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WoLakota Project & Teachings of Our Elders

Jokes Don’t Sound Right in English with Arlene Wadsworth

Explore Jokes Don’t Sound Right in English with Arlene Wadsworth with available transcripts, learning questions and source alignments in the South Dakota and North Dakota

Interview · North Dakota · Arlene Wadsworth · NDNAEU 4

Themes: Kinship & family, Humor & play

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Learn About questions

What is a wake? When do wakes happen and what kinds of things happen during a wake? How does translation cause meaning to be lost?

Learn From questions

Is humor important in my family? What kinds of things does my family find funny? Have I ever tried to tell a joke that my friends/family find funny, but a different group just doesn’t get?  What was it like?

Transcripts

06 Arlene Wadsworth: Jokes Don't Sound Right In English

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Well you know we have fluid scoot talk su so we used to tell jokes and su and you trying to translate it to English it won’t sound right you’re just flat wait you tell me that it if it’s you know but you know you tell something into you here people happen didn’t you a lot of times somebody you don’t talk su they ask you know your chances why are you laughing it’s not funny but it’s more humorous and you know funny if you type tell it ensue excuse me but it was that I don’t know if it would really happen or that was as to what to come that I heard this uh they were having a week but a long time ago there was a log cabin a lot of them was this one room so they were having a wake in this one log cabin and the must spend um what another one next to it where they did all the cooking and everything and this one wait he kept looking at the clock looking at the clock and then this guy told her that this clock stopped he you know and that clock stopped and everybody jumped out and ran out they you know they thought that he meant the guy in the casket sat up you know and it was a clock that stopped you know oh that clock is it stop it this is it energy that means up so everybody ran out he thought they meant the guy in the casket set up but you tell it and sooo it’s funny you know

Source materials

Supplied transcript documents. Text and transcription uncertainties are preserved as supplied.