Language-Barrier Comedy in Everyday Life

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E.g., me pretending to be a chicken and then pointing at various parts of my body to specify what I want for lunch.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:46 (nineteen years ago)

you don't have wings, funny guy

― Dr. Alicia D. Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:47 (nineteen years ago)

This guy I work with mornings in the school snack bar refers to eggs as "chicken periods" all the time

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:47 (nineteen years ago)

Fist in armpit = "wing" was the easy part to mime.

High counter = had to hop a little to specify "drumstick."

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:49 (nineteen years ago)

Should've played drums on the counter.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:50 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, also! Old Italian couple asking me for directions to the address written on a notepad, leading to much map-drawing and pointing, until suddenly I drew in a particular intersection and they got really excited and the woman pulled out a second notepad that had that intersection written down on it. (I still don't know how to draw "I can't help you with that address, but this is the street you're looking for.")

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 9 November 2006 20:58 (nineteen years ago)

A man came into the pharmacy, obviously dressed for a ski trip, and asked for help with his "leeps". It wasn't until he pointed to his head that I realized he needed lip balm.

― patita (patita), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:33 (nineteen years ago)

I'd like a little more context re: this having to pretend to be a chicken to communicate lunch preference business, it is intriguing. How did you express need for vegetables/liquids?

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:38 (nineteen years ago)

Jump in a nearby fountain and squawk.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:39 (nineteen years ago)

It wasn't until he pointed to his head that I realized he needed lip balm.

heh, I did similar in Montreal.
"Avez-vous Chapstick?"
"???"
(I mime putting on lipstick.)
"Ah!" (He points to the lip balm rack.)

― Django Blowhardt (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

I was listening to music at work, and the Chief Executive came in to borrow a journal...so instead of quickly taking earphones out, I just pointed my figure in a nonchalant manner to express that he could freely borrow said journal.

I probably should not have done this.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:40 (nineteen years ago)

he doesn't speak English?

― Dr. Alicia D. Titsovich (sexyDancer), Thursday, 9 November 2006 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

I'd like a little more context re: this having to pretend to be a chicken to communicate lunch preference business, it is intriguing. How did you express need for vegetables/liquids?

Everything about the order was understood up until we got to the chicken parts -- she started asking me if I wanted chicken parts in some kind of non-standard English terminology that I assume was based on direct translation. (Can't remember exactly but it would be the equivalent of saying something like "Do you want the bottle or the scarf?" Which was of course only surprising until it occurred to me that "drumstick" isn't very precisely anatomical either.) So ... mime.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 9 November 2006 22:05 (nineteen years ago)

(I mean, I tried saying "the leg" first, and then "the bottom part of the leg" while making a kind of drumming/clubbing motion, but then it was like what the hell, point at your shins, dude.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 9 November 2006 22:06 (nineteen years ago)

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