The first Irish joke

[theswordmaiden]

"From this period [8th century A.D.] we also have what might be called the first Irish joke. A continental scholar sitting opposite an Irishman, and playing on the Latin terms, asked aloud, 'What is the difference between an Irishman (Latin Scottus) and a drunkard (Latin sottus)?' Unfortunately for the continental scholar, the Latin question could

Comments

[superversive]

It’s not at all surprising that the first recorded Irish joke is also the first recorded instance of a foreigner hearing an Irish joke. No doubt the Irish themselves had been cracking wise for centuries, without ever seeing anything noteworthy about it; but when the Irish joke escaped into the world at large - Io! Historia erat! And a mighty new force was unleashed upon the earth, for good or evil.

[theswordmaiden]

Ha ha! Yes. I was trying to remember what Irish literature I had read before; I only remember humorous things like Mac Datho's pig, but not actual jokes. Also, I find it a bit weird that the Irish seem to have been thought of as drunkards even back then. Still, a force to be reckoned with as far as words are concerned.