Organic Act

October 24th, 2006

Charles Berlitz Native Tongues

In a UN discussion of the Organic Act introduced in Tanganyika prior to independence, the English-to-Russian translator, the daughter of émigré parents, fluent in Russian but educated outside of Russia, translated the law as Organicheskiy Akt - literally a correct translation but a phrase that in modern Russian also means “sexual intercourse.” Perhaps primly unaware of this generally accepted meaning, she captured her audience’s undivided attention. She continued to develop, in Russian, the ramifications, modifications, and positions taken on this Organicheskiy Akt. The fascinated Russian delegates first chortled, then laughed outright, even exchanging waves with the Ukrainian, Byelorussian, Bulgarian, Polish, Czech, and Yugoslavian delegates of the fringe who, delegation by delegation, joined in solid Pan-Slavic hilarity. The final clincher was a question to the English delegate from a non-Russian speaking delegate: “What do the natives think of the Organic Act?” The reply, which brought down the Slavic side of the house, was: “In general, they maintain a passive attitude.”