Thread: Help with English speaking culture

A joke from one of the books of my favorite Pratchett. The direct reference to Russian October Revolution of 1917. But how English people, and American as well would understand this?

"Мы будем штурмовать Зимний" -- "Но ведь сейчас июль" -- "Тогда мы будем штурмовать Летний"

Sorry for Russian, I do not have an original on hand.

I would think:

We are gonna storm the Winter (palace).

But it's June right now.

So then we are gonna storm the Summer.

LOL! Pretty funny actually...

Originally Posted by saibot

I would think:

We are gonna storm the Winter (palace).

But it's June right now.

So then we are gonna storm the Summer.

i.e. the Summer Garden (Летний сад)

Yes, but do you have an idea what Зимний means? Without googling, I mean.

Originally Posted by Pioner

Yes, but do you have an idea what Зимний means? Without googling, I mean.

Зимний дворец? heck, I used to live in Petersburg!!! I know my palaces

Good, you lived in Peterburg. I have a slight suspicion that most of British and Americans did not. And what is a relation to Red Army, let's say?

Why would English speakers not understand winter palace and summer palace?

I know what the Winter Palace is.
If that's what you're asking, if not...you've proved your point.

Even if you did't know where the winter palace is, the name itself would be more than enough to get the joke.

Originally Posted by Pioner

Good, you lived in Peterburg. I have a slight suspicion that most of British and Americans did not. And what is a relation to Red Army, let's say?

What the relation is between the Red Army and the Winter Palace? The revolution started by storming the Winter Palace, but the Red Army wasn't founded until later I believe, in the Smolniy Institute (where I happened to study). So is there a relation?

Kalinka, you are right, but in the book there was a Red Army, I am not sure about details in the book (I am pretty sure about the details of the Revolution, spent so many hours in the school studying that), anyhow thanks for replies.

Revolution in Russian took place by taking over (storming) Winter Palace October 25th, 1917 (November 7th by eurpean Calendar). All the time Terry Pratchett in interviews declines knowing Russian hystory, and Russian books, but we keep on finding references, which cannot be accidental.

That is why I was asking, to check, he's knowledge of such things higher then average British/American.

Thank you all.

Pioner, I think they won't get it. The joke is in play on words "Зимний/летний" without mentioning palace. If you add "palace" there, you'll spoil the joke.

Vesh, thanks, I do understand that, I just wanted to make sure that average person got no idea about relation between Winter Palace and Revolution.

Anyhow, would be nice to check the original. Unfortunately I did not read that exact book.

When did he write this book? I knew this joke long-long ago. I don't believe it's Pratchett's. I would think that a translator, being unable to translate Pratchett's joke with play on words, just replaced it with this one.

History, Pioner.

Originally Posted by TriggerHappyJack

History, Pioner.

Than was pretending to be old style writing.

Originally Posted by Vesh

When did he write this book? I knew this joke long-long ago. I don't believe it's Pratchett's. I would think that a translator, being unable to translate Pratchett's joke with play on words, just replaced it with this one.

Ok, I found out, the book's title is: Interesting Times (will be next in my list to read), written in 1994. The original of the phrase:

Two Fire Herb looked at the rest of the cadre. 'Exactly,' he said. 'And then, comrades, we must strike at the very heart of the rottenness. We must storm the Winter Palace!'
There was silence from the cadre. Then someone said, 'Excuse me, Two Fire Herb, but it is June.'
'Then we can storm the Summer Palace!'

As you can see the translation is quite correct. (I think the quota was given by memory, that's why it is not full). It is definately linked to Russian Revolution (using of comrades word).

But Terry widely uses other people jokes, I believe, you cannot produce them in that amount. Many authors do that. But who knows, maybe it is his joke.

The Joke "The shortest period of time in Univerce is New York second. It is time between when green light turns on and the car behind you start to honk". I do not know if it is exactly his, but initially I read it in one of the book written in begining of 90-s, and then it appeared in Russian Internet, without mentioning of copywrites.

No, it's not his. I knew it when I was a child. And he lost play on words in back translation.

Originally Posted by Vesh

No, it's not his. I knew it when I was a child. And he lost play on words in back translation.

how old are you? If you 15 yo, that makes sense. (just kidding).

I, personally, do not find this joke very funny. I was just interested in relation to Russia. And I think both of this versions are equally funny (or non-funny) to me. And I think that such type of joke could be created by different people, to obvious.

I created one joke myself, I remember:
Ничто под луною не вечно, кроме вечного кайфа конечно.

and then I saw in one magazin:
Ничто под луною не вечно, кроме вечного шаха конечно.

The same meaning in general. Even structure of the phrase.