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From twinkle to twilight

English translation: from beginning to end

16:47 Apr 10, 2023
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: From twinkle to twilight
Dear colleagues,
I’m not sure about the meaning of “from twinkle to twilight” in the following two passages. Might it mean “from beginning to end”? But, if so, I don't quite understand "twinkle"..
Thank you so much for your help!

(this passage is in the Synopsis, right at the beginning of the book)

Investigating the nature of how our experience of what we often call “self” and of how the related experiences of identity and belonging emerge across the lifespan, *** from twinkle to twilight ***, this exploration combines personal reflections, lessons from contemplation and Indigenous knowledge, and findings from immersive meditative practices with scientific discussions of how the mind, brain, and relationships shape who we are and who we can become.

(This is at the end of the book, to introduce the References section)
I used the following sources in constructing this narrative, our journey together ** from twinkle to twilight. **
haribert
Local time: 20:04
Selected answer:from beginning to end
Explanation:
I think the meaning is clear from the context, even if the choice of words is odd. Twinkle could mean the first light of dawn, or the twinkle of the stars just before it.
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Dear Phil, thank you so much for your help! Many sincere thanks also to all other contributors, especially for helping me understand the possible link with "twinkle in the father's eye"
Have a nice weekend!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6from beginning to end
philgoddard
4 +4from birth to death
AllegroTrans
4 -1From the first adult expression of the human brain until its eclipse through old age and infirmity
Andrew Bramhall
2 -2From twinkle to twilight
Sameer Ullah


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
from twinkle to twilight
from beginning to end


Explanation:
I think the meaning is clear from the context, even if the choice of words is odd. Twinkle could mean the first light of dawn, or the twinkle of the stars just before it.

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 123
Grading comment
Dear Phil, thank you so much for your help! Many sincere thanks also to all other contributors, especially for helping me understand the possible link with "twinkle in the father's eye"
Have a nice weekend!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much, Phil, for your contribution!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheri P: Also “twinkle in one’s father’s eye”
29 mins
agree  Christopher Schröder
46 mins
agree  Sameer Ullah: Yes i am agree "twinkle is one's father's eye"
2 hrs
agree  Anastasia Kalantzi
2 hrs
neutral  Andrew Bramhall: I think this is an over-simplification.
3 hrs
agree  P.L.F. Persio
14 hrs
neutral  Yvonne Gallagher: But it's about a lifespan? // "beginning to end" could be of anything. Too general, though asker seems to think it might fit 2nd instance
18 hrs
  -> I don't understand your question. Yes, it says 'across a lifespan'.
agree  Amanda Santos
2 days 5 hrs
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
from twinkle to twilight
from birth to death


Explanation:
the human lifespan

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 52
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you so much for your help! I also thought "from birth to death", and maybe I could say that in the former occurrence, but in the latter, maybe it is more along the lines of "beginning to end", because the author seems to refer only to the journey (a metaphor for the book)...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sheri P
9 mins
  -> thanks
neutral  philgoddard: I don't see how "the lifespan from birth to death" is different to "the lifespan from beginning to end".
42 mins
  -> just a different way of expressing the same idea?
neutral  Andrew Bramhall: I don't think this is the actual meaning;
3 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Claudia Podio
12 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Tony M: Yes, 'twinkle' is often used as a euphemism for the desire that led to conception, while 'twilight of their years' suggests old age, if not actual death. And 'life' is often described as a 'journey'.
16 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Yvonne Gallagher
18 hrs
  -> Thanks
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): -2
from twinkle to twilight
From twinkle to twilight


Explanation:
Twinkle):
(of light or a shiny surface) to shine repeatedly strongly then weakly, as if flashing on and off very quickly:
The lights of the town twinkled in the distance.
The stars twinkled in the clear sky.
His brown eyes twinkled behind the gold-rimmed glasses.

Twlilight):
A poetic word for "twilight," or the time of day immediately after the sun sets, is gloaming. The best thing about summer evenings is looking for twinkling fireflies in the gloaming.

Sameer Ullah
Pakistan
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for your contribution!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Bashiqa: I like this but it could indicate just a twenty-four hour period and I think the asker is looking at a longer time span.
6 mins
neutral  Andrew Bramhall: Agree with Bashiqa;
1 hr
neutral  Tony M: A simplisticly literal rendering which fails to really explain the metaphor being used here. By the way, 'gloaming' is regional much more than 'poetic'.
14 hrs
disagree  Yvonne Gallagher: You haven't explained what the expression actually means
16 hrs
neutral  AllegroTrans: This doesn't really explain anything
17 hrs
disagree  Christopher Schröder: I think it's about the "twinkle in the eye" as in conception
17 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
from twinkle to twilight
From the first adult expression of the human brain until its eclipse through old age and infirmity


Explanation:
This isn't about the physical lifespan as in from cradle to grave as such, it is related to the development of the human ego and intellect through physical development and education, until its decline and demise through old age an infirmity; it's about waxing and waning in terms of a human being's intellectal capacity.

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  AllegroTrans: Why "adult expression"? A baby perceives and communicates from day 1
13 hrs
  -> Yep, thanks;
neutral  Yvonne Gallagher: Reaĺly a disagree clearly from birth...and rather convoluted anyway!
15 hrs
  -> Yep, thanks.
disagree  Christopher Schröder: Adding way too much in. And starts well before "adult".
16 hrs
  -> Yep, Thank you!
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