{"id":16155,"date":"2026-03-14T22:37:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T20:37:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/?p=16155"},"modified":"2026-03-14T22:37:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T20:37:51","slug":"prizonier-cu-dictionar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/?p=16155","title":{"rendered":"Prizonier cu dic\u021bionar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\">de Linh Dinh<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">traducere &amp; prezentare: Antonio Ol\u0219anschi<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Linh Dinh (n. 1963) este un scriitor, traduc\u0103tor \u0219i editor american de origine vietnamez\u0103, n\u0103scut \u00een Saigon \u0219i stabilit \u00een Statele Unite ale Americii. Opera sa se remarc\u0103 printr-un stil experimental, provocator \u0219i satiric, explor\u00e2nd teme ca exilul, identitatea diasporic\u0103, marginalitatea, alienarea cultural\u0103 \u0219i absurdit\u0103\u021bile globaliz\u0103rii. A publicat volume de poezie, proz\u0103 scurt\u0103, romane \u0219i eseuri. Scrisul s\u0103u combin\u0103 ironia politic\u0103, observa\u021bia social\u0103 \u0219i un limbaj intens, uneori crud, reflect\u00e2nd tensiunile dintre cultura american\u0103 contemporan\u0103 \u0219i experien\u021ba imigrantului. Povestirea \u201ePrizonier cu dic\u021bionar\u201c face parte din volumul <em>Blood and Soap<\/em> (2004).<!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">* * *<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0218i astfel un t\u00e2n\u0103r a fost aruncat \u00een \u00eenchisoare, unde a g\u0103sit, \u00een celula sa altminteri goal\u0103, un dic\u021bionar \u00eentr-o limb\u0103 str\u0103in\u0103. Era mereu \u00eentuneric acolo \u0219i la \u00eenceput nici nu \u0219i-a dat seama c\u0103 este un dic\u021bionar. Nu era un tip intelectual \u0219i nu avusese niciodat\u0103 un dic\u021bionar al lui. Totu\u0219i, nu era nici pe departe prost, dar avea o minte \u00eenclinat\u0103 spre ironie, capabil\u0103 s\u0103 scoat\u0103 o glum\u0103 chiar \u0219i din situa\u021biile cele mai tragice. Putea fi \u0219i foarte glume\u021b \u00een preajma anumitor femei.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00cen orice caz, nu \u0219tia ce poate face cu aceast\u0103 carte aproape f\u0103r\u0103 valoare, \u00een afar\u0103 de a o folosi drept scaun \u0219i pern\u0103. Din c\u00e2nd \u00een c\u00e2nd, rupea pagini din ea, ca s\u0103 se \u0219tearg\u0103. Dup\u0103 un timp, din pur\u0103 plictiseal\u0103, a decis s\u0103 se uite totu\u0219i \u00een dic\u021bionar. Ochii i se obi\u0219nuiser\u0103 deja cu lumina slab\u0103 \u0219i putea s\u0103 disting\u0103 destul de u\u0219or toate cuvintele \u00een acel amurg ve\u0219nic.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">De\u0219i nu cuno\u0219tea acea limb\u0103 str\u0103in\u0103 \u0219i nu \u0219tia nici m\u0103car ce limb\u0103 este, a sim\u021bit brusc impulsul de a o \u00eenv\u0103\u021ba. Marea lui virtute \u2013 adic\u0103 blestemul cel mai mare al vie\u021bii lui \u2013 era capacitatea de a duce la \u00eendeplinire orice plan, odat\u0103 ce \u00ee\u0219i punea ceva \u00een minte. Aceast\u0103 carte reprezenta problema lui de pe urm\u0103, singura lui problem\u0103, pe care avea s-o rezolve vreodat\u0103.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prizonierul a \u00eenceput s\u0103 aleag\u0103 cuvinte la nimereal\u0103 \u0219i s\u0103 le cerceteze minu\u021bios defini\u021biile. Desigur, fiecare defini\u021bie con\u021binea cuvinte cu totul necunoscute. Neab\u0103tut, c\u0103uta toate cuvintele din defini\u021bie, ceea ce \u00eel conducea c\u0103tre cuvinte \u0219i mai complicate. Pentru a defini cuv\u00e2ntul \u201eom\u201c, de exemplu, prizonierul a trebuit s\u0103 caute nu numai \u201efiin\u021b\u0103\u201c \u0219i \u201euman\u0103\u201c, ci \u0219i \u201eopozabil\u201c \u0219i \u201edegetul mare\u201c. Pentru a defini \u201edegetul mare\u201c, a trebuit s\u0103 caute nu numai \u201escurt\u201c \u0219i \u201edeget\u201c, ci \u0219i \u201egros\u201c, \u201eal\u201c, \u201eun\u201c \u0219i \u201ecel\u201c. Pentru a defini \u201ecel\u201c, a trebuit s\u0103 caute \u201eacel\u201c \u0219i \u201eun\u201c (din nou) \u0219i \u201efiin\u021b\u0103\u201c (din nou) \u0219i \u201elucru\u201c \u0219i \u201egrup\u201c.