| One may add that the punch line is a twofold one the meaning of which unfolds on a meta level. Whereas the question which has been asked in a modern language belonging to the family of slavic languages may be called a nutritional enquiry, the answer represents a perfectly inadequate reply on the levels of language and semantics in that it is held in a modern West-Germanic dialect and at the same time belongs to the realm of everyday small-talk. This attempt at interlingual communication is nothing short of complete failure which reveals an underlying rift between the cultures involved. Both speakers appear to have neglected the existence of linguistic expression modes different from their own in their previous lives which has lead to their respective incompetence at deciphering mutual messages even in crucial situations. One may rightly conclude that the artist wants his audience to consider the absurdity of verbose speechlessness in a globalized world even years after the termination of Chilly Warfare. |