Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 02:48 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
| In reply to: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) - AlanScott 02:31 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
|
|
|
| Thank you for that wonderful post, Alan. I've always felt that Nathan is clearly supposed to be a Jewish character, even if I knew only a small fraction of the supporting evidence you gave. I also wondered if maybe some of the characters in Nathan Detroit's world might be Italian, though I think it's pretty clear from his name that Big Jule is supposed to be Jewish :-) On that note, I find it interesting that Adam Gropnik chose the Sinatra, an Italian, as his example of someone who tended to "speak high" when he spoke for public consumption, though I'm not sure I can offhand think of a famous Jewish performer who might also fit the category. Maybe Alan King? |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) | |
| Posted by: showtunetrivia 05:29 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) - Michael_Portantiere 02:48 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
|
|
|
| Terrific post, Alan, thank you! There was never any doubt in my mind that Nathan (and a good many other characters) were Jewish. As for “nu”—my late mother in law could use it, depending on context and her inflection, in a dozen different ways, from utterly sarcastic to fatalism to asking for further details. A versatile term! Laura |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 07:30 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) - showtunetrivia 05:29 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
|
|
|
| As for “nu”—my late mother in law could use it, depending on context and her inflection, in a dozen different ways, from utterly sarcastic to fatalism to asking for further details. A versatile term! Yes - in real usage, it's close to untranslatable. It's almost more of a vocal attitude instead of a word, if that makes sense. |
|
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) | |
| Posted by: whereismikeyfl 07:33 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
| In reply to: re: Runyon's Jewish world (one of my very long posts) - Chromolume 07:30 pm EDT 08/02/20 | |
|
|
|
| It is kind equivalent to "yeah," which in English can indicate agreement, disbelief, need for more info, dismissal, or enthusiasm. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.012663 seconds.