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Rabbit

Russian translation: Да, кроличий язык

16:53 Oct 21, 2004
English to Russian translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: Rabbit
Может кто знает пьесу? Для меня это полная абракадабра (что впрочем часто бывает, когда мы пишем про "их" жизнь, а они - про нашу). Что за rabbit? Кроличий язык? Но в чем тогда юмор?

The stage comedy Fools, by Neil Simon, is set in a Russian village about 100 years ago.
The village has fallen under a curse of stupidity, but the father of a beautiful young woman sends away for a teacher to come to the village and teach his daughter and make her intelligent.
It’s a very funny play, as the teacher gradually realizes what he’s up against.
In one scene between the teacher and the beautiful girl, she tells him how eager she is to become smart.
“I want to learn languages!” she says.
The teacher kind of gulps and says, “What language would you like to start with?”
She says, “Rabbit, I think. Is it very difficult?”
In a later scene, the teacher is talking to her, explaining something way too complicated for her, and she finally says, “Is that rabbit you’re speaking?”
Yuri Smirnov
Local time: 18:34
Russian translation:Да, кроличий язык
Explanation:
Yes, rabbit language is meant to be taken literally here. The girl thinks it can be taught, though she is too stupid to learn it, so when she hears something she can't understand, she thinks it may be rabbit talk.
I have seen one or two of Neil Simon's plays, but not this one. His plays are normally set in New York and the humour (sorry, humor) is of a kind they understand there, but I must say I find it rather weird myself. It seems odd that he should want to set a play in Russia.

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Note added at 12 mins (2004-10-21 17:05:54 GMT)
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There is an expression in English, \"to rabbit on\" about something, meaning to talk continuously, foolishly and boringly, but I don\'t think that is what is meant here.
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:34
Grading comment
Although Nathalya was the first, Jack was more logical and more knowledgeable about the matter in hand and convinced me it's really the rabbit language that is meant. Oh, man! I don't see the point of this joke, kill me, I don't!
Thanks to both of you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Да, кроличий язык
Jack Doughty
3Кроличий язык
Nathalya


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
rabbit
Кроличий язык


Explanation:
Rabbit language

(Jargon and Slang) -> http://www.yaelf.com/slang.shtml
-> http://www.farthingwood.mcmail.com/wdrpg/lang.htm

Ya by skazala Кроличий язык, ne znayu kak skazat' po-drugomu...:-D


    Reference: http://www.yaelf.com/slang.shtml
Nathalya
Belgium
Local time: 17:34
Native speaker of: Dutch
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
rabbit
Да, кроличий язык


Explanation:
Yes, rabbit language is meant to be taken literally here. The girl thinks it can be taught, though she is too stupid to learn it, so when she hears something she can't understand, she thinks it may be rabbit talk.
I have seen one or two of Neil Simon's plays, but not this one. His plays are normally set in New York and the humour (sorry, humor) is of a kind they understand there, but I must say I find it rather weird myself. It seems odd that he should want to set a play in Russia.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2004-10-21 17:05:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There is an expression in English, \"to rabbit on\" about something, meaning to talk continuously, foolishly and boringly, but I don\'t think that is what is meant here.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Although Nathalya was the first, Jack was more logical and more knowledgeable about the matter in hand and convinced me it's really the rabbit language that is meant. Oh, man! I don't see the point of this joke, kill me, I don't!
Thanks to both of you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natalie: to rabbit on = разглагольствовать
8 mins
  -> Thank you. That's worth putting in the glossary!
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