Alexandra Taggart Mar 12, 2010:

No, definitely not Mark or Michael. Let us drop it, Alexander. We are here to help you.

Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk (asker) Mar 12, 2010:

Ban on Bluefin Tuna vs Blue Final Tune :) IMHO, this is not a place to take offence.

After all, someone feels hurt after reading just that Russian word in your discussion entry, especially in capital letters.

If “the main abusers” like «Всякие там The» come here, they are simply likely to surprise us all a bit (or a lot), and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Так что пусть синьор приходит. ("The"’s are probably The Misha, Mark Berelekhis, Michael Korovkin and the rest of the gang, aren’t they? There are a few other oldbies).

We should probably have marked the question “may be offensive” to bring them here and have some fun :)


Thank all of you again.

Alexandra Taggart Mar 12, 2010:

I hope, you don't intend to ruffle my feathers, Aleksey, my dear darling(no irony, I truly like your personality). The main abusers disappeared ( всякие там The) and I stood prone on the ground cheek to cheek with other professionals.If you have any doubts-you are welcome to Skype me.About your answer: a professional translator has this peculiar ability to place himself in the eyes of the final reader.Where would it be published?Say,in newspaper, and the reader is not in a good mood.What do you think? Does it work the way you want it to work? I think your answer is very good, but,alas not suitable for the text about EU and US forums.You see,the Russian journalist left it to your choice:every one makes his own conclusions in accordance with the level he is spoiled. Quite dodgy tactics in writing and I quite understand Alexander's confusion!

Aleksey Chervinskiy Mar 12, 2010:

The "corporal connotation" is more of an indication of my own depravity than a relevant translation tool in this particular case. It will be totally lost on English speakers unfamiliar with the use of the name of a certain female reproductive organ in profane Russian speech.

As for reputable publications, just replacing "Stinks" with "Smells" tones the phrase down quite a bit.

Again, would love to see English native speakers offer their variants. Maybe you should consider asking the question again with a more thorough explanation of using тунец as a euphemism for the notorious Russian curse word.

On a separate note, it was unimaginable to see a headline like this in a serious Russian publication just 20 years ago :)

Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk (asker) Mar 12, 2010:

Fishing in troubled waters with... a spade
Thank you, Angela and Alexandra, Victor and Alexey, and All Involved (to whom I wrote personally). So far not a bad fishing trip to those troubled waters.

Alexandra's “fishy”: possibly nearly there, one small word for man, one giant leap for mankind (the question). (No irony involved here).

Aleksey’s allusions went even further in the “localization” (both linguistically and corporally) of the pun's relevant meaning here. A bold answer! I was just wondering: was it TOO bold? What a Russian ear got used to is an absolute taboo or no-no for an English-speaking one.

I try to imagine such a stunning (or rather “Stinking”?!) revelation in a magazine with good reputation…

However, from a methodical point of view, such attempts are well worth awarding points. Aren't they?

We are on a virgin land with no sign of previous substantial research (but a lot of attempts). Let’s keep trying to work on this land with “the spade,” to paraphrase the recent statements of Victor, who “stays TUNed” – also a pun? :). Let’s not disappoint ourselves :)

But please, don't call this spade the spade once more -- after all, I purposely didN'T mark the question MAY BE OFFENSIVE. "Order!"

Victor Zagria Mar 11, 2010:

Ladies, thanks for cutting clear to the chase and starting calling a spade a ... BUT I personally do not claim to posess experience of slur-usage in the language of Bill Shakespear and Hugh Grant that profound as to reword the said Russian expression into it ... Thus, let me stay tuned and in hope to enjoy the revelation of the pun's relevant meaning here. Good luck.. :)

Alexandra Taggart Mar 11, 2010:

I forgot to thank Angela Thank you, Angela for turning every one's attention to professionalism.I like Victor Zagria'a answer very much, but he can rewrite the whole text this way by changing the meaning of the words.

Alexandra Taggart Mar 11, 2010:

In my guiding opinion, IMGO "Fat tuna, or not so fat?"-corresponds to the "slimming" tuna population, but it's not what the author wants to say. It's very possible to dissect everything with a clean cut. That fact, that there lays a doubt at the root -everybody got it in their answers, but what kind of a doubt? A venomous doubt.The author (almost) puts a statement:" Yes, a complete, ultimate PIZDETS - a waste of time!" Japs don't give monkeys-would the bluefin tuna disappear from the face of the Earth or not,let others waste their money for conservation as long as they gobble their японские рыбные пирожки.All these talks of so many came to a dead end - the words of the author are about a nasty surprise US and EU have got and thier great disappointment.

Angela Greenfield Mar 11, 2010:

Ага, это же нужно как-то в переводе показать!!!! Я, конечно, не мастер художественного слова, но Александра совершенно права.

Alexandra Taggart Mar 11, 2010:

Sorry friends... It has nothing to do with tuna, that is a joke, a very masculine joke.