Re: ML interview by RN

["michael a. lebowitz" <mlebowit@xxxxxx>]

At 14:08 17/03/2007, you wrote:
> I don't think this has shown up on pen-l yet. It's very good. I
> especially like the word "protagonistic."

I can't remember if that appeared (even if I posted it myself!);
clearly losing it. I like the word, too, though, and think we must
make it common sense. Here's what I wrote the other day to the
Norwegian translator of 'Build it Now', who asked about that very word:

>        To answer your question about 'protagonistic', the same
> point comes up in English--- there is no standard translation for
> the word used in Spanish (and central to the conception of the
> Bolivarian Constitution and the Bolivarian Revolution). The concept
> comes from protagonist, protagonism--- the idea not merely of
> 'participating' but of being a 'subject', a subject of change.
> There is no such word, I kept being told, by my English editors.
> Very well, I replied,--- we will MAKE it a word. Language is
> political (like everything else), and stressing the centrality of
> protagonistic activity (and 'solidaristic' activity and
> institutions--- another word we need to make common sense) is a
> political act. So, I hope that I have encouraged you to create a
> good counterpart in Norwegian, and maybe you can make this very
> point in a translator's note.

        cheers,
        michael
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

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