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Right Tawara Stem Block
Jun 10 20:38
3 mos ago
39 viewers *
English term

ball of twine unwinding

English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters relationship between parent and infant child
Dear colleagues,
I’m here again in search of help...
How would you interpret the phrase "ball of twine now unwinding” in the passage below about the relationship between a parent and an infant.
Initially, I interpreted it quite literally as a “spherical mass of string unwinding” (I had found more poetic terms, though!), but now I'm not so sure any more, because "ball" is synonymous with "dance" and "twine" seems to refer to "Intimate and suggestive dance gyrations"... but what about "unwinding"? Might "unwinding" refer to dancers that move out of their embrace?
Thank you so much for any suggestion!

**************************

What is happening is that the bodily expressions of both parent and infant are becoming synchronized. They are doing a tango with their bodies, and their voices are engaged in forming a lovely melody. Momentum moves their engagement forward, where one synchronized movement leads to the next to the extent that they are not two individuals taking discrete turns, but rather *** a ball of twine now unwinding ***.
Responses
3 +4 Possible symbolism

Discussion

Vanessa Johnson Jun 11:
I've posted my discussion entry as an answer :) Happy to hear that it was helpful!
haribert (asker) Jun 11:
Dear Phil, Vanessa and Helena, thank you so much! I think Vanessa's interpretation (the first one) can be right. Here is another passage from the same chapter which seems to confirm her proposal:
*****************
The affective experience of parent and infant resonate as they are sharing the same experience. Both the parent and infant express joy, and both are joyful. As they show interest in each other, they are interesting. As they show love, they are lovable. It is within these synchronized conversations the infant is having with his parents that his sense of self begins to develop.

Thus, the same experiences that organize the infant’s sense of self also have an impact on the ongoing reorganization of the parent’s sense of self. They are having a reciprocal impact on each other.
****
I'd be really glad to give points if you would like to post an answer!
Helena Chavarria Jun 11:
I agree with Vanessa's interpretation, especially with number 1.
Vanessa Johnson Jun 11:
Possible symbolism I agree that the meaning is "spherical mass of string unwinding." I believe this could symbolize two things: 1, that the parent and infant are inexorably intertwined (there's that word "twine") or united: what one person does, the other follows because they are linked or part of the same thing (if you pull on a string, the ball unwinds); and 2, this is just my interpretation and would need more context to confirm, but maybe the unwinding is also a type of release, if previously there was tension or messy entanglement, like a knot, perhaps now that knot is unwinding, or naturally unfolding.
philgoddard Jun 11:
Ball is not a reference to dancing. As you say, it means a spherical mass of string.
haribert (asker) Jun 10:
Dear Michael, thank you! I guess I need it!
Michael Beijer Jun 10:
:-) Wow, sounds like you have your work cut out for you! Am always happy to help, especially when someone has a genuine question. In any case, good luck!
haribert (asker) Jun 10:
Dear Michael, thank you for saying that are interesting questions... I sometimes feel I ask "trivial" questions... Yes, I'm translating a book called "Interpersonal Neurobiology and Clinical Practice". It's a very interesting text, but also very complex, because it's written by twelve different authors, each with his or her personal view..
thanks for your help so far!
Michael Beijer Jun 10:
just out of curiosity Just out of curiosity, because you always ask such interesting questions, what are you working on? Are you translating something out of English? Is this from a book/article/story?

Responses

+4
14 hrs
Selected

Possible symbolism

I agree that the meaning is "spherical mass of string unwinding." I believe this could symbolize two things: 1, that the parent and infant are inexorably intertwined (there's that word "twine") or united: what one person does, the other follows because they are linked or part of the same thing (if you pull on a string, the ball unwinds); and 2, this is just my interpretation and would need more context to confirm, but maybe the unwinding is also a type of release, if previously there was tension or messy entanglement, like a knot, perhaps now that knot is unwinding, or naturally unfolding.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Vanessa, for your valuable help!
Peer comment(s):
agree Helena Chavarria
5 mins
agree AllegroTrans : Becoming unentangled, becoming separate individuals, less interdependent ...maybe?
31 mins
Looking at the context, it seems the author is trying to express the opposite: "parent and infant are becoming synchronized... where one synchronized movement leads to the next to the extent that they are not two individuals"
agree Clauwolf
5 hrs
agree Yvonne Gallagher : yes, unwinding/unravelling can also be negative but perhaps they were too tightly bound together
1 day 10 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you so much, Vanessa, for your precious help! Many sincere thanks to all other colleagues for their contribution! Actually, I do think this metaphor is used in a positive sense, as Vanessa said, to convey the concept that parent and child are tightly interconnected."
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