You laugh at me because I'm different, I laugh at you because you're all the same. (Unknown)
juni 2007
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Nou effe serieus.... Humor. Humor is niet iets waar je over wil lezen. Dat wil je ervaren, meemaken. Iedere uitleg van een grap is overbodig, flauw of irritant. Vooroordelen, stereotypen en al te gemakkelijke generalisaties liggen op de loer in ieder onderzoek, in iedere theorie of toelichting. En toch gaat deze Nieuwsbrief over humor. Juist omdat het zo’n fascinerend en tegelijkertijd heikel onderwerp is. Omdat het zo’n mooie inkijkjes biedt in de normen en waarden van een ander(e cultuur). Omdat het je een spiegel voorhoudt. Omdat het meteen raakt aan je wortels, aan wie je bent en waar je voor staat. Je weet meteen wat je grappig vindt – of niet. Humor verbindt. Je voelt je op je gemak tussen mensen met dezelfde soort humor. Je voelt je minder op je gemak als je niet samen kan lachen. Of als de grappen over jou of jouw cultuur gaan. Ooit zelf een mop verteld? Dan weet je hoe het voelt. Een geslaagde grap is een kortstondige machtsgreep. Weinig is echter zo dodelijk voor je status als een mislukte grap. Humor als afknapper. Humor verbindt. Ook in internationale context? Hoe zit het met culturele waarden en gevoeligheden? Een beetje terughoudend zijn is belangrijk. Je inleven in de ander. Want kwetsende humor is geen humor. Maar humor zonder spontaniteit verliest z’n kracht. Best ingewikkeld. It’s a thin line between funny and silly. Zelfspot dan maar? Als je kan lachen om jezelf, als je jezelf niet al te serieus neemt, ligt de vrolijkheid voor het oprapen. En je trapt niet op andermans tenen. Maar als een ander lacht als je een grap vertelt, betekent dat dan automatisch dat hij de grap leuk vindt? Nou effe serieus...lachen is gezond. Lachen om een ander, om een andere cultuur, is ook best gezond. En stiekem ook wel leuker dan lachen ten koste van jezelf. Gewoon blijven lachen dus. We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh. (BC)
Humour across frontiers There is such a thing as international humour – that is to say, some types of jokes gain international
acceptance. In particular, this is true of slapstick, which is age-old in its use and laughed at by Europeans, Americans, Africans and Asians alike. There are international jokes repeated across many borders, such as the one about who must jump first out of the airplane. In many of these jokes, the punch line is about allegedly national characteristics of other (often neighbouring) countries. And it is self-evident that the victim of a humorous attack is hardly likely to see the funny side of it. Take for example the joke about the journalists who organized a competition to write an article about elephants. The titles were as follows: English: Hunting elephants in British East Africa
French: The love live of elephants German: The origin and development of the Indian elephant from 1200 to 1950 (600 pages) American: How to breed bigger and better elephants Russian: How we sent an elephant to the moon Swede: Elephants and the welfare state Spaniard: Techniques of elephant fighting Indian: The elephant as a means of transportation before railroads Finn: What elephants think about Finland
The joke pokes fun at national weaknesses such as French lust, German seriousness, American bragging, British colonialism etc. The punch line is the Finn’s occupation with what others think about them. However, the Finns developed an alternative punch line by adding a Norwegian title: Norway and Norway’s mountains. Finns, Swedes and Danes find this absolutely side-splitting. The Norwegians, who consider themselves humorous people, do not find this ending funny at all. In fact, they do not understand it. Do you? Eastern humour It has also been said that humour crosses national boundaries with difficulty, especially when heading east. Few Asians are amused by American or (most) European jokes. The Confucian or Buddhist preoccupation with truth, sincerity, kindliness and politeness automatically eliminates humour techniques such as sarcasm, satire, exaggerations and parody. And jokes about religion, sex and underprivileged minorities. Eastern humour, as we understand it, is couched in subtlety, gentle, indirect reproach or reprimand, occasionally victimizing listeners in a slow nonaggressive manner that leaves them room for response while at the same time taking care of protecting the listeners dignity. Chinese are noted for their aphorisms and proverbs, and they and Indians find great sources of humour in parables, which we in the West