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English International and humor

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English International and humor

from JoeUser Forums

I sometimes wonder how many misunderstandings occur online due to people who don’t speak English as their native language interpreting dry humor as literal statements. 

I recently saw on a forum a discussion that quoted banter back and forth between myself and our PR rep. It goes something like this:

PR Rep: Got a 4.5 out of 5 on Game X!

Me: Oh no! That’ll wreck the Metacritic score – we want it to end up at 79. High enough for sales but low enough so we don’t have to give bonuses!

PR Rep: Stop! What is wrong with you?

Me: Same thing as when I had that case of Tourette's Syndrome

The dry humor part is the infamous rumor/fact that studios won’t get bonuses if the metacritic score is less than 80. But on the forum I saw, they were taking these statements literally. But the people doing so didn’t speak English as their first language.

Obviously, it’s possible they’re just…you know…dumb. But I wonder how much is lost in translation.

188,959 views 46 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting starkers, reply 25
So the TV/entertainment lounge is out of the question, then?
End of starkers's quote

Yep, but you oughta see the gameroom. :D

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 24
you end up with someone just saying "Hey, your nipples look better on TV than mine!"
End of Frogboy's quote

Can't say I've seen your nipples....;p

[the assumption is you have them....pretty sure Frogs don't]...;)

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 27
Can't say I've seen your nipples...
End of Jafo's quote

I'm guessing that Brad is somewhat pleased about that... and intends to keep it that way. :w00t:

Reply #29 from Elemental Forums Top

Only time I've been exposed to english humor is when I worked in a warehouse and this black guy took something I had in my hands and I just looked at him like: "......?"     Then he explained that english (or british, can't remember) humor works in that you take something from someone (can't remember the rest) and then that is funny.

I never got it though  o_O

 

Totally correct about people on the internet looking for things to be offended about.

Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

British humour...from THE Master...;)

Reply #31 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 31


British humour...from THE Master...
End of Jafo's quote

 

I don't get what's funny about it  :\

 

But people find different things funny.

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Campaigner, reply 31
I don't get what's funny about it
End of Campaigner's quote

You're clearly not English....;) .... JAFOCHECK

Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Campaigner, reply 31
I don't get what's funny about it



But people find different things funny.
End of Campaigner's quote

You need to serve your Bringlish humour apprenticeship.

Then you'd find it funny. :-"

Quoting Jafo, reply 32
You're clearly not English.
End of Jafo's quote

Ah, but I clearly am.  And Marty Feldman was sheer genius, one of the best ever British comedians.

Sadly, his tenure on Terra Firma was shortened by an untimely and premature death. :'(

Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 30


British humour...from THE Master...
End of Jafo's quote

HAHAHAHA!!!! Brilliant.

Quoting starkers, reply 33
Sadly, his tenure on Terra Firma was shortened by an untimely and premature death.
End of starkers's quote

Indeed. Never call for an ambulance in Mexico City. It never came.

Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The reverse is also true. I look at US sitcoms, there's lots of laughter on screen, but I just sit there with a blank look...

 

OK, I have a blank look most of the time, this is just more blank. It makes my brain hurt...

Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Fuzzy, reply 35
The reverse is also true. I look at US sitcoms, there's lots of laughter on screen, but I just sit there with a blank look...
End of Fuzzy's quote

Yeah, I'm pretty much the same.  Most US comedies fail to impress me.  I may appear to laugh but actually it's an involuntary reaction I had developed after one of my exes frightened shit out of me.  Yeah, we were doing about 80mph along the highway between Townsville and Home Hill in Nth Queensland when she screamed: "We got no fucking brakes!!!!!"  The bitch!! 

It was a lie, but I went 10 shades of ghostly white and suddenly remembered the joke about Admiral Nelson calling for his red battle jacket to hide the blood when he was informed 5 French frigates had appeared on the port side... and for his brown corduroy trousers when the lookout up in the birdsnest announced another 100 French frigates had appeared on the starboard side. 

Luckily, I was wearing my brown corduroy trousers that day. :-"

Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top

So it all blended in quite well I take it. BTW....I may not be English but Marty Feldman always cracked me up. Those eyes. They always looked as though they were going to pop out of his head.

Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 37
So it all blended in quite well I take it.
End of Uvah's quote

Yeah, and I only forgave her when she pulled over, cupped my head in her hands and pulled my face into her ample bosom.

Coulda stayed there all day but we were still 1200kms from home. :-"

Reply #39 from Elemental Forums Top

can we come and visit?

Reply #40 from Elemental Forums Top
Context is just about everything with humor and translation. When I was taking Geology 101 back in the 70's, we had a TA from "England." He told us how difficult "Yankee" English is for him. He shared what he said was a true story: He was arraigning a group hike to go look at some fossil beds. He told the assistant that he would "knock her up at < I forget time>." She looked aghast. Seems that in merry 'ol England, "ringing" / "knocking" someone "up" means calling them on the phone / knocking on their door. Slight translation problem. Did he ever learn to park in driveways, and drive in parkways? Who knows. Some English/American-ism: Sidewalk = pavement. Lift = elevator. bathroom = loo. Auto: boot = trunk. Many more I am sure. I live on the Canadian border so here are a few Canadian/American -ism: Highway = route (as in route 66), serviette = napkin, AND napkin = kotex. Washroom = bathroom. Churchill said, "England and America are to great
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 40
Context is just about everything with humor and translation. When I was taking Geology 101 back in the 70's, we had a TA from "England." He told us how difficult "Yankee" English is for him. He shared what he said was a true story: He was arraigning a group hike to go look at some fossil beds. He told the assistant that he would "knock her up at < I forget time>." She looked aghast. Seems that in merry 'ol England, "ringing" / "knocking" someone "up" means calling them on the phone / knocking on their door. Slight translation problem. Did he ever learn to park in driveways, and drive in parkways? Who knows.
Some English/American-ism: Sidewalk = pavement. Lift = elevator. bathroom = loo. Auto: boot = trunk. Many more I am sure.

I live on the Canadian border so here are a few Canadian/American -ism: Highway = route (as in route 66), serviette = napkin, AND napkin = kotex. Washroom = bathroom.

Churchill said, "England and America are to great separated by a common language. If people who speak a common language can so easily mis-understand one another, just imagine the breadth of confusion (and opportunities for mischief) inherent in speakers of an other language.

@starkers Is it true? Oz beer is making room for lemonade? Please tell me it's not true!
End of ElanaAhova's quote

Oh there's a heck of a lot more of 'em than that.

In some parts of the world 'Durex' is a proprietary and also generic name for 'sticky tape' [adhesive tape] and in other parts it's the same thing...except it's a brand of Condom.

Confusion could lead to some er...sticky situations....;)

Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yeah, Sellotape isn't so good as a contraceptive ;)

Though duct tape would work if women sealed their [censored] with it... ;p

Reply #44 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ah...but an Aspro is quite efficient as a contraceptive....the woman just has to hold one between her knees...;)

Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ElanaAhova, reply 40
@starkers Is it true? Oz beer is making room for lemonade? Please tell me it's not true!
End of ElanaAhova's quote

Yes, I put a splash of lemonade in my [mid-strength] beer... just a small one.  I don't drink for the alcoholic buzz anymore, it's purely for the taste as I do not like soft drink [soda] that much... too sweet.

Quoting Fuzzy, reply 43
Though duct tape would work if women sealed their [censored] with it...
End of Fuzzy's quote

Now that's not nice.... besides, makes it hard to re-use with all that darned hair on it. :-" O:) :X

S'pose it works out cheaper than waxing, though. :grin:

Quoting Jafo, reply 44
Ah...but an Aspro is quite efficient as a contraceptive....the woman just has to hold one between her knees..
End of Jafo's quote

Reminds me of the time I asked my daughter for 20c prior to her going on a date.  She asked why and I told her that I was going to Araldite it between her knees.

While on the subject of contraceptives, this bloke, throughout 25 years of marriage, insisted of making love to his wife with the lights off.... until one night when she turned on the bedside lamp and discovered he had used a condom-covered dildo.  "Please explain!!!", she shrieked.

"I will", he snorted: "after you explain the kids." :O

An effective form of contraception one of my exes insisted on was the rhythm method. 

Whenever I felt like it she'd hand me a guitar. <_<

Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You little ripper ;p