Feb 2, 2006 15:42
18 yrs ago
English term
Quality Above All
Native in: Russian 
, Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, English to Ukrainian, Ukrainian to Russian, and 3 more.
invitations (see more)
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
When Arthur told his mother that he was going to marry Katy, she bit her lip and looked away. “Will you be wanting invitations? Mine were on old parchment with purple ink. I was a very silly girl.”
“I think we’d prefer not to, Mum. If that’s all right.” Arthur looked at Katy who nodded slightly.
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I have, actually, a number of questions about this passage.
1. Do they really mean wedding invitations, that is, cards, inviting somebody to attend the event? If so, why is it so silly to have them on old parchment with purple ink? Does the Mum mean that it was pretentious or what?
2. Does the verb *to want* have its usual meaning here? Its progressive tense confuses me a bit.
3. Does the passage suggest that the Mum is somewhat unhappy with her son's prospective marriage? Is there any hint of this sort?
Thank you very much in advance.
“I think we’d prefer not to, Mum. If that’s all right.” Arthur looked at Katy who nodded slightly.
=========================================================
I have, actually, a number of questions about this passage.
1. Do they really mean wedding invitations, that is, cards, inviting somebody to attend the event? If so, why is it so silly to have them on old parchment with purple ink? Does the Mum mean that it was pretentious or what?
2. Does the verb *to want* have its usual meaning here? Its progressive tense confuses me a bit.
3. Does the passage suggest that the Mum is somewhat unhappy with her son's prospective marriage? Is there any hint of this sort?
Thank you very much in advance.
Change log
Feb 2, 2006 15:44: Mikhail Kropotov changed "Field (specific)" from "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters" to "Poetry & Literature"
Responses
+7
8 mins
Brie Vernier
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Germany
Bridging the language gap since 1995
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, UK)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
23
Selected
yes, yes, yes
1. Yes, real, physical invitations/cards. Silly probably because sentimental/purple ink may strike her now as being "overdone", but I wouldn't say pretentious. Just things that girls think are a good idea, but later think was just ridiculous.
2. Yes, 'will they want invitations' would work as well. Just her speaking style.
3. The fact that "she bit her lip and looked away" suggests that she is not entirely thrilled with the idea, for whatever reason.
2. Yes, 'will they want invitations' would work as well. Just her speaking style.
3. The fact that "she bit her lip and looked away" suggests that she is not entirely thrilled with the idea, for whatever reason.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I really hesitated which answer to choose, but you were the first. Big thanks, anyway, to all involved, and special thanks to Alexander."
11 mins
Naomi Portnoy
Native in English
&
English
Native English speaker, fast & accurate
Native in: English
Works in: Dutch to English, English
invitation
1. Yes they mean wedding invitations. Mum thinks now that her choice of inivtation was silly.
2. will want to have ..
3. mum isn't too happy
2. will want to have ..
3. mum isn't too happy
20 mins
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Agree with other answerers
+ will you be wanting... means "Will you require invitations to be produced/issued/sent?" -it is used like that to express the other person's expectations "Will you be wnating tea?" = Will you be expecting the possibility of having tea later?
+4
6 mins
Alexander Demyanov
Specializes in field
Software Engineering background
Native in: Russian
Works in: English, Russian, Russian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
38
1.Yes; 2. Yes; 3. I believe so
3: ...she bit her lip and looked away
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Note added at 9 mins (2006-02-02 15:51:14 GMT)
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In addition to the lip biting piece: She starts talking logistics right away, sort of "matter-of-fact". No "I am happy for you", no "Congratulations", no sentimental tear in her eye
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Note added at 5 hrs (2006-02-02 21:08:02 GMT)
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About #3: I don't say definite "Yes" there because, unlike you, I don't know the wider context or the particular character (the mother) traits. It's feasible that for some people (with peculiar manners, with emotional problems, etc.) the behaviour would mean that they are ecstatic about the news.
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Note added at 9 mins (2006-02-02 15:51:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In addition to the lip biting piece: She starts talking logistics right away, sort of "matter-of-fact". No "I am happy for you", no "Congratulations", no sentimental tear in her eye
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2006-02-02 21:08:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
About #3: I don't say definite "Yes" there because, unlike you, I don't know the wider context or the particular character (the mother) traits. It's feasible that for some people (with peculiar manners, with emotional problems, etc.) the behaviour would mean that they are ecstatic about the news.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
oxygen4u
: :)
4 mins
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Thank you, oxygen4u!
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| agree |
Romanian Translator (X)
5 hrs
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Thank you, Awana.
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| agree |
RHELLER
: agree - especially with the "no congrats" - not normal motherly behavior - (ecstatic? aren't you overstating that possibility a bit?)
7 hrs
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Just giving it the benefit of a doubt. Thanks, Rita.
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| agree |
Seema Ugrankar
7 hrs
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Thank you, ugrankar.
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