find only moderately funny, although they do combine wisdom, moralizing and a sense of perspective. The Japanese are noted for their politeness. They most likely will politely laugh if they are aware that you have told a joke (even if they didn’t understood it). Joke or insult? While the introduction of humour in international business talks may bring considerable gain in terms of breaking the ice, speeding up the discussion, putting your partners at ease and winning their confidence in you as a human being, the downside risks are often just as great. In an intercultural environment one man’s joke is another’s insult. What is funny for the French may be gruesome to an Arab; your very best story may be utterly incomprehensible to a Chinese; your most innocent anecdote may seriously offend a Turk. Cultural and religious differences may make it impossible to laugh at the same thing. No laughing matter
Moreover, the fact that someone is laughing when you told a joke, does not necessarily mean he liked it or that he is having a good time. Laughter may symbolize other emotions, such as embarrassment, nervousness or even disdain or scorn. Your only help in getting around and dealing with the situation is the ability to be sensitive about cultural differences. Keep an open mind and let go of any judgement on people's reaction. And when you find that jokes about other nationalities evoke stereotyping and widen communication gaps, here is is some consolation (with a wink): in all countries the national jokes - on groups, personalities, professions, minorities etc - outnumber the international ones. (Free from: Richard Lewis. When cultures collide) The world's funniest joke A couple of years ago Dr. Richard Wiseman (Hertfordshire University, UK) launched Laughlab, a global, web-based experiment to find the world's funniest joke. Laughlab received some 40.000 jokes from all over the world. Over a million scores were given by an international audience of Laughlab website visitors and lead to a winning joke. The experiment didn't lead to conclusions on humour arond the globe, on preferences, appreciation or acceptance from individuals, groups or countries. It just lead to a winning joke. What would make a joke a winner? A joke based on general and therefore universally recognisable human experiences, emotions and characteristics, such as being successful versus failing, cleverness versus stupidity, misfortune, jealousy, greed, embarrassment etc. in universally recognisable situations has the best chances to win. To be a winner, a joke may not be insulting, so sarcasm, satire and parody are out, as are jokes about sex, religion and minorities. To be understood by all it may not be focussing on specific situations, specific types of behaviour typical of specific groups of people, or be highly personal based on people’s individual qualities or experiences. And as for language, a joke in English not containing too much punning or wordplay has the best prospects of being appreciated the world over. So, what is left, you might ask? Well, judge for yourself. Can you appreciate the world funniest joke? The joke reported by Laughlab to be the funniest is the following: A couple of New Jersey hunters are out in the woods when one of them falls to the ground. He doesn't seem to be breathing, his eyes are rolled back in his head. The other guy whips out his cell phone and calls the emergency services. He gasps to the operator: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator, in a calm soothing voice says: “Just take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. The guy's voice comes back on the line. He says: “OK, now what?" The official Laughlab website no longer exists, but more information can also be found at eg Spacedog
Humour in translated public notices Humour can be intentional or accidental. Translations of public notices is serious business. Therefore, it might be right to assume that funny translations in public notices are of the accidental kind. Please find below a collection of public notices translated in English.
At a Budapest zoo: "PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON
DUTY." Doctors' office, Rome: "SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES." Dry cleaners, Bangkok: "DROP YOUR TROUSERS HERE FOR THE BEST RESULTS." In a Nairobi restaurant: "CUSTOMERS WHO FIND OUR WAITRESSES RUDE OUGHT TO SEE THE MANAGER." On an Indian River highway: "TAKE NOTICE - WHEN THIS SIGN IS UNDER WATER, THIS ROAD IS IMPASSABLE." In a City restaurant: "OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND WEEKENDS."
