Subject
Boyd on "chamar" (of Armande Chamar) (fwd)
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EDNOTE. My co-editor sends this item that she got after querying Brian Boyd
re "Chamar" in the course of preparing the Japanese translation of TT. See
also John Rea's exegesis sent yesterday _July 12_.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 11:17 AM +0900
From: a-nakata@courante.plala.or.jp
To: chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu
---------- End Forwarded Message ----------
This is one of Brian Boyd's invaluable answers he generously gave me while
I
was preparing the notes to the Japanese translation of TT. -- Akiko Nakata
I HAVE NEVER TURNED UP "CHAMAR" IN BYRON EITHER, AND THE EARLIEST SAMPLE
CITED IN THE OED IS 1858. WEBSTER'S THIRD GIVES TWO SENSES OF CHAMAR, 1 "A
MEMBER OF A LOW INDIAN CASTE WHOSE CASTE OCCUPATION IS LEATHERWORKING" AND
2 "A FAN, TYPICALLY MADE OF A YAK'S TAIL OR PEACOCK FEATHERS, USED IN THE
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT AS A MARK OF ROYALTY OR IN TEMPLES." THE IRONY IS THAT
ARMANDE HAS BOASTED OF HER "VERY NOBLE MILIEU" AND HUGH ECHOES THAT HERE
WITH HIS "BYRON USES 'CHAMAR' MEANING 'PEACOCK FAN,'IN A VERY NOBLE
MILIEU." WHY BYRON? BECAUSE BYRON WAS LORD BYRON. AND WHY "A VERY NOBLE
ORIENTAL MILIEU"? BECAUSE THE ONE ENGLISH WRITER TO HAVE USED CHAMAR WAS
KIPLING, IN KIM, WHO IS IN FACT REFERRING TO THE LOW INDIAN CASTE: "ALL
CASTES AND KINDS OF MEN MOVE HERE. LOOK! BRAHMINS AND CHUMARS, BANKERS AND
TINKERS." SO MUCH FOR ARMANDE'S "VERY NOBLE" CLASS BACKGROUND.
---------------
Look! Brahmins and chumars, bankers and tinkers, barbers and bunnias,
pilgrims -and potters - all the world going and coming. It is to me as a
river from which I am withdrawn like a log after a flood.' (KIM Ch. 3)
D. Barton Johnson
NABOKV-L
re "Chamar" in the course of preparing the Japanese translation of TT. See
also John Rea's exegesis sent yesterday _July 12_.
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2004 11:17 AM +0900
From: a-nakata@courante.plala.or.jp
To: chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu
---------- End Forwarded Message ----------
This is one of Brian Boyd's invaluable answers he generously gave me while
I
was preparing the notes to the Japanese translation of TT. -- Akiko Nakata
I HAVE NEVER TURNED UP "CHAMAR" IN BYRON EITHER, AND THE EARLIEST SAMPLE
CITED IN THE OED IS 1858. WEBSTER'S THIRD GIVES TWO SENSES OF CHAMAR, 1 "A
MEMBER OF A LOW INDIAN CASTE WHOSE CASTE OCCUPATION IS LEATHERWORKING" AND
2 "A FAN, TYPICALLY MADE OF A YAK'S TAIL OR PEACOCK FEATHERS, USED IN THE
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT AS A MARK OF ROYALTY OR IN TEMPLES." THE IRONY IS THAT
ARMANDE HAS BOASTED OF HER "VERY NOBLE MILIEU" AND HUGH ECHOES THAT HERE
WITH HIS "BYRON USES 'CHAMAR' MEANING 'PEACOCK FAN,'IN A VERY NOBLE
MILIEU." WHY BYRON? BECAUSE BYRON WAS LORD BYRON. AND WHY "A VERY NOBLE
ORIENTAL MILIEU"? BECAUSE THE ONE ENGLISH WRITER TO HAVE USED CHAMAR WAS
KIPLING, IN KIM, WHO IS IN FACT REFERRING TO THE LOW INDIAN CASTE: "ALL
CASTES AND KINDS OF MEN MOVE HERE. LOOK! BRAHMINS AND CHUMARS, BANKERS AND
TINKERS." SO MUCH FOR ARMANDE'S "VERY NOBLE" CLASS BACKGROUND.
---------------
Look! Brahmins and chumars, bankers and tinkers, barbers and bunnias,
pilgrims -and potters - all the world going and coming. It is to me as a
river from which I am withdrawn like a log after a flood.' (KIM Ch. 3)
D. Barton Johnson
NABOKV-L