My guess: “Is it my imagination, or did I forget something at home?”
Translating jokes are difficult. I think that’s why the most successful cartoons in this Views of the World section don’t rely on verbal humor, just images. I’m reminded of David Sedaris’ “Me Talk Pretty Someday”, where he talks about unintentional humor in translating normal phrases (in a story of his French classes, he quotes a Polish student straining to explain Easter, “a party for the little boy of God who call his self Jesus” who “be die one day on two … morsels of … lumber.”), and the problem in making funny material in one language equally as funny in another language. Here’s a link to a Mark Twain short story in English, translated into French, and then back into English:
Redd Panda about 3 years ago
Green trousers and a blue coat? Oh, the horror!
pamela welch Premium Member about 3 years ago
Forgot his head?? Been there!
Frankfreak about 3 years ago
Bad translation.
Jody H. Premium Member about 3 years ago
My guess: “Is it my imagination, or did I forget something at home?”
Translating jokes are difficult. I think that’s why the most successful cartoons in this Views of the World section don’t rely on verbal humor, just images. I’m reminded of David Sedaris’ “Me Talk Pretty Someday”, where he talks about unintentional humor in translating normal phrases (in a story of his French classes, he quotes a Polish student straining to explain Easter, “a party for the little boy of God who call his self Jesus” who “be die one day on two … morsels of … lumber.”), and the problem in making funny material in one language equally as funny in another language. Here’s a link to a Mark Twain short story in English, translated into French, and then back into English:
https://americanliterature.com/author/mark-twain/short-story/the-jumping-frog