Interesting.
'lo nu binxo' has {lo rigni cinki}. Considering the thoughts expressed in the Slate article, I'm tempted to read {lo cinki rigni} instead. 'Ungeziefer' could also mean a rat, for example, but from the story it is clear that Gregor is bug-like, so 'insect-kind-of-repulsive-thing' might actually work.
In the original, it is 'ungeheueres Ungeziefer', with the adjective somewhat vague as well. One Esperanto translation (Lutermano/Luttermann, 1996) has 'monstra fiinsekto', and the English translators go for 'monstrous', as well. The adjective 'ungeheuer' means something like 'astonishingly large or impressive, awe- or fear-inspiring'. I think this is lost in the Lojban. I don't know how to translate it. I think {barda}, {terpa}, and {mutce} are related to 'ungeheuer'. (The noun 'das Ungeheuer' is indeed close to 'the monster', monsters generally being 'ungeheuer' creatures.)
What could be a Lojban translation for 'ungeheueres Ungeziefer'?
Btw, I think {lo nu binxo} works surprisingly well for 'die Verwandlung' (which is not a fancy or learned word like, eg, 'Metamorphose', either). It is simple and general. (Lutermano notes that he rejected 'metamorfozo' for that reason. He has 'transformiĝo' instead. Hm.)
Le vendredi 10 janvier 2014 15:17:58 UTC+1, gejyspa a écrit :