Jokes in Arabic vs English | Bassem Youssef and Lex Fridman

Summary

The transcript discusses the challenges of performing stand-up comedy in different languages, highlighting the unique rhythm and cadence of each. It emphasizes the disparity between English and Arabic comedy, noting the conservative nature of Arabic stand-up and the richness of the language. The speaker also shares their experiences with cultural differences and the complexities of identity, particularly in the context of the Arab diaspora. Furthermore, the conversation touches on the political tensions in the Middle East, the impact of government actions on public perception, and the importance of holding power accountable while advocating for peace and understanding.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Language and Comedy: The performer discusses the challenges of adapting comedy between English and Arabic due to the unique 'music' and rhythm of each language.
• 📚 Legacy of Comedy: English stand-up comedy has a long history and a vast library of material, whereas Arabic stand-up is relatively new and more conservative.
• 🎭 Cultural Differences: The performer highlights the differences in cultural references and the need to cater to various Arabic dialects in their comedy routine.
• 🚫 Profanity and Society: The use of profanity in comedy is explored, with the performer noting the restrictions in Arabic culture and the desire to push boundaries.
• 🌐 Unity and Division: English can be a unifying language for diverse Arab audiences, whereas Arabic, with its many dialects, can be divisive.
• 🤔 Self-Reflection on Language: The script delves into the performer's introspection on language, its limitations, and the societal norms surrounding its use.
• 🏠 Home and Identity: The performer reflects on the complex feelings of home and identity, especially for immigrants and their relationship with their homeland.
• 🌟 The Arab Diaspora: The performer values the Arab diaspora in America for their appreciation of comedy and their unique perspective.
• 📈 Political Tensions: The conversation touches on the political tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on personal and collective identities.
• 💡 Accountability and Change: The performer emphasizes the importance of holding power accountable and the potential for change when people separate themselves from abusive authority.
• 🌹 Love and Critique: The script concludes with a message about the ability to love one's country without supporting its current regime or government actions.

Q & A

How does the performer adapt their comedy between English and Arabic?

The performer adjusts their delivery, cadence, and rhythm to match the musicality and energy of each language, acknowledging that the language difference significantly affects the humor and audience reception.

What challenges does the performer face when switching between English and Arabic comedy?

The performer finds it difficult to switch back to Arabic after performing in English, as the comedic timing and cultural references may not translate well between the languages.

How does the performer describe the state of Arabic stand-up comedy?

The performer describes Arabic stand-up comedy as very new and conservative, comparing it to the American stand-up scene in the 1960s before the influence of comedians like Lenny Bruce.

What is the performer's approach to handling language restrictions in Arabic comedy?

The performer breaks the barriers by becoming a more provocative figure, similar to George Carlin or Lenny Bruce, and incorporates a self-reflective section on language and its limits in their show.

How does the performer describe the unifying and dividing aspects of language?

English is described as a unifying language for a diverse Arab audience, while Arabic is seen as divisive due to its numerous dialects, which can be vastly different and not easily understood across regions.

What is the performer's strategy for addressing different Arabic dialects in their show?

The performer constructs sentences with different words that carry various meanings across dialects, creating a section of the show that highlights and explores these linguistic differences.

How does the performer's relationship with Egypt influence their work and decisions?

The performer has a complex relationship with Egypt, marked by both love and rejection. They avoid returning due to the emotional hurt they experienced, but they also do not bad-mouth their home country in their work.

What are the performer's thoughts on performing in the West Bank or Gaza?

The performer is hesitant to perform in the West Bank or Gaza due to the requirement of going through Israeli checkpoints, which they find demeaning and uncomfortable.

How does the performer address the issue of Israeli settlements and their impact on Palestinians?

The performer discusses the intimidation and harassment faced by Palestinians, including the use of technology for intimidation and the unchecked military power of settlers, highlighting the daily struggles of Palestinians.

What message does the performer have for the people of Israel and the Jewish community worldwide?

The performer encourages the Jewish community to critically examine the actions of the Israeli government and to separate themselves from any abusive power, emphasizing that criticism should not be conflated with anti-Semitism.

How does the performer's experience with language and comedy inform their views on societal issues?