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fiind singur \u00een celul\u0103 zi \u0219i noapte, f\u0103r\u0103 distrageri, \u00eei permitea prizonierului s\u0103 se concentreze cu o asemenea rigoare, \u00eenc\u00e2t a ajuns s\u0103 poat\u0103 re\u021bine \u0219i s\u0103 coreleze \u00een cap sute de defini\u021bii. Dic\u021bionarul avea peste o mie de pagini, dar prizonierul era hot\u0103r\u00e2t s\u0103 memoreze fiecare defini\u021bie de pe fiecare pagin\u0103. Se crispa la g\u00e2ndul c\u0103 mai \u00eenainte rupsese foi din el, ca s\u0103 se \u0219tearg\u0103. Acele pagini reprezentau acum goluri \u00een propria cunoa\u0219tere. Pentru c\u0103 se duseser\u0103 pe apa s\u00e2mbetei, nu avea s\u0103 \u0219tie niciodat\u0103 <em>toate<\/em> cuvintele din acea limb\u0103.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Totu\u0219i, se trezea \u00een fiecare diminea\u021b\u0103 cuprins de o exaltare sor\u0103 cu nebunia, dornic s\u0103 devoreze tot mai multe cuvinte. Asemenea multor oameni, confunda dob\u00e2ndirea unui vocabular vast cu cunoa\u0219terea, chiar cu \u00een\u021belepciunea, \u0219i astfel sim\u021bea cum \u00eei cre\u0219te prestan\u021ba zi de zi, dac\u0103 nu chiar de la o secund\u0103 la alta. Cu toate c\u0103 nu avea habar ce \u00eenseamn\u0103 cuvintele, la ce anume din lumea real\u0103 se refer\u0103 ele, se g\u00e2ndea c\u0103 le <em>\u00een\u021belege <\/em>pentru c\u0103 le \u0219tie defini\u021biile.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u0218i, pentru c\u0103 \u00ee\u0219i ducea veacul \u00een aceast\u0103 limb\u0103 tot timpul, ca un f\u0103t ce se dezvolt\u0103 \u00een p\u00e2ntece, existau momente c\u00e2nd sim\u021bea c\u0103 sigur poate ghici sensul general al unui cuv\u00e2nt, fie c\u0103 era o plant\u0103 sau un animal, de exemplu, fie c\u0103 indica ceva pozitiv sau negativ. Dar presupunerile lui erau mereu gre\u0219ite, desigur. Doar pentru c\u0103 \u201evezic\u0103\u201c i se p\u0103rea c\u0103 sun\u0103 oarecum vast \u0219i nebulos, prizonierul credea c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 aib\u0103 de-a face cu exteriorul, \u00een special cu vremea, o rafal\u0103 de v\u00e2nt sau o ploaie toren\u021bial\u0103 sau un fulger. Cuv\u00e2ntul \u201etat\u0103\u201c, cu tonul s\u0103u dezn\u0103d\u0103jduit \u0219i exasperat, \u00eel f\u0103cea pe prizonier s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 la ceva mort \u0219i putrezit: un cadavru sau un morman de gunoi. A dedus c\u0103 \u201eomucidere\u201c este o floare. Credea c\u0103 \u201eiulie\u201c \u00eenseamn\u0103 \u201eaugust\u201c.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Pe bun\u0103 dreptate, prizonierul era \u0219i m\u00e2ndru de pronun\u021bia lui, remarcabil de limpede \u0219i sigur\u0103, accentele c\u0103z\u00e2nd de cele mai multe ori pe silabele potrivite. Dac\u0103 ar fi vorbit la telefon, prizonierul ar fi putut fi confundat cu un vorbitor nativ, de\u0219i unul de clas\u0103 social\u0103 inferioar\u0103. Totu\u0219i, dac\u0103 prizonierul era convins c\u0103 \u00eenva\u021b\u0103 o nou\u0103 limb\u0103, era \u00een acela\u0219i timp sigur c\u0103 o pierde pe cea veche, fiindc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci uitase aproape toate cuvintele din limba matern\u0103. Deja nu mai putea numi p\u0103r\u021bile corpului, nici m\u0103car pe cele de baz\u0103 \u2013 m\u00e2n\u0103, nas, fa\u021b\u0103, gur\u0103 etc. \u2013 astfel \u00eenc\u00e2t propriul trup devenea vag, impersonal, ireal. Chiar dac\u0103 era \u00eenconjurat de mizerie, nu \u0219tia s\u0103 o numeasc\u0103 \u201emizerie\u201c. Singurul cuv\u00e2nt care \u00eei venea u\u0219or pe limb\u0103, automat \u0219i nepoftit, era \u201e\u00eenchisoare\u201c, pentru c\u0103 acesta era ultimul lucru la care se g\u00e2ndea \u00een fiecare noapte \u0219i primul lucru la care se g\u00e2ndea \u00een fiecare diminea\u021b\u0103.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00cen vise nu-i mai ap\u0103reau deloc conversa\u021bii sau g\u00e2nduri. De multe ori, nu erau dec\u00e2t o serie de imagini sau pete abstracte de culoare. C\u00e2teodat\u0103 erau alc\u0103tuite doar din sunete, o cacofonie a propriei voci, care recit\u0103 fragmente de defini\u021bii. Nici m\u0103car \u00een cel mai cumplit co\u0219mar nu putea \u021bipa \u201emam\u0103!