"Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny?

Aike · January 12 2009, 09:39 AM

After Picard first mentions the Borg to Lily in FC, she says:

"Borg, sounds Swedish."

Later when she sees them she says:

"Definitely not Swedish."

I am Swedish so I find these lines hilarious. And I know exactly why. But I won´t tell you now since I want to know why non-Swedes think it is funny.

I´d love to hear responses from people who saw TNG during its initial run in the US and maybe in the UK.

The Borg Queen · January 12 2009, 09:51 AM

Because Borg is a Swedish surname?

Therin of Andor · January 12 2009, 09:53 AM

Aike wrote:

I am Swedish so I find these lines hilarious. And I know exactly why. But I won´t tell you now since I want to know why non-Swedes think it is funny.

Wasn't it a joke aimed at Bjorn Borg?

cultcross · January 12 2009, 11:26 AM

Therin of Andor wrote:

Aike wrote:

I am Swedish so I find these lines hilarious. And I know exactly why. But I won´t tell you now since I want to know why non-Swedes think it is funny.

Wasn't it a joke aimed at Bjorn Borg?

That's what I assumed. They'd picked a name derived from 'cyborg' which also happened to be the surname of a very prominent tennis player whose demeanour as the 'Iceman' might have made a connection to the Borg's emotionless attacks. Given the time period, it was therefore a bit of fun to have Lily mix the two up.

Timo · January 12 2009, 11:58 AM

Of course, there's the famous Swedish culinary catchphrase "Bork, bork, bork" as well.

(I guess the OP might also refer to the fact that "Borg" as in Björn Borg or Göteborg/Gothenburg is actually pronounced completely differently in Swedish - it sounds more like "borrj" or "burry", with the final "g" interpreted either as silent or then as transformed into that "j" or "y" sound. That is, there's nothing Swedish about the way Lily says it.)

Timo Saloniemi

Bacl · January 12 2009, 05:57 PM

Uh, I always assumed it was funny because it does sound Sweedish. The Borg are supposed to be a chop-off of cyborg, and it is funny that they ended up with a Sweedish word, and one that many other Sweedish words sound like.

DontFeedPhil · January 12 2009, 06:30 PM

I used to have a sports illustrated magazine that had Bjorn Borg on the cover playing tennis. I remember that well cause my friends and I took the cover off of that magazine and other SI's and put them around our penthouse mags so we could look at them on a trip to Great America theme park. My mom and Dad were very impressed with our interest in Sports Illustrated...They never did figure it out...hahahaha

cardinal biggles · January 12 2009, 06:49 PM

That's great. And apart from the tenuous connection to Bjorn Borg, this has what, exactly, to do with the topic at hand?

DontFeedPhil · January 12 2009, 07:01 PM

You mean my comment? It explains why I knew about the Borg comment. Cause that issue said Bjorn Borg on the cover...I remember it well. Thats what!
Ill be more carefull to not take up valuable space with a post that is only 50% relavant to the topic. I gotta remember it must be 90% or more...

Haytil · January 12 2009, 07:14 PM

DontFeedPhil wrote:

You mean my comment? It explains why I knew about the Borg comment. Cause that issue said Bjorn Borg on the cover...I remember it well. Thats what!
Ill be more carefull to not take up valuable space with a post that is only 50% relavant to the topic. I gotta remember it must be 90% or more...

I thought it was funny and interesting...

That's how stories are recalled and told - inspired by random tangents and flashes.

Semah · January 12 2009, 07:20 PM

Brutal Strudel · January 12 2009, 07:42 PM

Haytil wrote:

DontFeedPhil wrote:

You mean my comment? It explains why I knew about the Borg comment. Cause that issue said Bjorn Borg on the cover...I remember it well. Thats what!
Ill be more carefull to not take up valuable space with a post that is only 50% relavant to the topic. I gotta remember it must be 90% or more...

I thought it was funny and interesting...

That's how stories are recalled and told - inspired by random tangents and flashes.

This is the internet! Porn is always 100% relevant!

Candlelight · January 12 2009, 10:45 PM

"Locutus? Sounds Italian"

Elder Knight · January 13 2009, 04:42 AM

I thought that pianist-comedian Victor Borge was the inspiration.

Bacl · January 13 2009, 05:01 AM

Candlelight wrote:

"Locutus? Sounds Italian"

"Jean-Luc? Sounds French...but you sound British! J'accuse!"

January 12 2009, 09:39 AM	#1
Aike Commander	"Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? After Picard first mentions the Borg to Lily in FC, she says: "Borg, sounds Swedish." Later when she sees them she says: "Definitely not Swedish." I am Swedish so I find these lines hilarious. And I know exactly why. But I won´t tell you now since I want to know why non-Swedes think it is funny. I´d love to hear responses from people who saw TNG during its initial run in the US and maybe in the UK.

January 12 2009, 09:51 AM	#2
The Borg Queen Rear Admiral Location: Does it matter?	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? Because Borg is a Swedish surname? __________________ .

January 12 2009, 11:58 AM	#5
Timo Admiral	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? Of course, there's the famous Swedish culinary catchphrase "Bork, bork, bork" as well. (I guess the OP might also refer to the fact that "Borg" as in Björn Borg or Göteborg/Gothenburg is actually pronounced completely differently in Swedish - it sounds more like "borrj" or "burry", with the final "g" interpreted either as silent or then as transformed into that "j" or "y" sound. That is, there's nothing Swedish about the way Lily says it.) Timo Saloniemi

January 12 2009, 05:57 PM	#6
Bacl Fleet Captain Location: Wehnimer's Landing, Elanthia	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? Uh, I always assumed it was funny because it does sound Sweedish. The Borg are supposed to be a chop-off of cyborg, and it is funny that they ended up with a Sweedish word, and one that many other Sweedish words sound like. __________________ [Town Square Central] This is the heart of the main square of Wehnimer's Landing. At the north end of the space, an old well, with moss-covered stones and a craggy roof, is shaded by a tall tree. www.Gemstone3.com

January 12 2009, 06:30 PM	#7
DontFeedPhil Fleet Captain Location: Just back from Your Moms House...	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? I used to have a sports illustrated magazine that had Bjorn Borg on the cover playing tennis. I remember that well cause my friends and I took the cover off of that magazine and other SI's and put them around our penthouse mags so we could look at them on a trip to Great America theme park. My mom and Dad were very impressed with our interest in Sports Illustrated...They never did figure it out...hahahaha

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

January 12 2009, 06:49 PM	#8
cardinal biggles FECK OFF!!! Location: potrzebie	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? That's great. And apart from the tenuous connection to Bjorn Borg, this has what, exactly, to do with the topic at hand? __________________ Mrs Doyle: Now... (pouring Jack a cup of tea) ... and what do you say to a cup? Father Jack: FECK OFF, CUP!

January 12 2009, 07:01 PM	#9
DontFeedPhil Fleet Captain Location: Just back from Your Moms House...	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? You mean my comment? It explains why I knew about the Borg comment. Cause that issue said Bjorn Borg on the cover...I remember it well. Thats what! Ill be more carefull to not take up valuable space with a post that is only 50% relavant to the topic. I gotta remember it must be 90% or more...

January 12 2009, 07:20 PM	#11
Semah Commander Location: I am a leaf on the wind.	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny?

January 12 2009, 10:45 PM	#13
Candlelight Admiral Location: New Zealand	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? "Locutus? Sounds Italian"

January 13 2009, 04:42 AM	#14
Elder Knight Captain Location: SE USA	Re: "Borg sounds Swedish?" (First Contact) Why is it funny? I thought that pianist-comedian Victor Borge was the inspiration.