The performer's experience with language and comedy has given them insight into the power of words and the importance of holding those in power accountable, as well as the ability to effect change through humor and reflection.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Language and Comedy: The Power of Delivery

The speaker discusses the challenges of translating comedy between English and Arabic due to the unique rhythm, cadence, and 'music' of each language. They reflect on the differences in stand-up comedy between the two cultures, noting the legacy of English stand-up and the relative newness of Arabic stand-up, particularly in Egypt. The speaker also touches on the restrictions they faced in Arabic comedy and how they broke barriers, similar to American comedians of the 1960s. Additionally, they highlight the unifying aspect of English versus the dividing nature of Arabic, with its numerous dialects that can be vastly different from one another.

05:02

🏠 Home and Identity: The Complexities of Belonging

The speaker shares their personal experiences with their home country, Egypt, and the complex emotions tied to it. They describe the love, hate, and rejection they've experienced and how it led to a desire to avoid rather than seek revenge. They discuss the immigrant experience and the disparity between the idealized image of a homeland and the reality upon return. The speaker also touches on the duality of loving a country without supporting its regime, using the example of Iranian fans supporting their team against the USA during the World Cup.

10:03

🕊️ Advocating for Peace: The Role of Israel and the Jewish Community

The speaker addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the negative impact of the Israeli government's actions on both Palestinians and the global Jewish community. They argue that the Israeli government's policies are unfair to all parties involved and that the Jewish people have the power to distance themselves from the government's actions. The speaker also warns against the rise of anti-Semitism and the importance of distinguishing between the actions of a government and the beliefs of its people. They advocate for holding those in power accountable and emphasize the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of resentment and conflict.

Keywords

💡Language Differences

The term 'Language Differences' refers to the variations in structure, vocabulary, and usage between languages. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses how the same joke told in English and Arabic can have different impacts due to the cadence, rhythm, and 'music' of each language. This concept is central to the video's theme, as it explores the challenges of translating comedy across cultures and the unique expressiveness of each language.

💡Stand-up Comedy

Stand-up Comedy is a form of entertainment where a comedian performs in front of a live audience, telling jokes and stories. In the video, the speaker reflects on their experience in both English and Arabic stand-up comedy, highlighting the legacy and established norms in English comedy and the comparative newness and conservative nature of Arabic stand-up. This keyword is integral to the video's narrative as it frames the speaker's journey and the cultural nuances they navigate.

💡Cultural Nuances

Cultural Nuances refer to the subtle differences in beliefs, customs, and behaviors within societies that can affect communication and understanding. In the video, the speaker discusses how cultural nuances play a significant role in language and humor, particularly when translating jokes between English and Arabic. These nuances are central to the video's message, as they shape the comedian's approach to their material and audience.

💡Dialects

A dialect is a regional variety of a language that differs from the standard form in certain aspects, such as pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. In the context of the video, the speaker emphasizes the diversity of Arabic dialects and how this diversity can lead to misunderstandings or a lack of shared comprehension. The concept of dialects is crucial to the video's theme, as it underscores the complexity of performing comedy for an audience that speaks different dialects of Arabic.

💡Profanity

Profanity refers to language that is offensive or considered swear words, often taboo in polite conversation. In the video, the speaker discusses their decision to use profanity in their Arabic stand-up comedy as a form of breaking barriers and challenging societal norms. The use of profanity is a key element in the speaker's narrative, as it represents a departure from traditional Arabic comedy and a push for greater freedom of expression.

💡Self-reflective

Self-reflective involves engaging in introspection or contemplation about one's own thoughts, feelings, or actions. In the video, the speaker's comedy is described as self-reflective because it includes consideration of language, cultural norms, and the impact of their performance on the audience. This keyword is significant to the video's theme as it shows the speaker's deep understanding and critique of their own comedic style and its implications.

💡Arab Diaspora

The Arab Diaspora refers to the dispersion of people of Arab origin living outside their native countries. In the video, the speaker talks about performing for the Arab diaspora in America and their experiences with audiences from various Arab countries. This keyword is important to the video's narrative as it explores the shared and diverse experiences of Arab immigrants and how these influence the reception of the speaker's comedy.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural Identity refers to the sense of belonging to a particular culture or cultural group, often shaped by shared experiences, traditions, and values. In the video, the speaker grapples with their cultural identity in relation to their homeland, Egypt, and the changes they've experienced over time. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it touches on the complexities of personal and collective identity, especially in the context of immigration and displacement.

