Ir pensando - how would you translate this in the given context?

Question

Hi there.

This is from 'La noche boca arriba' by Julio Cortázar:

'porque para sí mismo, para ir pensando, no tenía nombre'

'para ir pensando' would literally translate to 'to go thinking', meaning to be thinking whilst going from one place to another. Is there a subtelty to this phrase that I'm missing? Also, I'm struggling to phrase it in a natural way in English having come up with:

to think on the go

to travel/ride, lost/deep in thought (the protagonist is about to 'mount' his bike)

Any pointers out there?

Thanks, Alex

There is an expression in English 'to think on your feet' = meaning, to think on the go it is something that teachers have to do all the time (and I have worked as a teaching assistant with Primary school children) - FELIZ77, Oct 4, 2010

So it seems that my 'stab in the dark' might have hit close to the mark then on this occasion... - afowen, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 1

HI afo, welcome to the forum, can you post the whole sentence?

Answer 2

I would translate ir pensando as "keep thinking / continue slowly thinking"..... but I admit that the middle part there is a bit strange.

A mitad del largo zaguán del hotel pensó que debía ser tarde y se apuró a salir a la calle y sacar la motocicleta del rincón donde el portero de al lado le permitía guardarla. En la joyería de la esquina vio que eran las nueve menos diez; llegaría con tiempo sobrado adonde iba. El sol se filtraba entre los altos edificios del centro, y él -porque para sí mismo, para ir pensando, no tenía nombre- montó en la máquina saboreando el paseo. La moto ronroneaba entre sus piernas, y un viento fresco le chicoteaba los pantalones.

In the middle of the long hotel hallway he thought that he would be late, so he hurried to go out to the street and get the motorcycle from the corner where the porter (at the side?) allowed him to keep it. In the corner jewelry store he saw that it was 10 til 9, he would arrive with time to spare (where he was going?). The sun was filtering betweent the tall buildings downtown, and he, ?? because for himself, in order to keep thinking, he/it didn't have a name?? - rode on the machine savoring the ride (drive). The motorcycle purred between his legs, and a cool wind whipped at his pants.

Thanks Jeezle. I've seen 'el portero de al lado' translated as 'the porter from next door', which makes perfect sense... - afowen, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 3

No tenía nombre = no hay color. Con diferencia. Sin duda.

There was a big difference between going or not going on motorbike.

Y él -porque para sí mismo, para ir pensando, no tenía nombre = Y porque él pensaba que sin duda, en un día tan soleado y para ir pensando y relajado, sería mucho más agradable ir en moto...

(No doubt,-he thought- this is a sunny and quiet day, it will be much better to go on motorbike)

I love Cortázar.

What does "porque para sí mismo" because for himself? - jeezzle, Oct 4, 2010

So it doesn't mean "kept thinking"? What difference in pensé and ir pensado then? I thought IR was a continous + gerundio "continuation" verb type thing. - jeezzle, Oct 4, 2010

Thanks Cogumela, seems that this construction is very figurative... - afowen, Oct 4, 2010

"Para ir pensando" has a literal meaning here. Is "No tenía nombre" the figurative one. - cogumela, Oct 5, 2010

Answer 4

Hi Heidita.

El sol se filtraba entre los altos edificios del centro, y él —porque para sí mismo, para ir pensando, no tenía nombre— montó en la máquina saboreando el paseo.

That gives the broader context. (la máquina es su moto)

Cheers, Alex