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I really like learning phrases, words, expressions in all languages, & living in NY is like a cornucopia! Yiddish is one of my favorites. Sometimes there seems to be no way to translate a particular word or phrase because of the cultural context, other times, the word or phrase becomes part of the 'translated Country's cultural context. Like the word schtick? Or chutzpah?
Or Lenny Bruce's 'schtick' on the definition of 'goyish'?:
Mr. Bruce was very controversial in his time & am sincerely hoping this doesn't offend anyone.
I saw Lenny Bruce perform before he died. Believe me, this was not at all controversial in comparison.
I saw Lenny Bruce perform before he died. Believe me, this was not at all controversial in comparison.
WOW, I wish I could've seen Lenny perform! WoW! Tell me more (maybe not here in this thread however? Don't wanna stomp all over a very nice thread.) Thanks & respect.
WOW, I wish I could've seen Lenny perform! WoW! Tell me more (maybe not here in this thread however? Don't wanna stomp all over a very nice thread.) Thanks & respect.
It was in the Cafe Au GoGo in Greenwich Village in New York City sometime in early Spring 1964. It was not long after St. Patrick's Day, which is March 17. (Now how many times does one get to mention St. Patrick on a Jewish forum? ) He was very dirty and very funny. He even used off color Yiddish expressions. (Keeping the post on topic. ) Years later he would be imitated by others who relied mainly on sophomoric shock value to be 'funny'. Bruce was the real thing. He was just plain hilarious even when he used 'acceptable' language. As George Burns once put it (he was also Jewish) humor is about timing and delivery. Material is secondary.
Lenny Bruce was one of the inspirations for the Berkeley Free Speech movement. But too often that was all about saying 'bad words' for shock effect. It was like the Rabbi cursing. They knew the words but they didn't have the music. (See, I made the post Jewish relevant after all. )
(I also really appreciate the respectful diversion! Greenwich Village in the early 60s must've been something else! You guys probably saw Bob Dylan et al perform in those days? WoW!)
(I also really appreciate the respectful diversion! Greenwich Village in the early 60s must've been something else! You guys probably saw Bob Dylan et al perform in those days? WoW!)
Yiddish has no rules. Its letters are pronounced as if vowels don't exist. So its What You See Is What You Get just like the transliteration.
As to the Village, I only go back as far as the CBGB crowd where people watched the Ramones and I actually knew them.
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) He was very dirty and very funny. He even used off color Yiddish expressions. (Keeping the post on topic. 
) Years later he would be imitated by others who relied mainly on sophomoric shock value to be 'funny'. Bruce was the real thing. He was just plain hilarious even when he used 'acceptable' language. As George Burns once put it (he was also Jewish) humor is about timing and delivery. Material is secondary.
)
