The moody blogger is back. I have recently recieved advice that I should write about specific topics so as to increase my viewership. I stubbornly resist the idea. Let my blog be the one un-commercial activity in the world that doesn't have a "target audience". Hear! Hear!
Life stumbles along and drags me with it. I have taken refuge in writing poetry more often and reading it seldom. And coffee- from one of those few who hated it I am steadily joining the ranks of the millions who love it.
For the past few days I have been paying extra attention to literal translations from hindi to english. Started when Dhoni (yes, of the MS variety) on an interview said "I thought ki I'll play eight - ten balls"- now something was not quite right with that..8-10 balls...no..shouldn't it be 9-10! then it struck me .."maine socha ki mein aat-dus ball kheloonga"
Then, In a creative writing competetion, at the "literary fest", if you pls of IIT delhi. Use this line in a story of your own "......and suddenly his sleep broke..." ("achanak uski neend toot gayi")
then ofcourse there are the usual .."drive slowly slowly" (dheere-dheere) and "he has no character"
Sometimes I wonder if some years hence, Oxford will incorporate these words n phrases in thier dictionaries etc. After all we do have one of the largest english speaking populations in the world...and here in India, the lines are blurring!
"They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps. "
- William Shakespeare "Love's Labour's Lost"
Life stumbles along and drags me with it. I have taken refuge in writing poetry more often and reading it seldom. And coffee- from one of those few who hated it I am steadily joining the ranks of the millions who love it.
For the past few days I have been paying extra attention to literal translations from hindi to english. Started when Dhoni (yes, of the MS variety) on an interview said "I thought ki I'll play eight - ten balls"- now something was not quite right with that..8-10 balls...no..shouldn't it be 9-10! then it struck me .."maine socha ki mein aat-dus ball kheloonga"
Then, In a creative writing competetion, at the "literary fest", if you pls of IIT delhi. Use this line in a story of your own "......and suddenly his sleep broke..." ("achanak uski neend toot gayi")
then ofcourse there are the usual .."drive slowly slowly" (dheere-dheere) and "he has no character"
Sometimes I wonder if some years hence, Oxford will incorporate these words n phrases in thier dictionaries etc. After all we do have one of the largest english speaking populations in the world...and here in India, the lines are blurring!
"They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps. "
- William Shakespeare "Love's Labour's Lost"
posted by inconsequential at 9:22 am
0 comments
