[LMB] OT: First Book, Second Language

[Azalais Aranxta]

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006, Alex Y. Kwan wrote:

> I think it's common in every language...
>
> In Beijing slang, for example, there are a lot of puns that are called
> xie1hou4yu3 (e.g. a monk using an umbrella means lawlessness, because
> there is no hair (hair is a homophone of "law" in Mandarin) and no
> heaven).
>
> And in HK slang, people used to play with the translated name of
> Tchaikovsky, because the "-sky" is translated as si1gei1, a homophone
> of "driver, chaffeur"; so people would ask one another jokingly if
> they even know Tschaikovsky is a bus driver or taxi driver or some
> such.

Do you know the Cantonese joke about the missionary who says
"Jesus Christ will beat you up" or something like that?  Someone
explained that to me ten years ago and I wish I could remember
it.

~malfoy


**************************************************************************
"That wickedness weltering around inside of you, inside of everyone, is
sacred somewhere.  There's a deity out there who digs it.  You can respect
and love your darkest side, disposing only of what is obsolete or
impractical.  It's all about giving yourself permission." --Jack Darkhand

"It is better to be cruel for love than for hate." --Thomas Burnett Swann