Comic strips translated into Middle English.
September 23, 2008 5:14 AM Subscribe
Japes for Owre Tymes is a blog that translates one newspaper comic strip a day into Middle English. "Why? Because it can..." If you want to try reading the translated strips but need a bit of help here's a Middle English dictionary.
HI I'M FROM METAFILTER AND I COULD POST A COMMENT ON THE WRONG PLATE OF BEANS
posted by DU at 5:21 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 5:21 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Funnier in theory than in practice, IMHO. But it is a very funny concept, I'll grant you.
posted by kcds at 5:51 AM on September 23, 2008
posted by kcds at 5:51 AM on September 23, 2008
Geoffrey Chaucer Hath A Blog
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:15 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:15 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Funnier in theory than in practice
Yeah, I have to admit my anticipatory smile waned as I made my way down the page. But Chaucer's Blog is þe reall deale!
posted by languagehat at 6:56 AM on September 23, 2008
Yeah, I have to admit my anticipatory smile waned as I made my way down the page. But Chaucer's Blog is þe reall deale!
posted by languagehat at 6:56 AM on September 23, 2008
You have to admit it does remove some of the lame from a comic like Marvin.
posted by tommasz at 7:21 AM on September 23, 2008
posted by tommasz at 7:21 AM on September 23, 2008
Funnier in theory than in practice
It might help if the comics were funny to begin with.
But the commentary is worth it.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:34 AM on September 23, 2008
It might help if the comics were funny to begin with.
But the commentary is worth it.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:34 AM on September 23, 2008
It would be funnier if it were in Old English, I think. Or if the strips were Calvin and Hobbes.
posted by bettafish at 7:54 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by bettafish at 7:54 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Middle is so close to modern that it's basically still unfunny and is then rendered pretentious.
The commentary is more interesting, however.
posted by batmonkey at 10:47 AM on September 23, 2008
The commentary is more interesting, however.
posted by batmonkey at 10:47 AM on September 23, 2008
I like this post both in theory and in practice, but what I like most about it is that I've now read the first link as "Japanese for Owl Tires" about seven times and each an every time I've been like "hooray, I'm also for Owl Tires!" and "what the hell is an Owl Tire?" at the same time.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 10:59 AM on September 23, 2008
posted by soundofsuburbia at 10:59 AM on September 23, 2008
I laughed at "WHY HAST THO FORSAKEN ME?"
posted by Lacking Subtlety at 11:20 AM on September 23, 2008
posted by Lacking Subtlety at 11:20 AM on September 23, 2008
I enjoy this stuff (lousy at it tho). When I was in collich I took a course in Chaucer and we had to learn to speak middle English a bit. And I’m getting tested in this professors office on it (speaking it) and I’m thinking (fresh out of the military) I can drive, fly, jump, shoot, I’ve been places this guy’s never even heard of, been in charge of multimillion dollar operations with lives at stake - why the hell do I have to learn middle English from some cowtown professor when it can’t possibly be of any real use to me?
So I asked him. And he said “Because it’s so cool.”
And really, it is.
Plus, y’know, learning the roots of words and developing an ear for what you’re saying and as a result thinking. So it gives you a real depth of thought. And he knew that.
But still - 100% right thing to say to me at that time.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:11 PM on September 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
So I asked him. And he said “Because it’s so cool.”
And really, it is.
Plus, y’know, learning the roots of words and developing an ear for what you’re saying and as a result thinking. So it gives you a real depth of thought. And he knew that.
But still - 100% right thing to say to me at that time.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:11 PM on September 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Hwaet?
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:15 PM on September 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:15 PM on September 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Treuth, Fyfe billion in mynte gold certeyn soundis a myght of moneye assembled, but be ay redy, ye shul assaye fortune by wey of somme goynge shitel bestes. I wull make money off my javeloth oxyn to kepe with my promys.
(For right as men blamen an auaricious man by cause of his scarsitee and chyncherie, in the same wise is he to blame that spendeth ouer largely.)
posted by Smedleyman at 1:19 PM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
(For right as men blamen an auaricious man by cause of his scarsitee and chyncherie, in the same wise is he to blame that spendeth ouer largely.)
posted by Smedleyman at 1:19 PM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
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posted by DU at 5:20 AM on September 23, 2008 [1 favorite]