💡Political Conflict

Political Conflict refers to disagreements or disputes between political entities, often resulting in tension, hostility, or violence. In the video, the speaker touches on the political conflicts involving Israel and Palestine, expressing their personal views and concerns. This keyword is relevant to the video's content as it shows the speaker's engagement with broader socio-political issues that intersect with their comedic work and personal experiences.

💡Social Critique

Social Critique involves the analysis and evaluation of societal institutions, customs, and practices, often with the aim of advocating for change. In the video, the speaker uses their platform to critique various social and political issues, including the actions of the Israeli government and the treatment of Palestinians. This keyword is significant to the video's message as it demonstrates the speaker's commitment to using their art to address and challenge societal problems.

💡Artistic Expression

Artistic Expression refers to the process of communicating emotions, ideas, or narratives through various art forms, such as comedy, music, or visual arts. In the video, the speaker's comedy act is a form of artistic expression that allows them to explore and comment on cultural, linguistic, and political issues. This keyword is essential to the video's theme as it underscores the power of art to provoke thought, discussion, and potentially, change.

Highlights

The performer discusses the challenges of translating comedy between English and Arabic, highlighting the unique musicality and rhythm of each language.

The importance of cadence and delivery in comedy is emphasized, with the performer noting how it can drastically change the reception of a joke by the audience.

The performer's experience of adapting their comedy for different Arabic dialects, acknowledging the vast differences and the need to appeal to a diverse audience.

The unifying power of the English language in comedy, as opposed to the divisive nature of Arabic with its numerous dialects.

The performer's decision to push boundaries in Arabic comedy, drawing parallels to influential figures like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin.

The exploration of language and its limitations in the performer's comedy, particularly in the context of cultural and societal norms.

The performer's reflections on the relationship between language and identity, and the complexities of performing in both the Middle East and the Arab diaspora in America.

The personal decision of the performer not to perform in certain regions due to political and ethical considerations, such as not wanting to engage with Israeli checkpoints.

The discussion on the impact of technology on intimidation and harassment, as exemplified by the story of the village of KRA and the settlers' use of social media.

The critique of the Israeli government's actions and how they reflect on Jewish people worldwide, emphasizing the importance of separating oneself from abusive power.

The performer's call for accountability and change, urging the Israeli government to listen to critics and not dismiss them as anti-Semites or self-hating Jews.

The mention of influential figures like John Stewart and Bernie Sanders, who the performer admires and identifies with politically.

The performer's emphasis on the ability to critique power structures without being dismissed as against one's own community or identity.

The importance of distinguishing between the actions of a government and the people it represents, as illustrated by the performer's views on the Israeli government and Judaism.

The performer's personal connection to Egypt and the bittersweet nature of their relationship with their home country, highlighting the complexities of love and disappointment.

The broader discussion on the immigrant experience and the changes in perception of one's home country when returning after living abroad.

The performer's perspective on the power of comedy to address serious issues and provoke thought and discussion on topics like language, identity, and politics.

