Johnson
09-04-2003, 11:48 PM
http://www.pell-mell.cz/stories/Detailed/60.php
Do Prdele! Why Can't These #$*&+%! Czechs Swear?
Craig Robinson
I bought the cheap phrase book right off the bus. On my third day in Prague I had mastered the Czech words for beer (pivo) and fried cheese (smazeny syr). But I needed more than this. So did my intestines. So I bought the phrasebook with the dubious title „Czech for Foreigners, Tourist and Dumbos.“
As it happens, that particular book (about 12 pages) had only two interesting pages. The introduction, which explained what to expect from Czechs when you are trying to get laid; and the last page, which listed all the Czech swear words, with an amusing preface: „Czechs aren't as good at swearing as Hungarians.“ Armed with this book, not only could I try my luck with the Prague women, I also knew what to call them when they turned me down.
In American English, we have the unique blessing of having more uses, applications, connotations, conjugations and opportunities to use the word '****' than any single dirty word on the planet. This was cleverly brought to my attention by a t-shirt hanging over a bar in Smichov called Jamaika. It's wording: „The Correct Usage of the Word ****.“ It listed, dictionary style, with pronunciation guide, syllabic stresses, linguistic origin (meaning the first primordial Anglo-Saxon who first uttered "FACK OAF!!!"), and everything else our mom's wouldn't want us to say at the dinner table as a child. The bar also displayed the backside of the shirt. Both sides of the shirt were completely covered in four letter wording. I believe the Irish would provide a simpler lesson in **** logic to the wide-eyed, bushy-tailed Czech English student in training: „Fookin' say 'fook' between every fookin' word, for fook's sake!“
But then why do some cultures have '****' and others only have 'toilet' (hajzl), 'ty vole! (you ox), or 'ty kravo!' (you cow)? The most impressive insult every hurled from a Czech tongue is 'jdi do prdele' which means, directly translated, 'go up your ass.' ****. I'm awfully disappointed in the fargin' bastages. Perhaps this lack of colorful swearing is part of the Czechs' historical passive aggressiveness, which has allowed a ****load of conquerers to roll over them with their collective tanks and armies and has taught them the hideous art of bureaucracy. The Russians didn't leave because the Czechs all screamed „Kurva! Dji do prdele!“ (*****! Go up your butt!). I think the Ruskies left because of all the paperwork. A thousand paper cuts can defeat entire Communist regimes much easier than merely saying „**** off, mother ****ers!“
Do Prdele! Why Can't These #$*&+%! Czechs Swear?
Craig Robinson
I bought the cheap phrase book right off the bus. On my third day in Prague I had mastered the Czech words for beer (pivo) and fried cheese (smazeny syr). But I needed more than this. So did my intestines. So I bought the phrasebook with the dubious title „Czech for Foreigners, Tourist and Dumbos.“
As it happens, that particular book (about 12 pages) had only two interesting pages. The introduction, which explained what to expect from Czechs when you are trying to get laid; and the last page, which listed all the Czech swear words, with an amusing preface: „Czechs aren't as good at swearing as Hungarians.“ Armed with this book, not only could I try my luck with the Prague women, I also knew what to call them when they turned me down.
In American English, we have the unique blessing of having more uses, applications, connotations, conjugations and opportunities to use the word '****' than any single dirty word on the planet. This was cleverly brought to my attention by a t-shirt hanging over a bar in Smichov called Jamaika. It's wording: „The Correct Usage of the Word ****.“ It listed, dictionary style, with pronunciation guide, syllabic stresses, linguistic origin (meaning the first primordial Anglo-Saxon who first uttered "FACK OAF!!!"), and everything else our mom's wouldn't want us to say at the dinner table as a child. The bar also displayed the backside of the shirt. Both sides of the shirt were completely covered in four letter wording. I believe the Irish would provide a simpler lesson in **** logic to the wide-eyed, bushy-tailed Czech English student in training: „Fookin' say 'fook' between every fookin' word, for fook's sake!“
But then why do some cultures have '****' and others only have 'toilet' (hajzl), 'ty vole! (you ox), or 'ty kravo!' (you cow)? The most impressive insult every hurled from a Czech tongue is 'jdi do prdele' which means, directly translated, 'go up your ass.' ****. I'm awfully disappointed in the fargin' bastages. Perhaps this lack of colorful swearing is part of the Czechs' historical passive aggressiveness, which has allowed a ****load of conquerers to roll over them with their collective tanks and armies and has taught them the hideous art of bureaucracy. The Russians didn't leave because the Czechs all screamed „Kurva! Dji do prdele!“ (*****! Go up your butt!). I think the Ruskies left because of all the paperwork. A thousand paper cuts can defeat entire Communist regimes much easier than merely saying „**** off, mother ****ers!“