A sign seen on an automatic restroom hand dryer: "DO NOT ACTIVATE WITH WET HANDS." In a cemetery: "PERSONS ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING FLOWERS FROM ANY, BUT THEIR OWN, GRAVES." Cocktail lounge, Norway: "LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BAR." Tokyo hotel's rules ad regulations: "GUESTS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SMOKE OR DO OTHER DISGUSTING BEHAVIORS IN BED." On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: "OUR WINES LEAVE YOU NOTHING TO HOPE FOR." In a Tokyo bar: "SPECIAL COCKTAILS FOR THE LADIES WITH NUTS." Hotel, Yugoslavia: "THE FLATTENING OF UNDERWEAR WITH PLEASURE IS THE JOB OF THE CHAMBERMAID." Hotel, Japan: "YOU ARE INVITED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHAMBERMAID." In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: "YOU ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE CEMETERY WHERE FAMOUS RUSSIAN AND SOVIET COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, AND WRITERS ARE BURIED DAILY EXCEPT THURSDAY." A sign posted in Germany's Black Forest: "IT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN ON OUR BLACK FOREST CAMPING SITE THAT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SEX, FOR INSTANCE MEN AND WOMEN, LIVE TOGETHER IN ONE TENT UNLESS THEY ARE MARRIED WITH EACH OTHER FOR THIS PURPOSE." Hotel, Zurich: "BECAUSE OF THE IMPROPRIETY OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX IN THE BEDROOM, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE LOBBY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE." Advertisement for donkey rides, Thailand: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO RIDE ON YOUR OWN ASS?" In the window on a Swedish furrier: "FUR COATS MADE FOR LADIES FROM THEIR OWN SKIN." The box of a clockwork toy made in Hong Kong: "GUARANTEED TO WORK THROUGHOUT ITS USEFUL LIFE."
In a Swiss mountain inn: "SPECIAL TODAY - NO ICE-CREAM." Airline ticket office, Copenhagen: "WE TAKE YOUR BAGS AND SEND THEM IN ALL DIRECTIONS." A laundry in Rome: "LADIES, LEAVE YOUR CLOTHES HERE AND SPEND THE AFTERNOON HAVING A GOOD TIME." In a Bangkok temple: "IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ENTER A WOMAN EVEN A FOREIGNER IF DRESSED AS A MAN." Advertisement Hong Kong dentist: "THEETH ARE EXTRACTED BY THE LATEST METHODISTS." Paris hotel elevator: "PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VALUES AT THE FRONT DESK". In a Safari Park: "ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR." In a hotel in Athens: "VISITORS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLAIN AT THE OFFICE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9 AND 11 A.M. DAILY."
Chinese humour in Canada
Managers lachen het hardst om Britse humor Als het om humor gaat, scoort Nederland niet bepaald hoog. De Britten worden door 34 procent van de topmanagers in Europa beschouwd als verreweg de grappigste mensen in Europa. Managers in Europa vinden de Britten bijna twee keer zo grappig als andere nationaliteiten. De Italianen volgen als tweede met achttien procent. Belgen worden over het algemeen niet grappig gevonden. Dit zijn slechts enkele resultaten van de 16de editie van de jaarlijkse UPS Europe Business Monitor, waarin 1.450 topmanagers uit zeven Europese landen geïnterviewd werden over een reeks zaken die het Europese bedrijfsleven beïnvloeden. Britse humor scoort De Britse humor wordt vooral gewaardeerd in Duitsland (47 procent), Nederland (46 procent) en Frankrijk (34 procent). De grootste fans van de Britse humor zijn echter de topmanagers uit het Verenigd Koninkrijk zelf, zes van de tien (59 procent) stemden voor hun landgenoten. Chauvinisme Enig chauvinisme met betrekking tot humor is niet uniek voor het Verenigd Koninkrijk, ook managers uit Spanje, Italië en België en gaven hun landgenoten de hoogste cijfers, met respectievelijk 66 procent, 58 procent en 38 procent. Daarentegen kan slechts tien procent van de managers uit Duitsland om zichzelf lachen, een visie die gedeeld wordt door de managers in de rest van Europa, want slechts drie procent
