Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zappadelta]

that's a sweet avatar indiercj

[AdamH]

When someone isn't completely used to your dialect, the subtleties - sarcasm for instance - can easily be lost, even if they are otherwise adept at English.

Even when speaking to other native English speakers, I tone down the humour I would normally pepper my language with at home because, frankly, a lot of it consists of very flippantly dry, sardonic comments and self-deprecation that could easily be misinterpreted as pretty damn rude.

There can be a fine line between condescension - i.e. talking to someone as if they're a simpleton - and making well-judged and polite moderation in your speech for the benefit of others.

[nolin nae]

how about self-depricating humor? heard much self-deprecation lately, in english or korean?

[peemil]

I live on that humour. Not too many Koreans get it.

[periwinkle]

The links on your blog had me peeing my pants, laughing- thanks Pee-mil!

[peemil]

No worries... Hope you read some of the blog and enjoyed it.

[crazylemongirl]

CLG: Do you have any pets?
Student: Yes, I do. My sister.

[squat toilet]

[Swiss James]

oh yeah I hear that stuff all the time

"Why is your username OhKamja?"
"Because my head looks like a potato"

"Why don't you use that desk over there?"
"I am too fat to fit through the gap! Look!!!"

[nolin nae]

do those things qualify as humor to you guys? sounds like statements of fact or plain poor self image to me. not enough to even get a belly laugh...

[Grotto]

A buddy of mine teaching at a uni asked his students what they would miss most if they went to another country.

One girl wrote ramien She didnt believe that ramien was available outside of Korea

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

'Sarcastically' came up in one of our reading books and it was hard to explain. Until I thought of ________-teacher was very beautiful, wasn't she?

A few of the girls in my older class came up with 'Molly, she is genius', and if you met this kid, you'd understand that they obviously know how to use sarcasm.

[nolin nae]

[coolsage]

Humor does not translate well across cultures. Korean humor seems to be of the self-deprecating variety, as previously mentioned, or the moronic slapstick that permeates the television channels. A more sophisticated level of humor, such as satire, or the ability to laugh at one's society, seems to have not yet evolved here. Correct me if I'm wrong; on this one, I'd rather be wrong.