\u201c \u00een propria limb\u0103. Dar aceast\u0103 pierdere nu-l tulbura; abia o b\u0103ga de seam\u0103, c\u0103ci era convins c\u0103 se reconstruie\u0219te pe sine. Pe m\u0103sur\u0103 ce era alungat din lume, singura lume c\u0103reia avea dreptul s\u0103-i apar\u021bin\u0103, se g\u00e2ndea c\u0103 intr\u0103 \u00eentr-un univers cu totul nou.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Poate c\u0103, eliber\u00e2ndu-se de limba matern\u0103, prizonierul \u00eencerca incon\u0219tient s\u0103 scape de trecutul oribil, c\u0103ci, sincer vorbind, nu exista niciun cuv\u00e2nt din limba sa matern\u0103 care s\u0103 nu-i evoce vreo experien\u021b\u0103 oribil\u0103 sau umilitoare. Se prea poate s\u0103 fi sim\u021bit c\u0103 limba matern\u0103 era \u00eens\u0103\u0219i <em>autoarea<\/em> vie\u021bii sale oribile. Dar acestea sunt numai b\u0103nuieli, nu \u0219tim sigur.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u00cen orice caz, zi \u0219i noapte, prizonierul \u00ee\u0219i rostea defini\u021biile cu voce tare. Dac\u0103 cineva \u0219i-ar fi apropiat urechea de u\u0219a groas\u0103 din fier \u00een miez de noapte, ar fi auzit, de exemplu: \u201eanimal cu coad\u0103 lung\u0103 \u0219i sub\u021bire care infesteaz\u0103 cl\u0103dirile\u201c. Sau \u201esentiment puternic \u0219i tandru fa\u021b\u0103 de un du\u0219man de moarte\u201c. Sau \u201eteam\u0103 \u00eenfior\u0103toare \u0219i dezgust, \u00eenso\u021bite de o ad\u00e2nc\u0103 ur\u0103 de sine\u201c. Cu at\u00e2tea cuvinte \u0219i defini\u021bii stranii adunate, nu se ajungea oare la cunoa\u0219tere profund\u0103, la revela\u021bie? Ce este, la urma urmei, o revela\u021bie, dac\u0103 nu rezultatul c\u00e2\u0219tigat cu greu al unei min\u021bi excep\u021bionale care lucreaz\u0103 la capacitate maxim\u0103?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Prizonierul era recunosc\u0103tor c\u0103 i se ofer\u0103 \u0219ansa de a se concentra nestingherit pentru o perioad\u0103 at\u00e2t de lung\u0103. Se sim\u021bea victorios: \u00eenchis \u00eentr-o celul\u0103 goal\u0103, fusese privat de lume; \u00eens\u0103, printr-un act eroic de voin\u021b\u0103, \u00ee\u0219i recl\u0103dise universul. Avea (aproape) totul, pentru c\u0103 \u0219tia (aproape) toate cuvintele unei limbi.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dar adev\u0103rul este c\u0103 prizonierul nu rec\u0103p\u0103tase nimic. El g\u00e2ndea a\u0219a, fire\u0219te, doar pentru c\u0103 trebuia s\u0103 g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 a\u0219a. Dup\u0103 decenii de efort mental ne\u00eencetat, singurul rod al muncii sale remarcabile, singurul cuv\u00e2nt pe care \u0219i-l \u00eensu\u0219ise cu certitudine era \u201edic\u021bionar\u201c, pur \u0219i simplu pentru c\u0103 era tip\u0103rit pe coperta unei c\u0103r\u021bi, despre care \u0219tia sigur c\u0103 este un dic\u021bionar. C\u0103ci, chiar \u0219i atunci c\u00e2nd d\u0103dea peste defini\u021bia cuv\u00e2ntului \u201eprizonier\u201c \u0219i o \u00eenv\u0103\u021ba pe de rost, nici m\u0103car nu-\u0219i d\u0103dea seama c\u0103 cite\u0219te despre sine \u00eensu\u0219i.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>de Linh Dinh traducere &amp; prezentare: Antonio Ol\u0219anschi Linh Dinh (n. 1963) este un scriitor, traduc\u0103tor \u0219i editor american de origine vietnamez\u0103, n\u0103scut \u00een Saigon \u0219i stabilit \u00een Statele Unite ale Americii. Opera sa se remarc\u0103 printr-un stil experimental, provocator \u0219i satiric, explor\u00e2nd teme ca exilul, identitatea diasporic\u0103, marginalitatea, alienarea cultural\u0103 \u0219i absurdit\u0103\u021bile globaliz\u0103rii. A [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1843,15],"tags":[1861,1845,1860,1115,72],"class_list":["post-16155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-egophobia-88","category-proza","tag-antonio-olsanschi","tag-egophobia-88","tag-linh-dinh","tag-proza","tag-traducere"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6DakB-4cz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16155"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16156,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16155\/revisions\/16156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/egophobia.ro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}