Transcripts

you do a show like you were saying in

English and in

Arabic so and the story is very

different totally different two

different stories I would love to just

the language difference because it's the

music of the language is also different

so like what what's how can you convert

it into words but what's what's the

difference in the in the music of the

languages I'll tell you because I

thought I about that

thought all right all right okay so when

I was doing the English first yeah I was

I actually had good jokes but I was

missing the delivery because the Cadence

and the music and the rhythm is

different the way that an

English-speaking American uh a member of

audience will receive it it will be

different than how I receive it the

energy everything is

different so when I kind of like got

it I didn't know how to switch back to

Arabic

oh wow yeah fascinating because here's

the thing with English standup comedy

engl you have a huge Library you have

like a legacy you have like years and

years and years of people doing comedy

but in Arabic it's a very new very new

to us and most of the Arabic stand-up

comedy especially in Egypt is very um

tamed

mhm this is kind of like imagine the

stand-up comedy scene in America 1960s

before Lenny Bruce oh so no swearing

conservative swearing nothing

conservative everything like it's kind

of like very so I didn't know what to do

with Arabic so I broke the bars I became

Danny Bruce I became a George G so I

went in and I went and I and I changed

the whole thing seven words you're not

allowed to say what for me there 15

words but there a lot a lot Arabic is a

very rich language yeah

so when I did here's the difference

between the Arabic and the English

show the English show surprised surprise

is a unifying language even for a group

of Arabs so if I give the same exact

show to the same 1,000 me audience

members in the same theater and they're

the same people same makeup of like

Lebanese Egyptian Syrian Saudis English

will be a unifying language Arabic is a

dividing language because you have 22

dialects and the dialects are vastly

different and like maybe Egyptians

understand a little bit of Lebanese but

not that much but the reference is

Algerian Moroccan Tunisian totally

different animal that's like a totally

different language Saudi emirati Kuwaiti

totally different people understand the

Egyptian dialect because it's the

dialect of most of the artwork and the

movies but the reference in the everyday

Street Talk might not be understood by

them so now I have to go

in and talk to all of these dialects

together so I formed my big big part of

my show is like what are you guys

expecting of this this is what what this

is we going to when to go do profanity

and you're going to like it

m this is the problem with the the show

as a dialect and I I construct all of

these sentences formed of so different

different words for example an iron mhm

in any in any in in any Arabic dialect

is an iron in Saudi Arabia it means ass

that's one example yeah that's one

example you know so imagine if you can

actually construct sentences having all

of these things in one so would I would

construct like a whole section of my

show about that so it's really very much

about like self-reflective on language

and the limits of language that's

allowed and the limits of language and I

tell them part of the show is like I

know what's the problem with me doing

Arabic it's like if this was an English

show and I was telling you

and you'll be H but if I do one

swear words all of you will scr yeah

it's like why is it because we are

ashamed yeah our own so it's kind of

like it is it's not just like about

swearing it's about like there's a lot

of

philosophical Pathways in this yeah

there's profanity and we people have fun

whatever but like it is about like what

does how do we treat our language and I

tell them we speak Arabic as Arabs but

it's not the same Arabic it's crazy

right and you're doing the show in

America also which is another level of

OB oh yeah actually the Arab diaspora in

America is some of the best audiences I

have they are like wonderful and they

come from they just and I did and I do

and I did it also in the Middle East and

maybe I'll do like an Arab tour in the

Middle East in the fall which countries

would you go to and not I wor did Jordan

Lebanon I'm doing uh UAE I'm doing

Kuwait Egypt Bahrain Egypt I don't think

so I don't think so is a personal is it

worry about your

safety well I have the American

citizenship right now so I am relatively

safe there's a block sure honestly

there's a block there's a p there is

there um there's so much that happened

and I don't and I never I I never bad

mouth Egypt it is my country it is some

like it has all of my marriage 40 years

of my life I lived there but when you

get hurt so

much instead of trying to kind of I

don't want to take revenge I don't want

to like that I just want to avoid

because Egypt gave me so much Fame and

so much love and so much hate and so

much Rejection it is a very it was a

very tulous uh relationship very very

difficult and it's uh and a lot of

people tell me well don't you miss Egypt

and I tell them every time the Egypt

that I miss is not there anymore it's

not bad or good it's not worse or better

it's just I'm different and the places

are different and the people are

different and their circumstances are

different whatever image you have of the

of what you love is not there anymore

that's why a lot of immigrants

especially Arab immigrants they they

live here but they're there and then

when they go back for a vacation they

get disappointed because they didn't

find what they want and then they come

back here and they're disappointed

because this is what they want to come

back but it's not there anymore yeah

their view of that place is from a

