could not do the latter, and Trurl, very worried,
told her to explain why.
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
add a comment |
The translator for this, alas paywalled, version seems to have selected similar items in Polish beginning with the letter n (thread for needles, etc)
Konstruktor Trurl sporządził raz maszynę, która umiała robić wszystko
na literę n. Kiedy była gotowa, na próbę kazał jej zrobić nici, potem
nanizać je na naparstki, które też zrobiła, następnie wrzucić
wszystkie do sporządzonej nory, otoczonej natryskami, nastawniami i
naparami. Wykonała polecenie co do joty, ale ponieważ nie był jeszcze
pewny jej działania, kolejno musiała zrobić nimby, nausznice,
neutrony, nurty, nosy, nimfy i natrium. Tego ostatniego nie umiała, i
Trurl, bardzo zmartwiony, kazał się jej tłumaczyć.
Constructor Trurl once made a machine that was able to do everything
as a letter n. When it was ready, he tried to make her a thread, then
thread it on thimbles, which she did, then throw it all into the
burrow, surrounded by showers, settings and infusions. She commanded
it to the letter, but since he was not yet sure of its operation, she
would have to make nimbs, ear-rings, neutrons, currents, noses, nymphs
and natrium. She could not do the latter, and Trurl, very worried,
told her to explain why.
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
add a comment |
The translator for this, alas paywalled, version seems to have selected similar items in Polish beginning with the letter n (thread for needles, etc)
Konstruktor Trurl sporządził raz maszynę, która umiała robić wszystko
na literę n. Kiedy była gotowa, na próbę kazał jej zrobić nici, potem
nanizać je na naparstki, które też zrobiła, następnie wrzucić
wszystkie do sporządzonej nory, otoczonej natryskami, nastawniami i
naparami. Wykonała polecenie co do joty, ale ponieważ nie był jeszcze
pewny jej działania, kolejno musiała zrobić nimby, nausznice,
neutrony, nurty, nosy, nimfy i natrium. Tego ostatniego nie umiała, i
Trurl, bardzo zmartwiony, kazał się jej tłumaczyć.
Constructor Trurl once made a machine that was able to do everything
as a letter n. When it was ready, he tried to make her a thread, then
thread it on thimbles, which she did, then throw it all into the
burrow, surrounded by showers, settings and infusions. She commanded
it to the letter, but since he was not yet sure of its operation, she
would have to make nimbs, ear-rings, neutrons, currents, noses, nymphs
and natrium. She could not do the latter, and Trurl, very worried,
told her to explain why.
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
The translator for this, alas paywalled, version seems to have selected similar items in Polish beginning with the letter n (thread for needles, etc)
Konstruktor Trurl sporządził raz maszynę, która umiała robić wszystko
na literę n. Kiedy była gotowa, na próbę kazał jej zrobić nici, potem
nanizać je na naparstki, które też zrobiła, następnie wrzucić
wszystkie do sporządzonej nory, otoczonej natryskami, nastawniami i
naparami. Wykonała polecenie co do joty, ale ponieważ nie był jeszcze
pewny jej działania, kolejno musiała zrobić nimby, nausznice,
neutrony, nurty, nosy, nimfy i natrium. Tego ostatniego nie umiała, i
Trurl, bardzo zmartwiony, kazał się jej tłumaczyć.
Constructor Trurl once made a machine that was able to do everything
as a letter n. When it was ready, he tried to make her a thread, then
thread it on thimbles, which she did, then throw it all into the
burrow, surrounded by showers, settings and infusions. She commanded
it to the letter, but since he was not yet sure of its operation, she
would have to make nimbs, ear-rings, neutrons, currents, noses, nymphs
and natrium. She could not do the latter, and Trurl, very worried,
told her to explain why.
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
edited Nov 12 '18 at 13:03
Community♦
1
1
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
answered Nov 12 '18 at 9:08
Valorum
395k10228623100
395k10228623100
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
add a comment |
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
3
3
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
Just to add - the last thing the machine was supposed to do was "nic" - nothing.
– Yasskier
Nov 12 '18 at 9:55
add a comment |
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5
Douglas Hofstadter’s monumental (and English language despite its title) work on translation Le Ton Beau de Marot discusses (among many many other things) the issues with translating this specific short story.
– Mike Scott
Nov 12 '18 at 8:27
2
I cannot say anything about the original, but when it were translated to Swedish everything created begun with the letter i, probably because the last one was 'inget' = nothing. It is likely that the English translator did something similar and used whatever letter that fit best.
– Bjorn Eriksson
Nov 12 '18 at 8:52