Comments for Anagrammatically

Comment on Hurley’s Inelegant Borges: An Exegesis (Part I of II) by Sam

Sam — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:45:44 +0000

I own both Labyrinths and the Hurley translated Collected Fictions, and there is a noticeable difference in quality, and I don’t believe it’s because I read the former first. In J.M. Coetzee’s review, he says “If there is one weakness to them, it is that Hurley’s feel for the level of formality of English words is not always reliable.” I think that is very true. Thus “Funes Memorius” becomes “Funes, His Memory,” the mythical “Hombre del Libro” who is mentioned in “The Library of Babel” becomes “the Book-Man” rather than “Man of the Book,” etc.

As someone who doesn’t have an excellent command of Spanish, I will say Hurley’s translations are useful in checking myself when I try reading the original. I’m not sure if this is due to the translator or to Borges’ own clear and usually simple syntax.

Comment on About by Antonios

Antonios — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:27:09 +0000

No problem — link away.

Comment on The Book of Sand (El Libro de Arena) by Jorge Luis Borges, Translated by Steve

Steve — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:39:26 +0000

“The Book of Sand” reminds me of the Internet. I have lost count of the number of times I sat down at my computer to look up some item of information, only to find myself still sitting there hours later, reading about things completely unrelated to what I initially wanted to find. Come to think of it, that is how I found myself at this site, reading this short story.

Comment on Translated: La Casa de Asterión becomes The House of Asterion by Antonios

Antonios — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:54:03 +0000

Is 13 and 14 really more complicated to say in Modern or Ancient Greek?

In Modern Greek, both 13 and 14 are very easy to say, the equivalent of saying 10 and 3 and 10 and 4 (δεκατρία and δεκατέσσερα).

In Ancient Greek, they’re much the same.

Comment on Translated: La Casa de Asterión becomes The House of Asterion by Locoluis

Locoluis — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:12:34 +0000

My theory about the number 14 comes from the way numbers are spelled in Greek.

The basic Greek words for numbers between 1 and 12 are fairly easy to say. But 13 is a bit more complicated and 14 is much more complicated.

Relatively, yes, but given the beast’s limited intelligence, I guess he has a hard time dealing with numbers so large and complicated to remember.

Comment on About by Ana O'Reilly

Ana O'Reilly — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:11:19 +0000

Hi Antonios. I’d like to link to your translation of The House of Asterion (you will be fully attributed). Thanks.

Comment on The Book of Sand (El Libro de Arena) by Jorge Luis Borges, Translated by Diane

Diane — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:38:14 +0000

Thank you for this wondrous translation and edits! I think this work is a masterpiece and so appreciate your effort to do it justice. It’s a Book of the Infinite, as many as grains of sand, and those are countable by One Being alone.

Comment on Rio with Greek Subtitles by Anna

Anna — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:46:49 +0000

haha your story telling is epic! I’m another proud greek currently living in London but I’m moving to Rio in a couple of months. E sempre muito engracado quando 2 gregos se encontram fora da grecia!
Anna

Comment on The Invention of Morel and its Curious Excisions by Fathermocker

Fathermocker — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:50:20 +0000

Such a shame that both Borges and Bioy Casares have awful translations. The English-speaking world may be missing out on a big part of their amazing talent.

Comment on The Book of Sand (El Libro de Arena) by Jorge Luis Borges, Translated by Antonios

Antonios — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 06:27:35 +0000

Alice, a big thank you for the sterling comment. I hadn’t realised there was such a link, and it certainly enriches the two stories.

I have an even greater appreciation of Borges now.