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THOUGHTS: Derivation of Luzhin's name
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Victor Fet responds:
As a remote outside observer of Luzhin etymology, and a native Russian
speaker, I would say that there is really nothing in
both books that distinguishes Dostoevsky's Luzhin from Nabokov's.
One does not know from the context whether the name comes from the town
of Luga or from "luzha" the puddle.
There is also a third possible connection, not discussed here yet.
My personal linguistic emotions always connected Luzhin name (at least
in Dostoevsky's less pleasant character) with a Russian adjective
"LUZHENYJ" (tin-coated, tin-lined), derived from the verb "ludit" (to
coat with tin). Indeed it is the only Russian word starting with
"LUZH.." other than "luzha" and related "luzhajka".
Tin-coating was a popular street craft in Dostoevsky's time, and there
is а classic image of a tinker ("ludilshchik") man coming to inner
yards of St Petersburg houses with a call "ludit'-payat'!"
("tin-coating, soldering!"). It was a common Gypsy occupation in
Russia.
More important, a very common derived idiom "LUZHENAYA GLOTKA"
('tin-coated throat") meant "he has a good pair of lungs", which
Dostoevsky's outspoken Luzhin clearly fits--he is nearly the only
strongmen in C & P.
Etymology in Russian may be tricky, and we can read meanings into it --
but judging from the context there is nothing that tells the cocktail
Molotov from the original hero of Pomyalovsky's novel "Molotov".
Or a Lensky from a Lenin.
Victor Fet
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As a remote outside observer of Luzhin etymology, and a native Russian
speaker, I would say that there is really nothing in
both books that distinguishes Dostoevsky's Luzhin from Nabokov's.
One does not know from the context whether the name comes from the town
of Luga or from "luzha" the puddle.
There is also a third possible connection, not discussed here yet.
My personal linguistic emotions always connected Luzhin name (at least
in Dostoevsky's less pleasant character) with a Russian adjective
"LUZHENYJ" (tin-coated, tin-lined), derived from the verb "ludit" (to
coat with tin). Indeed it is the only Russian word starting with
"LUZH.." other than "luzha" and related "luzhajka".
Tin-coating was a popular street craft in Dostoevsky's time, and there
is а classic image of a tinker ("ludilshchik") man coming to inner
yards of St Petersburg houses with a call "ludit'-payat'!"
("tin-coating, soldering!"). It was a common Gypsy occupation in
Russia.
More important, a very common derived idiom "LUZHENAYA GLOTKA"
('tin-coated throat") meant "he has a good pair of lungs", which
Dostoevsky's outspoken Luzhin clearly fits--he is nearly the only
strongmen in C & P.
Etymology in Russian may be tricky, and we can read meanings into it --
but judging from the context there is nothing that tells the cocktail
Molotov from the original hero of Pomyalovsky's novel "Molotov".
Or a Lensky from a Lenin.
Victor Fet
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/