Question from a translator

[MirceaPricajan]

Hi, I'm working right now on translating The Gunslinger into Romanian and I stumbled across sharproot. Can someone give me a description of this plant so I can find the appropriate term in Romanian? I have the feeling it's not something that really exists--or maybe it does, but the term's use is restricted to a certain area. No dictionary, no encyclopedia, no internet search has it mentioned in that context. :sad: Thanks.

[Moderator]

I've forwarded your question on to Steve as I couldn't find a description in Robin Furth's Concordance. I'll respond here when I hear back from Steve as others may be interested in this as well. :smile2:

[MirceaPricajan]

Thank you very much. I really don't like that habit some translators have of just letting out the things they don't understand. So... thanks again. Waiting patiently. :)

[Bev Vincent]

I would have suggested that King made the word up, but I see that Gregory Benford also uses "sharp-root" in his book Against Infinity.

[Spideyman]

In Vol 2 Of Robin Furth's Concordance under mid world dialects: Mid World Argot- Sharproot- this is one of Mid World's crops V:1, V:151

It is mentioned in Wolves of calla also:

Tian was blessed (though few farmers would have used such a word) with three patches: River Field, where his family had grown rice since time out of mind; Roadside Field, where ka-Jaffords had grown sharproot, pumpkin, and corn for those same long years and generations; and Son of a Bitch, a thankless tract which mostly grew rocks, blisters, and busted hopes.


No pictures:sad:

[MirceaPricajan]

Yes, there are more instances of sharproot in DT4. I counted at least 9 of them. And since it's a custom to carve pumpkins AND sharproots for Reap I'll say it must be something that resembles a pumpkin, but that grows in the ground.

[demorgan]

Im curious, maybe its a bean of some type( just guessing).

[rose key]

I don't know why, but I always had the feeling it was a relative of rhubarb, or the Mid-World word for it. Didn't they make or eat sharproot pies at some point?

And Spidey, you're a wealth of information! I picture you sitting at your computer surrounded by your critters and the walls lined with bookshelves filled with Stephen King books. (This is what I wish I was surrounded by right now instead of at work-so I guess I'm projecting my imaginary perfect place onto you!!)

[Haunted]

A gourd?

[Moderator]

None of the above. :smile2: Here's Steve's response:


Sharproot is the Mid-World equivalent of a radish, but much hotter. In some taverns, men would have sharproot-eating contests, the loser standing for drinks...or, if broke, having to drink from the spittoon. Those Mid-Worlders, always classy.
Steve

[MirceaPricajan]

:biggrin2: Now we know. Thanks a lot, Ms. Mod. Thanks a lot, Steve. Now let's see what would be the best equivalent in Romanian, starting from this. :oo:

[Bryan James]

It is a vinal (veinal?) squash-type vegetable, with thorns along the stalks.

The plants grow flat on the ground, so there is no major fibruous support structure...but the plants can get big.

The plants are not dangerous until they are cut and dried...people have been known to have been hung by the ankles and the..............that sort of thing.

I have not written today, sorry.

BJS