The Laughing Linguist:     Join in with the latest craze. Challenge me with a funny phrase.

Ever wondered how to say: “The donkey is wearing Bermuda shorts” in Spanish?  How about: “Are sheep allowed on the plane?” in Swedish?  Now’s your chance to find out. Challenge The Laughing Linguist and raise money for Comic Relief.

On Red Nose Day 2009 (13^th March), www.joinmartin.wordpress.com will be taken over by The Laughing Linguist. There’s going to be lots of fun things going  on and, for one day only, you get the chance to challenge my linguistic skills. It’s time to bring on the battle of the funny phrases.

What you need to do:

Donate at least £1 to Comic Relief at:

www.justgiving.com/thelaughinglinguist

Send your funny phrase (in English) to: funnyphrases@mail.com

Choose a language (French, Spanish or German for example) and send that to: funnyphrases@mail.com along with your funny phrase. I will then translate that funny phrase of yours into the language you have chosen.

Stay tuned to www.joinmartin.wordpress.com on Red Nose Day 2009 (13^th March).

Why not use these sample phrases?

Why is the donkey wearing Bermuda shorts?

On Wednesdays, my hair is blue.

Humans and fish can live in peaceful co-existence.

My trousers are made from moustache hair.

Are sheep allowed on the plane?

Use the sample phrases or make up your own.

Your funny phrases and their translations will be published on the Join Martin Blog throughout Red Nose Day 2009. Donate £5 or more to Comic Relief via www.justgiving.com/thelaughinglinguist and something very special will happen. I will appear in person on my blog and say or read out a translation of your funny phrase in a video.

Put a smile on people’s faces at home and abroad by having some fun with The Laughing Linguist at www.justgiving.com/thelaughinglinguist Don’t delay. Make your donation now.

The Rules (please read before making your donation):

Every funny phrase and all emails sent to funnyphrases@mail.com must be in English.

The translations (spoken and written) of the funny phrases will be approximate and to the best of my ability.

Join Martin is a family friendly blog. Please do not send any rude, offensive, sexist or racist phrases for me to translate because I will not translate them. I will not translate any phrase which I deem to be offensive or lacking in common, decent respect for other people and/or other groups of people. No swear words please or innuendo. I have the final say on what is published on www.joinmartin.wordpress.com.

The language you choose for translation must be a real language which people in the real world speak. Latin is allowed but Klingon is not. The sender of each funny phrase will be mentioned on the Join Martin Blog when their funny phrase is translated and published. If you do not wish to be credited, say so in your email.