Aistriúcháin: Náfuilaon

[jimnuaeabhrac]

Tá ceist agam, más é do thoil é

I’m reading An Odaisé in Irish. (Aistritheoir: Monsignor Pádraig de Brún) It is in the Munster dialect.
Numerous English translations are available online, but I occasionally have trouble reconciling the Irish with the available English.

My problem today is “Náfuilaon.” This is from Wikipedia:

“When Polyphemus asks for Odysseus’ name, promising him a guest-gift if he answers, Odysseus tells him “μή τις,” literally “noman.” (which, when combined, as in speech also meant “cunning” – “μήτις,” and is thus, a play on words.)”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus#In_Homer.27s_Odyssey

De Brún translates it as

“Sid é agat é, Náfuilaon; Náfuilaon is é ainm an ardchlú a thugann mo mhathair is m’athair ‘s mo lucht compánach go léir orm.”

Have you ever heard of this word/name, “Náfuilaon?” Does it preserve the play on words in the original Greek?

[Lughaidh]

Náfuilaon is “ná fuil aon” (standard nach bhfuil aon) ie. “that isn’t any” or “isn’t there any”… but it’s not exactly as in the original text…

[jimnuaeabhrac]

Go raibh maith agat. I suppose that play on words would be allmost impossible to replicate.

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