Korean Job Discussion Forums

kermo · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:23 am Post subject: Hey, that's not "funny"

Today, I clicked on a headline in the Korea Times, expecting to read something humourous, as it was entitled "Funny Policies". Instead, it was a rather depressing article about bureaucratic wrangling and shady data-manipulation. (http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200412/kt2004120115384154080.htm)

It got me thinking about words like "funny", "silly" and "crazy", which really have no satisfactory translation into languages like Korean and Hindi (these are just the two that I'm aware of).

Does this mean that Koreans have a lower opinion of comedy or clowning, because their words for it are associated with foolishness or mental defect?

I'm especially hearing from those who translate/use these words bilingually, or folks who "get" Korean humour.

peemil · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Location: Koowoompa

There's Korean humour now?

kermo · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

"Funny" can also mean "strange" as well as "humorous".

Example what's that funny smell?

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

No, I was thinking more like: "What's that funny smell coming from your shoes!"

peach · Mod Team Joined: 16 Oct 2004

Funny "ha ha" or funny weird.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

Yeah...

kermo · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject:

No, I don't laugh when my milk smells funny, or when a cop looks at me funny, or when Jongnoguru attempts to be .. Wink

thorin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003

Of course, funny usually means "fun". Laughing

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

hojucandy · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Location: In a better place

funny looking cucumber yu got there oigirl....

kermo · Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject:

This thread hasn't really come near what I am curious about, which could be restated as "Do the derogatory implications of the Korean equivalents of "funny", "silly" and "crazy" indicate that comedy is a "low" art form in Korean culture?"

However, it reminds me of some ridiculous Konglish that I came across on the GEPIK website. They wrote a script that my co-teacher and I (Korean Teacher and Native Teacher, respectively) were to follow religiously:

Korean Teacher: Hello students. Good morning?
Students: Good morning?
Korean Teacher: Did you have funny weekend?
Students: Yes.
Native Teacher: What's the weather like?
Students: It's cloudy and windy.
Native Teacher: That's right. It's called the Sandy Dust Phenomenenon. Now, let's play a game to loose our tensions.