van de respondenten vond de Duitsers het grappigst. De Nederlanders hadden volgens de topmanagers iets meer humor; zij kregen vier procent van de stemmen. Belgen niet grappig Managers in Nederland zijn, samen met die in Frankrijk, de enigen die Belgische humor op prijs stellen met respectievelijk dertien procent en zestien procent van de respondenten. België scoorde ‘nul punten’ in alle andere onderzochte landen. Inwoners van Denemarken, Oostenrijk en Zweden worden het minst grappig bevonden, met slechts één procent van de stemmen. (Bron: managersonline) Inspiration: Humor en moslims Aandacht voor het nieuwe boek van Imam Abdulwahid van Bommel 'Valt er nog wat te lachen met die moslims'. Kijk op http://allochtonen.web-log.nl/allochtonen/2007/03/humor_en_moslim.html#more My father is a doctor, my mother is a typewriter and other simple language mistakes. Not many people are clever linguists, all over the world thousands of misunderstandings are caused through simple language mistakes. Here are some enjoyable examples: Germany: Next week I shall become a new car Thank you for your kidneys What is your death line? Japan: I have split up my boyfriend My father is a doctor, my mother is a typewriter I work hardly ten hours a day Portugal: What will you do when you retire? I will breed with my horses Sweden: Are you hopeful of any change? No, I am hopeless Finland: He took two trucks every night He took a fast watch How old is your son? Half past seven Vive the French language
Is it all about perception ... and pronunciation. When Charles De Gaulle decided to retire from public life, the British ambassador and his wife threw a gala dinner party in his honor. At the dinner table the Ambassador's wife was talking with Madame De Gaulle: "Your husband has been such a prominent public figure, such a presence on the French and International scene for so many years ! How quiet retirement will seem in comparison. What are you most looking forward to in these retirement years ?" "A penis", replied Madame De Gaulle. A huge hush fell over the table. Everyone heard her answer... and no one knew what to say next. Le Grand Charles leaned over to his wife and said: "Ma cherie, I believe ze English pronounce zat word, 'appiness ".
A revolutionary discovery. The English language is rooted in the French language, in fact evidence shows
that English is nothing more than poorly pronounced French (It helps to read aloud):
Prononciation
English
Traduction
Ail ou radis?
Are you ready?
Êtes-vous prêt?
Saintes salopes
Thanks a lot
Merci beaucoup
Débile
The bill
L'addition
Mords mon nez
More money
Plus d'argent
On le donne à ces connes
Hold on a second
Ne quittez pas un instant
Toute ta queue traîne
To take a train
Prendre le train
Qu'on gratte tous les jeunes! Congratulations!
Félicitations!
Marie qui s'masse
Merry Christmas
Joyeux Noël
Oui Arlette
We are late
Nous sommes en retard
Mais dîne Franz
Made in France
Fabriqué en France
Il se pique Germaine
He speaks German
Il parle allemand
Ahmed a l'goût de tripes
I made a good trip
J'ai fait un bon voyage
Youssef vole ma femme au lit You saved all my family Tu as sauvé toute ma famille Sale teint de pépère
Salt and pepper
Le sel et le poivre
Six tonnes de chair
Sit on the chair
Asseyez-vous sur la chaise
Dix nourrices raidies
Dinner is ready
Le dîner est prêt
Beaune-Toulouse
Born to lose
Né pour perdre
Les slips tout gais serrent
Let's sleep together
Dormons ensemble
Guy vomit sous mon nez
Give me some money
Donne-moi un peu d'argent
Âme coquine
I'm cooking
Je cuisine
Délicate et saine
Delicatessen
Épicerie fine
Deux bouts de chair
The butcher
Le boucher
Varices de grosseur
Where is the grocer?
Où est l'épicier?
C'est que ça pèle
Sex appeal
Attirance sexuelle
Ma queue perd son alcool
Make a personal call
Passer un coup de fil personnel
Indian humour at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~saha/humor.html Meet Laloo and Sarder, learn about Bollywood, Hindi, Sikh and Pakistani. Funny photo's from Africa at http://kabiza.com/Humor-Africa-words-pictures.htm
Madam & Eve at http://www.madamandeve.co.za Madam & Eve is de naam van een stripverhaal in Zuid-Afrika geschreven door S. Francis, H. Dugmore & Rico. Het is een dagelijkse strip die in de krant verschijnt. De hoofdpersonen zijn Gwen de blanke 'Madam' en haar zwarte meid, Eve Sisulu. De strip was razend populair vooral in de spannende periode gedurende de afschaffing van de apartheid. Het deed mensen eens flink om zichzelf en elkaar lachen.
Meet Sigmund at http://www.sigmund.nl the most popular provocative shrink (cartoons in Dutch and English). Contact: Elli de Rijk Beyond Culture
[email protected] www.beyondculture.nl
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