Re: [Cz-L] Yiddish

How did this stereotype of "A gelemter Terk" come into being is a puzzle to
me.
 There were no Turks in Czernowitz. Nobody had ever seen a Turk.
    The Turkish domination ended in 1750 and was performed by proxy ( the
Fanariots).
      And still if somebody was behaving clumsy the first thing that came to
your mind
       was "a gelemter Terk".
Hardy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike" <mike.office_at_ntlworld.com>
To: "CZERNOWITZ-L" <Czernowitz-L_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 10:28 PM
Subject: RE: [Cz-L] Yiddish


Oh I remember gelamter terk but haven't heard it in over 25 years, since my
Dad died. He was a footballer in his younger days (Hakoah Wien, no less) and
had firm views about the footballing talents of players in our local team.
I can still picture the bemusement of fellow-spectators as he berated some
hapless soul with "er schpielt wie a gelemter terk!" (he plays like a
disabled person of Turkish origin). I also remember morning-gella: an
expression of resigned exasperation. Tateh (also taten) for father, too. My
dad used to sing a song "Oi ist duss ein mamale! Ein mazel oif ihr taten."
(Oh, is she a mother! A mazel (good luck) to her father).

Mike

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Received on 2008-07-10 16:04:52