‘Sea of Poppies’ was published in Russian last year, in a translation by Alexander Safronov. I don’t read Russian of course, but Alexander’s queries were evidence both of his skill as a translator and his extraordinary diligence.
Here are some of the words he wanted explained:
Dushtu
Sheeshmull
Shammer
Pollock-saug
Baiji
Coksen
Ringeen
Khalaji
He was also puzzled by this sentence:
‘Do you never think of nothin but knob-knockin and gamahoochie?’
I wonder how that came out in Russian…
Thatz very interesting news. Wonder what would be the Russians of all those Laskari and Anglo-Indian terms!!! How would the typical Burnhamese like ‘there’s paltan of mems who’d give their last anna to be in your jooties’ or even ‘there isn’t a rootie in the choola, is there?’ be translated. Hope it is translated in Bangla soon like The Hungry Tide.
recently finished to read the novel, your another literary trumph.some varnaculer words made me also to think on it. but great, u dared to put it in your language, though knowing it would be translated in many world languages.
Dear Amitav,
Thanks for your kind words about me and my work.
Alexander.
my pleasure Alexander!
A