DEA wants to hire Ebonics translators
Wanted by the Drug Enforcement Administration: Ebonics translators.
It might sound like a punch line, as “Ebonics” — the common name for what linguists call African-American English — has long been the butt of jokes, as well as the subject of controversy.
But the agency is serious about needing nine people to translate conversations picked up on wiretaps during investigations, Special Agent Michael Sanders said Tuesday. A solicitation was sent to contractors as part of a request to companies to provide hundreds of translators in 114 languages.
“DEA’s position is, it’s a language form we have a need for,” Sanders said. “I think it’s a language form that DEA recognizes a need to have someone versed in to conduct investigations.”
I have no comment that wouldn’t involve the word “Willis,” so I’ll just hand the mic over to June Cleaver. (HT TAM LarryGeary 🙂
Of course, this is not new… there was the infamous “Hooked on Ebonics” tapes back in the day, and of course my favorite on Ebonics from Steve Harvey… enjoy.
http://bit.ly/8J4cGD
Zatta fac? Wach’all gonna do when y’all hea’ Southun Redneckbonics?
One of our writers is a DEA analyst. His take: “Seriously, if you heard some of the wires, you would just give up. I have no idea what language they are speaking.”
WOOFAW that – made me think of a clip a little farther back in time: Gotta Luv that Lucy
Very good, I loved that one. 🙂
The insanity never ends, this must be todays…
All we need now is Monty Python trasnslating in to Scottish.
I really hate to say it, but it makes sense. Every time I pull up to a McDonald’s drive-up in my area I feel like I need an Ebonics translator, and it probably would be useful to understand it when the brothas are making a drug deal.
I learned all my ebonics from watching Fat Albert.
“Jive ass dude don’t got no brains anyhow…”
Hmm…sounds like she be talkin’ ’bout a certain someOne.
This is the funniest s**# I’ve ever seen. And how apropos! Leave it to you to infuse such humor into a news story already quite unbelievable. Your talent for pointing out the folly of government never ceases to astound me! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen “Airplane” but this was always my favorite scene…Barbara Billingsly of all people saying, ‘pardon me stewardess, but I speak jive’….TOO classic! THANKS SO MUCH for posting this, Tammy~! I needed a good laugh and I sure as hell got one! Tears are coming out of my eyes I’m laughing so hard! This is the best!