tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post2627855502766451796..comments2024-03-28T10:23:33.705-07:00Comments on Rogue Strands: English is not a trapMatthew Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-51154145382747217382016-04-19T13:59:58.923-07:002016-04-19T13:59:58.923-07:00So many textures in so many languages! We limit ou...So many textures in so many languages! We limit ourselves when we ignore them.Matthew Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-9982959106953141032016-04-18T02:47:47.954-07:002016-04-18T02:47:47.954-07:00Just returnig to say been reading my way through J...Just returnig to say been reading my way through Joseph Roth lately (woderful) & it strikes me that Mr Hoffman shoudl maybe turn his gaze upon that period - the different languages, registers, how German was used.Edwin Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05317173893948248954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-39643576650572838362016-04-13T13:43:03.188-07:002016-04-13T13:43:03.188-07:00I also admire Hofmann's skill and intellect hu...I also admire Hofmann's skill and intellect hugely. I do struggle to be moved by his verse, but maybe that's down to me... Matthew Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-89596935973652850112016-04-13T10:47:23.645-07:002016-04-13T10:47:23.645-07:00Couldn't agree more Matthew.
Hofmann is unfo...Couldn't agree more Matthew. <br /><br />Hofmann is unfortunately blinded by the socio-cultural circles he has experienced and moved inside in both languages, and this leads him to a generalisation that excludes the experiences of a great many English speakers.<br /><br />I say all that as someone who admires his critical nous and writing style as both reviewer and poet a very great deal, I should add. Ben Wilkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11077824416777371117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-58945353212043463862016-04-11T07:09:07.465-07:002016-04-11T07:09:07.465-07:00Hi Josephine,
Thanks for commenting.
I've in...Hi Josephine,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting.<br /><br />I've inhabited both sides of the fence, as a comprehensive schoolboy with an M.A. in Modern Languages from Oxford, and my peers in my home town ceertainly didn't sound as if they were making an effort. Now the guys from Winchester College that I encountered at St Peter's College were a different kettle of fish!<br /><br />As for his view of translating, I also disagree with it in many respects, as would anyone who's studied under Eric Southworth and John Rutherford, but that's another post!Matthew Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-2095479406642701222016-04-11T05:33:01.272-07:002016-04-11T05:33:01.272-07:00Hi Matthew. It seems to me that what Hofmann is s...Hi Matthew. It seems to me that what Hofmann is saying is that, in the UK, people make assumptions about a person's social class based on accent, dialect, vocabulary and syntax in their spoken English. ("In English you always have to sound as if you are making an effort") It is the interviewer who makes reference to Hofmann's own social class. And this "English is a trap" quote is only one small element of an interview which in other places makes, I think, brilliant points about, for instance, Hofmann's boldness in valuing interpretive translation above literal translation. I find it hard to disagree with Hofmann's viewpoint about spoken English (if I've understood it correctly). Anyway, thank you for providing much food for thought! - JosephineJosephine Corcoranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00008869726596674877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-9302649842719052102016-04-10T14:51:56.601-07:002016-04-10T14:51:56.601-07:00Hi Edwin,
Thanks for commenting. It certainly got...Hi Edwin,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. It certainly got my juices going too!<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />MatthewMatthew Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-25754271094718329452016-04-10T14:51:14.220-07:002016-04-10T14:51:14.220-07:00Hi Roy,
Thanks for commenting. Glad we share opin...Hi Roy,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. Glad we share opinions once again!Matthew Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11050474652034142849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-37169480351877562472016-04-10T09:26:12.367-07:002016-04-10T09:26:12.367-07:00Yes well said. The Hoffman piece was vastly irrita...Yes well said. The Hoffman piece was vastly irritating.Edwin Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05317173893948248954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-20734092362140550142016-04-10T07:10:00.470-07:002016-04-10T07:10:00.470-07:00Dear Matthew
I speak Spanish, French, Russian and...Dear Matthew<br /><br />I speak Spanish, French, Russian and German and I have to say that English still seems to me to be by far the most efficient and effective language in the world.<br /><br />Best wishes from Simon R. GladdishPoetry Pleases!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16686247991180317838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4334168470477960268.post-26077931718047385782016-04-10T04:47:10.870-07:002016-04-10T04:47:10.870-07:00Thank you Matthew, I too read that and absolutely ...Thank you Matthew, I too read that and absolutely disagreed with it and totally agree with you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com