different time I have that you know my

parents but everybody that left the

Soviet

Union I mean it's such a complicated

relationship with that M it's sometimes

borders on hate

disappointment in the uh in the case of

the Soviet Union perhaps ilar to Egypt

is the promises sold when you were

younger M and the the promise was broken

by the possibility of what it was

supposed to be with the Soviet Union I'm

sure with Egypt is the same Iran is the

same so they have a very complicated

relationship with that yeah that's why

like for example people from Iran you I

remember I remember quite well the World

Cup that was made in done in in the

United States and the Iranian team will

play America and there were people

people in the audience all wearing Iran

they hate the regime but they have this

kind of connection with the country yeah

and this is this is the whole thing you

can actually love the country and you

not have to agree with the

regime would would uh would you ever

perform in the West Bank no Gaza because

if I go there I have to go through the

Israeli checkpoints and I don't want to

go through the isra I don't want to have

an Israeli solder telling me what to do

yeah there's a demeaning aspect to that

whole even even in subtle ways yeah yeah

yeah yeah I mean I have so many

Palestinian friends with an American

passport US Passport living here they

are born here and they they talk about

the humiliation and the intimidation and

the harassment that they go in it's like

do you want me to try yeah that little

bit of a

humiliation little

bit well sometimes it's major but I

noticed that you know even the little

bit is uh has a after a lifetime of that

it can turn to uh it can turn to hate

towards the other yeah and resentment

resentment and then how do you do

anything with that resentment I have a

friend of mine he is from Palestine from

the west back he's American here he's

born here and uh we talk about you know

we have of course all of this discussion

about what happened and he tells me you

know in October 11th in the West Bank in

and there was a village called

KRA and on that Village like the the

settlers went in around the V and they

send a message on Facebook as like you

rats going get out of your sewers and

we're going to be waiting for you

intimidation through technology and then

they

went it is KRA have like another

settlement next to it's called ish Kesh

ish kodesh they have people there who

were training something called mishar

Yesa which is basically the Guardians of

Yesa and it's like a paramilitary group

that trains other settlers on military

combat give them weapons and do like

military drills and they went there like

militarized and went there and and it

was actually co-founded by a Jew from

Brooklyn not even and and and and like

an Israeli and he is like one of the

Disciples of May Kahana I'm sure that

you know who Mayer Kahana is who was the

Jewish defense lead the people who

assassinated Alex AA here in the United

States and and they were they were there

with their weapons outside intimidating

people now this story carries everything

that is wrong with the situation you

have people from Brooklyn from outside

just because they're Jewish they can't

come and they can claim the land from

the people there anybody from Co just

because he's Jewish you can come and

take the land from other people they're

using technology to intimidate

Palestinians they have unchecked

military power these are not IDF

soldiers these are settlers and they

have free reign in order to intimidate

and to kill the people and you

understand this is the daily life of

Palestinians not in Gaza in the West

Bank what do you do from your what do we

do what do people

do

to nudge this

towards uh peace towards flourishing

here's the thing I want to talk to the

people of Israel what is Israel doing

right now is not

just unfair to the Palestinians it's

unfair to the Jewish people in Israel no

it is unfair to the Jewish people around

the world because the way that Israel

links itself to the Jew to the

Judaism at a certain point you know

remember like Isis and K and when

everybody hated Muslims you know

sometime human humans are simple they

cannot have the nuances to

separate so anybody who with a Muslim

name with a Muslim face with a beard who

looks Muslim he would do it because of

that actions of those atrocities you

have the power as a person to separate

yourself from an abusive power a

horrible power and be yourself I am

really worried because the rise of

anti-Semitism and the rise of hate

against Jews is not because of the Jews

it's because of the actions of a

government Jews do not have to be on the

side of aarte Rony castels he is a

Jewish South African and he fought

shoulder-to-shoulder next to Nelson

Madela he was part of the African

National Conference ANC and he had an

article say like I know what aparte is

and I saw Israel and this is what they

have and the thing is Israel the Israeli

government should listen to other people

you cannot call anybody who who

criticize you either an anti-semite or

if they're already Jewish you call them

like self-hating Jew you cannot do that

you cannot continue doing that because

we did that when I would go in and

criticize the islamist it's like oh

you're self-hating Muslim you're not

really Muslim you're an Infidel you're a

secret you're a secular whatever we have

the power in order to

reform the course by holding people in

power accountable and the thing is it is

very stupid to actually call this

anti-Semitism like I my my idol is John

Stewart I voted for Bernie

Sanders the Sarah taxer the one who did

this amazing documentary about me

tickling Giants she's a Jew she is

married to an Israeli Jew we have a good

RAC because we know what the right is

they don't have to associate themselves

with the action of the Israeli

government