Yet another POV question

[thrihyrne]

So I'm actively writing on three things at once. Yay. Anyway, I was scrawling away this morning and wrote this, literally:

"Quelle domage dommage," Draco said, not sounding at all sorry. [question for flist]

My question was this: This story is from Ron's POV, third person limited. Ron doesn't know word one of French, except perhaps 'merde' or something equally appropriate. Is it acceptable for me to have Draco sound not at all sorry if Ron doesn't know the meaning of the phrase 'quel dommage'? It means "What a pity," and Draco's being sarcastic. But if this is Ron's POV, and I put that there, it seems to imply that he'd have an inkling of the meaning of the phrase. I guess I'm uncertain as to how much leniency I have within third-person limited POV and the way Draco's saying that versus Ron's understanding of what Draco said. I mean, I know this is splitting hairs and most people would just gloss over it, but I'm really quite unsure as to where third person limited starts and stops, sometimes. The obvious stuff is obvious, but something like this— I just don't know. Anyone? fabularasa, I suspect you'd know in a nanosecond. But I welcome anyone's theories and knowledge.

I'm writing this weekend. ::grins:: And our local library actually had a copy of Who Killed the Electric Car, so I'll be watching that with my parents later on tonight. Apparently I could also use a nap as I keep yawning. It's too bloody hot and sunny, too. Yuck. I suppose it is the end of August in the northern hemisphere, however, and I shouldn't be surprised. Mowing the lawn won't happen until tomorrow, that's for sure.

Hope you all are having a good weekend!

Comments

[hedwigs-bane.livejournal.com]

I'd have to say almost absolutely not. By the same token, many of your readers wouldn't know what it meant either, and so you could have Ron look quizzical or something so that Draco has to translate.

Hell, my beta wouldn't even let me have Ron say "merde"... LOL

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

If you're writing limited third from Ron's POV, and Ron wouldn't know the French, then you'll have to have Draco translate for Ron to know. Which is fine (serves the double purpose of making sure the reader also knows). And yeah, I think Draco would not be sorry for saying something Ron didn't know; he'd explain if asked but with a somewhat superior air about it. *g*

[pghpatronus.livejournal.com]

*head spins*

Ummmm...
You see...

*wonders what the hell 3rd person limited is*
*has enough problems with POV to being with*
*feels stupid*

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

I'd say it if it's 3rd person PoV, then Ron would have to ackowledge that he didn't know what it meant. Maybe something like, "...Draco said. Ron didn't know what the phrase meant, but the sarcasm used to say it was very clear."

[lena3.livejournal.com]

I can't help you at all with the POV, but...oh, Who Killed the Electric Car! That docu gets me every time and especially embarrasses me cause it happened in my state! My green, recycle-conscious, has electric stations and people who use them, state!

*cries*

I got your note and will email you this weekend. Thank you, sweets. ♥

[brumeux77.livejournal.com]

Looks like everyone's sorted this out for you while I was offline. So I'm only commenting for the purpose of throwing in some hugs.

*hugs*

[stuckinsea.livejournal.com]

If you still want to keep in Ron's POV, you could always have him say something wise as Ron would do in his head.

And of course Malfoy has to be a shit and spout off some French phrase, knowing full well the only words I know are the naughty ones that Fleur told me

Something like that, maybe? That way Draco would still be in character and not giving a shit if Ron understands or not...that make sense?

It sounds as if you're at least going to have a nice movie night. I hope the rest of the day went well.

Hugs and Kisses to you my, dear heart.

MWAH!

[kymyrra.livejournal.com]

I guess I would want to know what's behind Draco's use of the phrase and Ron's level of understanding of Draco's intent. Is it
1) BritSnob!Draco: Ugh! You got saddled with a lowly frog? Can't they hire our own kind anymore?;
2) Unempath!Draco: Oh poor you, to be saddled with an intern who'll do all your work for you;
3) Jealous!Draco: I bet you requested some femme frog boy that you can drool over all day. You're already planning how to bed him, aren't you?;
4) Smut!Draco: Ooh, an exotic plaything for us! (foreshadowing a M/M/M pairing?).

If it's the first, you could use "tant pis", "so much the worse." Similar to "quel dommage" but less emphatic, and Ron definitely wouldn't know what it meant (but not as recognizable as French). It's probably splitting hairs, but somehow it seems to make difference in the interaction. Does Ron understand and appreciate what Draco is trying to say even if he doesn't understand the words?

Hugs to you, girl,
B