>>24549157
Picrel is what most readers will imagine when coming across the word "tongs". Celine did not operate under the notion that "tongs" could be interpreted to refer to kitchen appliances, because "tongs" as we know them to be now only emerged after the publication of Guignol's Band. Then there are stylistic concerns with integrating the "tong" image into the translation. What do you propose? "Tonged", which is banal and silly? "Tortured with tongs", which is redundant? "Pulled/Pinched apart by tongs", which translates one word into four? "Torn" can be read as both verb and adjective, and is the ideal intersection between maintaining syntax and flow, and remaining faithful to the meaning. Concessions must be made in translations, I'm afraid. Unless Nabokov's Eugene Onegin with its supplementary volume of translator's notes is more your speed.
>No need address your other misguided """criticisms""".
I accept your concession.