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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010Morrison: dogs humming
Hello: I am used to "humming" in relation to insects. What exactly does it mean in English for dogs, is it threatening? Do they bare their teeth? Do they make other, more threatening sounds, before getting to yap, bark, etc? --- Milkman lit a cigarette and the dogs hummed at the sound of the match, their eyes glittering toward the flame. Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 242 --- -- Thanks. Marius Hancu >Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 242 >--- It makes absolutely no sense. Some sort of artistic license has been taken. Dogs don't hum, and the sound of a match being struck doesn't elicit any particular response from a dog. Even the "toward" bothers me. Their eyes may glitter *in* the flame, but not towards it.  SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > On Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:31:21 -0800 (PST), Marius Hancu > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > It makes absolutely no sense. Some sort of artistic license has been > taken. Dogs don't hum, The idea may be that they all make a little noise, and the noises blend into something like a hum. Or... > and the sound of a match being struck doesn't > elicit any particular response from a dog. ...there are hints of the uncanny in the book, especially toward the end, as I recall. > Even the "toward" bothers me. Their eyes may glitter *in* the flame, > but not towards it. A compressed way of saying, "their eyes glittering in the flame as they looked toward it," in my opinion. -- Jerry Friedman >> On Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:31:21 -0800 (PST), Marius Hancu >> [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >The idea may be that they all make a little noise, and the noises >blend into something like a hum. Or... Dogs make a little noise in the back of their throats sometimes, but it's a whine or a growl, not a hum. I suppose, taking enough license, you could call that extended back-of-the-throat growl a hum, but I wouldn't. >> Even the "toward" bothers me. Their eyes may glitter *in* the flame, >> but not towards it. > >A compressed way of saying, "their eyes glittering in the flame as >they looked toward it," in my opinion. Isn't "in the flame" compressed enough? Chopped four letters off "towards". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > > >I am used to "humming" in relation to insects. What exactly does it > > >mean in English for dogs, is it threatening? Do they bare their teeth? [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > The idea may be that they all make a little noise, and the noises > blend into something like a hum. Or... OK. At least I know that dogs don't quite hum:-) > > and the sound of a match being struck doesn't > > elicit any particular response from a dog. > > ...there are hints of the uncanny in the book, especially toward the > end, as I recall. In this section there's of course Circe, the methuselahmic midwife, with her dogs. > > Even the "toward" bothers me. Their eyes may glitter *in* the flame, > > but not towards it. > > A compressed way of saying, "their eyes glittering in the flame as > they looked toward it," in my opinion. Thank you all. Marius Hancu > Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon, p. 242 Toni Morrison (née Chloe Ardelia Wofford) is a Nobel Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning American author, editor, and professor. And a Negress. Dat do 'splain her whacky English. Signature~~~ Reinhold {Rey} Aman ~~~ |
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