Thread: Married, single, divorced

P.S. The discussion about the word cock being "completely safe for children" in some contexts, but "мат" in other contexts, reminded me of a classic (though untranslatable) joke. To tell it properly, be sure to do your best impression of a rooster's crowing:

Q. What's the difference between a rooster and an inexpensive prostitute?
A. The rooster says Cock-a-doodle-doo!, and the inexpensive prostitute says Any-cock'll-do!

P.P.S. I am also reminded that Мастер и Маргарита has been translated several times once into English -- and in the Pevear/Volkhonsky version, the title of chapter 14, "Слава петуху", is rendered in an exactly literal way: "Glory to the Cock"!!!



Which would be an excellent name for a gay-pr0n website, or for certain bars in Amsterdam's red-light district. Also, Tom Cruise's character from Magnolia would approve of the sentiment. Rumor has it that the real-life Tom Cruise would approve, too.

However, I'm fairly sure this is totally not the effect that Bulgakov was aiming at in this chapter! (The Pevear/Volkhonsky edition has, by the way, been widely praised -- but translating Слава петуху as "Glory to the cock" definitely qualifies as OMG EPIC FAIL.)

Ну надо же! А у нас фильм получил совсем невинное название Остин Пауэрс: Шпион, который меня соблазнил — Википедия

Возможно, в таких случаях нужен перевод с американского английского на английский английский!

Throbert thanks for the elaborate and interesting answers.

but translating Слава петуху as "Glory to the cock" definitely qualifies as OMG EPIC FAIL.)

*ROFL*