Т.В. Артеменко, Е.В. Кривощекова, Е.В. Кравченко, Н.Е. Николаева - Reader in Language and Culture - Part II (1110506), страница 11
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Thisis why it can take time for foreigners to get used to British irony: it is oftendifficult to detect.5.Example: Mother comes into the TV room and discovers her 11-year-old son watching a film instead of doing his homework, as he wassupposed to ten minutes ago. Pointing to the screen she says, 'Don't let medistract you from your duties, son, but when you're finished with yourserious studies there, maybe we could have a rest and do a little bit ofmaths.'6.What the mother says could be said in an ironic tone of voice, butit could also be said in a normal, matter-of-fact tone as well. In the secondcase the mother would pretend to be respectful but she is really not.Confused? A lot of people, especially foreigners, because they areconcentrating on the tone of voice and are not listening to the actualmeaning of words completely miss the ironic intention of the speaker.TOILET HUMOUR7.The other end of the scale is toilet humour.
Quite often these jokes(usually visual, as in television comedy programmes) are connected withtaboo bodily functions. Toilet humour is something every schoolchild inBritain becomes an expert in very early in life.A very mild example:1st MAN: I've just bought my wife a bottle of toilet water for 100pounds.572nd MAN: You could have had some from my loo for nothing.Questions.1.
What makes the British sense of humour unique?2. What is “understatement”? Why is it usually associated with theBritish reserve?3. Why is it difficult for foreigners to detect British irony?4. What is “toilet humour”?Here are some other examples of simple English jokes that have beenseparated from their answers (punch-lines). Try to choose the correct endto the joke from the list below:1.TEACHER: What do you know about the Dead Sea?PUPIL: ....2.TEACHER: What do you call the small rivers that flow into theriver Nile?PUPIL: ....3.1st BOY: Do you always bath in dirty water?2nd BOY:4.STRANGER: I'm looking for a man with a wooden leg calledJohnson.LOCAL: ....5.DINER: Waiter! Will my hamburger be long?WAITER: ....6.1st FRIEND: I know a cafe where we can eat dirt cheap.2nd FRIEND:7.DINER: Waiter! What's wrong with this fish?WAITER:8.CORONER: And what were your wife's last words, sir?HUSBAND: ....9.NERVOUS PASSENGER: How often do planes of this type58crash?AIR HOSTESS: ....10.PASSENGER: Guard! How long will the next train be?GUARD:Now choose the punch-lines for each of the jokes above:a.About six carriages, sir.b.But who wants to eat dirt?с Dead? I didn't even know it was ill.d.I don't see how they can make a profitselling this chicken at 2p per pound.e.It was clean when 1 got in.f.Juveniles.g.Long time, no sea, sir.h.
No. It will be round and flat, sir.i. Only once, sir.i. What's his other lee called?ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONSThese jokes include: misunderstood words, sarcasm, ignorance, punanswers, ambiguous word order, etc.1.TEACHER: What do you know about the Dead Sea?PUPIL: Dead? I didn't even know it was ill.2.TEACHER: What do you call the small rivers that flow into theriver Nile?PUPIL: Juveniles (from juvenile = young)3.1st BOY: Do you always bath in dirty water?2nd BOY: It was clean when I got in.4.STRANGER: I'm looking for a man with a wooden leg calledJohnson. (AMBIGU OUS WORD ORDER)59(NOTE: ...a man called Johnson with a wooden leg)LOCAL: What's his other leg called?5.DINER: Waiter! Will my hamburger be long? (TIME)WAITER: No. It will be round and flat, sir.
(SIZE)6.1st FRIEND: I know a cafe where we can eat dirt cheap. (DIRT =VERY)2nd FRIEND: But who wants to eat dirt? (DIRT = EARTH)7.DINER: Waiter! What's wrong with this fish?WAITER: Long time, no sea, sir. (NOTE: Long time, no see — I haven'tseen you for a long time.)8.CORONER: And what were your wife's last words, sir?HUSBAND: I don't see how they can make a profit selling this chickenat 2p per pound.9.NERVOUS PASSENGER: How often do planes of this typecrash?AIR HOSTESS: Only once, sir.10.PASSENGER: Guard! How long will the next train be? (TIME)GUARD: About six carriages, sir. (LENGTH)Practical JokesThe British are fond of practical jokes.
Some of them, played on April1st, have become record-breakers.•In 1698, a number of Londoners receivedsee the lions washed in the Thames. This event wasnewspapers. However, the same trick wasinvitations todescribed insuccessfully repeated in1860, and again a lot of curious Londoners came to enjoy the lions washed.•One practical joke genius from Dover played a joke on his fellowcitizens. On March 31st, a large number of dog owners received a veryofficial-looking document. It was marked "Urgent", and it had the60municipal coat of arms at the head of the page.
