Lois Bujold
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
This came up, again, on another list where I do not go, but for the record, the question was on the interpretation of the French pun at the end of Shards of Honor about Surleau - Sousleau and Aral's sailing... ?
Lois McMaster Bujold
The prime minister is joking about Aral's frequently tipping (and righting, I must add) his sailboat, primarily due to Aral's habit of pushing the envelope to get just that bit more of speed out of it. Sur l'eau, in its not-Barrayaran-corrupted French, meaning "on the water", and "sous l'eau" meaning "under the water. It is NOT a pun on "souse", nor a reference to his also-at-this-time habit of inebriation. However much the latter might be a contributing factor to the former not stated; although if he's feeling well enough to take the boat out it's probably not a bad day.
Ta, L.
The prime minister is joking about Aral's frequently tipping (and righting, I must add) his sailboat, primarily due to Aral's habit of pushing the envelope to get just that bit more of speed out of it. Sur l'eau, in its not-Barrayaran-corrupted French, meaning "on the water", and "sous l'eau" meaning "under the water. It is NOT a pun on "souse", nor a reference to his also-at-this-time habit of inebriation. However much the latter might be a contributing factor to the former not stated; although if he's feeling well enough to take the boat out it's probably not a bad day.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more