Klarinet Archive - Posting 001306.txt from 1998/07

From: Kenneth Wolman <kwolman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Classical Music and Young People
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 17:22:41 -0400

On Wed, 29 Jul 1998, Mary Sotnik wrote:

> Maybe swearing's *not* linked to a lack of imagination then :-)
>

It could have a lot to do with your command of a language not your own.
Correct me if necessary, but my understanding is that the forbidden words
in any language are the last thing that any foreigner learns. Even
Americans and Brits have occasional misunderstandings. I used to work
with someone who, when she was a foreign student in the UK, stayed with a
family who said she could sleep until 7 AM, but then they'd have to "knock
her up." "WHAT???" They meant awaken her...the meaning of that
expression for an American is just a bit different:-).

The Russian comic Yakov Smirnoff told a funny story on the radio once
about his first months in the USA. He spoke English, but it was English
as taught in the Russian schools, not what he would hear on the streets of
Los Angeles. He wanted to see American standup comics at work, so a
friend took him to see Richard Pryor's club act in the days when Pryor was
still doing stand-up. After listening, Smirnoff turned to his friend and
said:

"What a soulful man he is! Every other word he mentions his mother!" The
friend then explained to Smirnoff the Russian approximation (if there is
one) for Pryor's favorite noun and adjective.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh" said Smirnoff.....

Ken

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