The document was signedby the Mayor of the town. It ran as follows: "Owing to a sudden outbreak ofhydrophobia, it has become necessary to take special measures ofprecaution against this terrible malady and to have all the dogs of the townvaccinated." So, all dog owners had to appear at the Town Hall at 10o'clock sharp on the following morning, April 1st, accompanied by theirpets.
By ten o'clock hundreds of dogs of all breeds and sizes were barkingand wagging their tales in front of the Town Hall. The astonished officialsdid not know what to do. Gradually it dawned upon the dog owners thatthey had been made April Fools.•Once the BBC told a story of abuilding that had been built upside down by mistake. They showed anexample of modern architecture which actually looked better when it wasturned the other way. Many people believed the story, and perhaps thearchitect himself was given food for thought.•In 1957, BBC Television playedan elaborate joke on its viewers. It showed a film about a spaghetti cropgrown in Southern Switzerland, near the Italian frontier. Agriculturalworkers were picking long strands of spaghetti from bushes and thepresenter of the film commented on the uniform length of the spaghetti andon the successful cultivation of 'these vegetables'.
After the programme wasover, hundreds of viewers telephoned the BBC. Some of the calls were fromthose who had enjoyed the joke. But there were a lot of calls from peoplewho wanted to know where they could buy spaghetti bushes.I.1. What is a practical joke?2. When are practical jokes practiced most often?3. Are they usuallyu appreciated or do people get angry?61II.1. Do you understand British humour?2. Is there such a thing as typical Russian humour? What are the topicsof most Russian jokes?3. How do you feel about April, 1 practical jokes? Do you make themyourself or are you usually the target?4. Do you have a good sense of humour? Can you prove it?BRITISH SUPERSTITIONSMost people in the world have some superstitions — they still live on inthe age of science.
Here are some British superstitions with long traditions.Some of them are similar to Russian ones, others are different.•It's extremely unlucky to walk under a ladder propped against awall or building. But if you must pass under a ladder, you can avoid badluck by crossing your fingers and keeping them crossed until you see a dog.Another remedy is to spit on your shoe and leave the spittle to dry.•throw it•It's unlucky to spill salt.
If you do, you must take a pinch andover your left shoulder.It's very bad luck to open an umbrella in the house — it will eitherbring misfortune tothe person who has opened it or to those who live in the house.•It's unlucky to meet or pass someone on the stairs. If it'sunavoidable, cross your fingers.•It's unlucky to take the last piece of bread on the plate.•It's bad luck to see one magpie. However, it's lucky to see two, etc.•It's unlucky to put new shoes on the table.•It's bad luck to pick up scissors that you've dropped.•It's extremely unlucky to break a mirror. It means 7 years of badluck.•The number thirteen is very unlucky and Friday the 13th is a very62unlucky date.•Burning cheeks or ears mean someone is talking about you.
It's afriend if your left cheek is burning. It's an enemy if your right cheek isburning.•A black cat crossing your path will bring you good luck.•A horseshoe over the door of a new house brings good luck. But itmust bethe right way up. The luck runs out of a horseshoe if it's upside down.•Clover usually has three leaves, but a few have four. A clover withfour leaves is supposed to bring good luck.•It's lucky to touch wood. If you feel you've said something that istempting fate, touchsome item of wood with the right hand.Questions.1.What British superstitions are similar to Russian ones?2.Are you a superstitious person? Have you had any proof the someof them work?The Barmy Army – Football : England’s Glory?Solicitors, doctors, bankers, teachers... What do all these groupshave in common? Well, individuals from these professions have allbeen arrested at some point for football hooliganism.
Surprising? InEngland today there is an epidemic of violence associated with football.But why is this? There are many reasons — connected with culture,money, history and nationalism.Myth number 1:Football is a working class game, for working class people.Fact:63Probably more than in any other country in the world, football inEngland has a national following. Just switch on the TV on a Saturday.Much of the afternoon on the major channels is taken up by footballcoverage. People from all walks of life watch, play, and go to matches. It isalso big business, with top players like Beckham getting paid around$40000 a week, whether they are fit to play or not.
Much of the violenceassociated with football actually comes from the richer supporters. Peoplewith prestigious, well-paid jobs often go to football matches just in order tohave a fight. It is as if they have the right to lose control and go mad for awhile — to forget they are respectable people. This perverse situation evenextends to semi-secret uniforms among hooligans.
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