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skratky v knihe

 

Čítam si Jeeves in the Offing a občas narážam na skratky.
„What I could tell you… But no, let it go. Painful subj.“
I was amazed. I could hardly b. my e.
I made no attempt to brake the n. gently.

Zdá sa mi to dosť nezvyklé, ešte som to v anglických knihách nevidela. Zaujímalo by, čo to je za nápad. Stretli ste sa s tým dakto?

No, this use of abbreviations isn't normal practice in English literature but there was a period in his creative output when Wodehouse adopted this mannerism in the narration of Bertie Wooster. If the phrase or collocation was felt to be well-enough known („could hardly believe my ears“) or recognisable enough in the context (painful subject), he would just use the abbreviation, even though they are not „standard“ abbreviations. If the abbreviation was not felt to be immediately guessable, he would spell out the phrase on the first mention, so „hot-water bottle“ becomes „h-w-b“ a couple of sentences later.

Note: brake/break – they're pronounced exactly the same, but it's „break the news“. „Brake (brzdit) the news“ doesn't make sense.

Here are a couple more examples:

  • These clashings of will with the opposite sex always end with Bertram Wooster bowing to the inevitable. (page 29 here)
  • The coast seemed clear. I mentioned this to Bobbie, and she agreed that it was as clear as a whistle. (page 34)

 

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