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THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE BETWEEN A CUSTOMER AND A
WAITRESS IN A JEWISH RESTAURANT.
FUNEM?
SVFM.
FUNEX?
SVFX.
OKMNX.
TRANSLATION:
HAVE YOU ANY HAM?
YES, WE HAVE HAM.
HAVE YOU ANY EGGS?
YES, WE HAVE EGGS.
OK, HAM AND EGGS.

Submitter comment: WHEN MY GREAT UNCLE TRIED THIS ON US NO ONE COULD GUESS IT JUST BY
LOOKING AT IT. HOWEVER, WHEN HE READ IT TO US USING EXPRESSION IT
WAS MUCH EASIER TO CATCH ON. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS "PUZZLE" IS
THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH ON TO THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE
IT. THEN ONCE YOU ARE TOLD WHAT IT MEANS THE ELEMENT OF CURIOSITY IS
DESTROYED. ALMOST INVARIABLY PEOPLE WILL TRY TO READ EACH LINE
AS A WORD NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU TELL THEM TO PRONOUNCE EACH
LETTER SEPARATELY.

Where learned: OHIO ; CINCINNATI

James Callow Keyword(s): JEWISH PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Group of Vowels and Consonants, and of Words
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 00001960S

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ETHNIC JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

POLISH PEOPLE SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL TO LEARN WHERE TO PUT
TREES. THEY GO BETWEEN TWOS AND FOURS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): ETHNIC PRONUNCIATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli
SPEECH -- Vocabulary of Special Group

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS A BIGAMIST?
A: AN ITALIAN FOG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): SATIRE OF ITALIAN PRONUNCIATION OF ENGLISH

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- W4OO

Date learned: 10-15-1972

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ITALIAN JOKE

WHAT DOES AN ITALIAN CALL A HEAVY FOG? BIGAMIST

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

James Callow Keyword(s): ETHNIC PRONUNCIATION

Subject headings: ITAL

Date learned: 11-00-1972

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RIDDLE

Q: WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?
A: NEWSPAPER.

Data entry tech comment: 7 OTHER EXAMPLES IN THE 5 X 8 CARD FILES.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM (PLAY ON WORDS) ; NATURAL PHENOMENON (Q) COLOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- True Riddle

Date learned: 09-12-1965

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RIDDLE

Q: WHY DID THE LADY OPEN HER PURSE OUTSIDE?
A: SHE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): AN ACTION (A) ; CONUNDRUM ; MONETARY (Q)

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-20-1968

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LIGHT TREE

WHAT TREE CAN YOU HOLD IN YOUR HAND?
A PALM TREE.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): BODY PART PLANT STRENGTH ; CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-12-1967

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SUCCESS

WHO IS A SUCCESSFUL FARMER?
A MAN OUTSTANDING IN HIS FIELD.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; DEAD METAPHOR

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-04-1967

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CANDLE TALK

WHAT DID ONE CANDLE SAY TO THE OTHER CANDLE?
ARE YOU GOING OUT TONIGHT?

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; PERSONIFICATION

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-22-1967

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WET MELONS

WHY IS THERE SO MUCH WATER IN A WATERMELON?
BECAUSE IT WAS PLANTED IN THE SPRING.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; SEASON FRIUT

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-22-1967

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DONKEY AND A POSTAGE STAMP?
ONE YOU LICK WITH A STICK THE OTHER YOU STICK WITH A LICK

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): CHIASMUS SPOONERISM CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-30-1967

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WHEN IS A BOY NOT A BOY?
WHEN HE'S A-BED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 09-23-1967

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WHAT HAS FOUR WHEELS AND FLYS?
A GARBAGE TRUCK.

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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RIDDLE

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TUNA FISH AND A PIANO?
YOU CAN'T TUNE A FISH

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM ; PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-26-1967

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LOCKED UP

IF YOU WERE LOCKED UP IN A ROOM AND ALL YOU HAD
IN THE ROOM WAS A BED AND A CALENDAR
HOW WOULD YOU SURVIVE?
DRINK FROM THE SPRINGS OF THE BED, AND
EAT THE DATES OFF THE CALENDAR.

Submitter comment: I LEARNED THIS JOKE WHEN I WAS LIVING IN DETROIT FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-11-1967

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DARKNESS

IF YOU WERE IN A COMPLETELY DARK ROOM WHERE THERE
WAS NO EXIT AND ALL THERE WAS IN THE HOLE WAS A
MIRROR, HOW COULD YOU GET OUT?
LOOK IN THE MIRROR TO SEE WHAT YOU SAW,
TAKE THE SAW AND SAW A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL TO GET OUT.

Submitter comment: THIS RIDDLE WENT AROUND AND WAS QUITE
POPULAR WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL.

Where learned: DETROIT

Keyword(s): CONUNDRUM PUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 11-11-1967

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RIDDLE QUESTION

WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND GOES CLICK CLICK?
SISTER MARY BALL POINT

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS A COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
WHO HEARD THE RIDDLE IN OCTOBER, 1963 FROM A FELLOW STUDENT WHEN THE
COLOR RIDDLES WERE POPULAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Keyword(s): NUN

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 12-02-1963

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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WOMAN IN CHURCH
AND A WOMAN IN THE BATHTUB?
A WOMAN IN CHURCH HAS HOPE IN HER SOUL.
A WOMAN IN THE BATHTUB HAS SOAP IN HER HOLE.

Where learned: UNKNOWN

Keyword(s): ANUS ; OBSCENE ; PUN ; SPOONERISM CONUNDRUM

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: UNKNOWN

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SONG OF RELIGIOUS JEST

BLESS THEM ALL, BLESS THEM ALL, BLESS THEM ALL.
THE SHORT, THE FAT, AND THE TALL.
BLESS ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES
WHO TALKED US ALL INTO BECOMING NUNS.
FOR WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER THE CALL
WE'RE SAYING GOOD-BYE TO IT ALL
GOOD-BYE TO THE LIPSTICK AND ALL OF THE JOYS
GOOD-BYE TO THE SAILORS AND ALL OF THE BOYS.

FOR WE'RE ENTERING THE CONVENT TODAY.
FOR ALL YOU SINNERS WE'LL PRAY
YOU'LL CURSE AND YOU'LL SWEAR
BUT WE'LL BE SAFE WHERE
THEY WEAR BLACK STOCKINGS
AND SHAVE OFF THEIR HAIR.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): NUN

Subject headings: Favorites
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Good humor Jest

Date learned: 10-30-1969

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showing 36 items

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