SG to Chapters 1-35- SG to Chapters 36-65
- SG to Chapters 66-96
- SG to Chapters
97-127
Study Guide to Cat's Cradle:
San Lorenzo dialect & Bokononisms: a list of first occurrences
Note: references are in two parts. First given is the chapter in which the term, phrase, or sentence first appears, followed (in parentheses) by the page number in the Delta paperback edition of the novel (New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, 1998). In some cases, it has seemed useful to indicate additional occurrences, but there has been no effort to be systematic in this.
Not all instances of San Lorenzo dialect that show up in the novel play a role in Bokononism. Nor do all terms or phrases associated with Bokononism show up in San Lorenzo dialect. Finally, there are even cases where Bokonoisms show up in standard English rather than in San Lorenzo dialect. (A case in point is the phrase "busy, busy, busy.") Bokononisms are specified in the lists with an initial asterisk.
There are a couple of additional terms of central importance in the novel that do not count either as instances of San Lorenzo dialect or as Bokononisms. It seemed easier to include them here than to index them separately. But they have been set apart by being presented in bolded red Arial Narrow font.
[More useful for some purposes is the list by order of appearance.]
*boko-maru: 72(158), 77(171), 80(174f), 98(220)
*Borassisi: 85(190), 90(201)
*"busy, busy, busy": 32(65), 78(176)
*calypso: 1(3); a term appropriated within Bokonism as designating, in particular, a "Bokonist poem": cf. 47(102)
cat's cradle: 5(8-13), 74(164-66), 76(168-70), 80(179), 81(183). You may also wish to consult a dictionary entry on the term "cat's cradle".
See also: 126(285):
27(56): "I took my hands from the wheel for an instant to show him how empty of symbols they were." -- an allusion to the idea of a cat's cradle?
Den you vore da oh-oh: 99(221)
Dose, sore, ...: 68(149)
*duffle: 89(199)
*duprass: 41(86), 55(122)
*Dyot meet matt: 99(220)
*foma: epigraph(vii), 85(191), 118(265)
*Gott mate mutt: 99(220) [Dr. von Koenigswald's pronunciation of "Dyot meet matt" (same ch/pg).
*granfalloon: 42(91-2), 52(114), 59(130)
hoon-yera mora-toorz: 68(149), 114(253)
hy-u-okk-kuh: 67(147-8). 72(157), 79(175); cf. 43(93-5)
kan-kan: 1(2)
*karass: 1(2), 42(91) ["false karass"]
oubliette: 96(214), 98(219), 100(225), , 117(262), 118(263f), 120(271) [dribbling away in accreted meaning]. Consider also the following possibly related ideas:
113(251): "So thoroughly had the tree Hoenikkers obliterated their memories of the incident that it was difficult for them to give me even that fundamental detail."
123(279), 3rd to last ¶: "No use crying over spilt milk" =/? putting history down the "obliette"?
*Pabu: 85(190), 90(201)
*pool-pah: 110(244)
*saroon: 90(202)
*sinooka: 4(6)
*sin-wat: 93(208)
*stupa: 89(199)
Tz-yenk voo vore lo yon-yo: 99(222)
*vin-dit: 34(69), 90(201)
vorry boal moan: 67(148)
*wampeter: 24(52)
*wrang-wrang: 36(78)
*zah-mah-ki-bo: 82(184)
[More useful for some purposes is the alphabetical list.]
*karass: 1(2), 42(91) ["false karass"]
kan-kan: 1(2)
*calypso: 1(3); a term appropriated within Bokonism as designating a "Bokonist poem": cf. 47(102)
*sinooka: 4(6)
cat's cradle: 5(8-13), 74(164-66), 76(168-70), 80(179), 81(183) You may also wish to consult a dictionary entry on the term "cat's cradle".
See also: 126(285):
27(56): "I took my hands from the wheel for an instant to show him how empty of symbols they were." -- an allusion to the idea of a cat's cradle?
*wampeter: 24(52)
*"busy, busy, busy": 32(65), 78(176)
*vin-dit: 34(69), 90(201)
*wrang-wrang: 36(78)
*duprass: 41(86), 55(122)
*granfalloon: 42(91-2), 52(114), 59(130)
*calypso: 47(102). Not the first occurrence -- 1(3) -- but the first place where the term is defined in its Bokonist sense.
vorry boal moan: 67(148)
hy-u-okk-kuh: 67(147-8). 72(157), 79(175); cf. 43(93-5)
*boko-maru: 72(158), 77(171), 80(174f), 98(220)
*zah-mah-ki-bo: 82(184)
*foma: epigraph(vii), 85(191), 118(265)
*duffle: 89(199)
*stupa: 89(199)
*saroon: 90(202)
*sin-wat: 93(208)
Dose, sore, ...: 68(149)
hoon-yera mora-toorz: 68(149), 114(253)
oubliette: 96(214), 98(219), 100(225), , 117(262), 118(263f), 120(271) [dribbling away in accreted meaning]. Consider also the following possibly related ideas:
113(251): "So thoroughly had the tree Hoenikkers obliterated their memories of the incident that it was difficult for them to give me even that fundamental detail."
123(279), 3rd to last ¶: "No use crying over spilt milk" =/? putting history down the "obliette"?
*Pabu: 85(190), 90(201)
*Borassisi: 85(190), 90(201)
*Dyot meet matt: 99(220)
*Gott mate mutt: 99(220)
Den you vore da oh-oh: 99(221)
Tz-yenk voo vore lo yon-yo: 99(222)
*pool-pah: 110(244)
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copyright © 2002 by Lyman A.
Baker.
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This page last updated 27 February 2003 .