Tibla
Encyclopedia
Tibla is an ethnic slur in Estonian language
, which refers to a Russian or a Soviet
The word possibly originates from the Russian pejorative addressing "ty, blyad" ,"ты, блядь" or "ty, blya" ,"ты, бля" literally meaning "you, whore" . An alternative explanation for the origin of the word comes from the Russian builders during World War I
, who mostly came to Estonia from Vitebsk governorate. They were called "tipski", which later became "tibla".
The Estonian Press Council offers an opinion that the term tibla is mostly applied to a Homo Sovieticus
kind of person: lacking culture, uneducated, with imperialist worldview.
The word has been actively used in Estonian media since 1990s by a character Ivan Orav
created by Andrus Kivirähk
. According to Ivan Orav the word "tibla" has nothing to do with Russians but instead are small, pink creatures that first appeared in Estonia in June 1940.
The 2006 European Network Against Racism
report mentions the recent use of the word tibla in Estonian-language media as an example of inappropriate language.
printed an advertisement: "Don’t you read the Päevaleht? You
must be a tibla then. Be a true Estonian and become the reader."
In 2008 the usage of the word in media caused a controversy, when Estonian TV aired the film Airheads
, in which the slur "retards" was translated as "tibla" (a completely different meaning). When confronted, the translator, a well-known linguist, apologised, saying that she was careless.
The word "tibla" is commonly used today for an person from other ethnic group (inc. russians) and/or other foreign language speaking person who ignores and/or does not respect the state, its laws and citizens in which the one lives. Today, the meaning of the word has lost much of its link to chauvinism. The word etymology is not entirely clear, it is referred to the possible origin of the obscene. Previously known as a derogatory word of nationally-oriented Estonians to either russians or any unpleasant person.
In 1990-s tibla was widely accepted to the written language and the printed text by Ivan Orav stories from Andrus Kivirähk.
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
, which refers to a Russian or a Soviet
Homo Sovieticus
Homo Sovieticus is a sarcastic and critical reference to a category of people with a specific mindset that were allegedly created by the governments of the Eastern Bloc. The term was coined by well-known Soviet writer and sociologist Aleksandr Zinovyev as the title of his book of the same name...
The word possibly originates from the Russian pejorative addressing "ty, blyad" ,"ты, блядь" or "ty, blya" ,"ты, бля" literally meaning "you, whore" . An alternative explanation for the origin of the word comes from the Russian builders during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, who mostly came to Estonia from Vitebsk governorate. They were called "tipski", which later became "tibla".
The Estonian Press Council offers an opinion that the term tibla is mostly applied to a Homo Sovieticus
Homo Sovieticus
Homo Sovieticus is a sarcastic and critical reference to a category of people with a specific mindset that were allegedly created by the governments of the Eastern Bloc. The term was coined by well-known Soviet writer and sociologist Aleksandr Zinovyev as the title of his book of the same name...
kind of person: lacking culture, uneducated, with imperialist worldview.
The word has been actively used in Estonian media since 1990s by a character Ivan Orav
Ivan Orav
Ivan Orav is a fictional character created by Estonian writer Andrus Kivirähk, who published a book "Memoirs of Ivan Orav or the Past as Azure Mountains" in 1995...
created by Andrus Kivirähk
Andrus Kivirähk
Andrus Kivirähk is an Estonian writer.By 2004, 25,000 copies of his book Rehepapp ehk November had been sold, making him the most popular 21st century Estonian writer...
. According to Ivan Orav the word "tibla" has nothing to do with Russians but instead are small, pink creatures that first appeared in Estonia in June 1940.
The 2006 European Network Against Racism
European Network Against Racism
The European Network Against Racism is a coalition of over 600 EU NGOs working to promote equality of treatment within the member states...
report mentions the recent use of the word tibla in Estonian-language media as an example of inappropriate language.
Controversies
In 2002, the Estonian Press Council settled the case when the newspaper Eesti PäevalehtEesti Päevaleht
Eesti Päevaleht is a major daily Estonian newspaper, from the same publishers as the weekly Eesti Ekspress. It has a daily circulation of around 36,000....
printed an advertisement: "Don’t you read the Päevaleht? You
must be a tibla then. Be a true Estonian and become the reader."
In 2008 the usage of the word in media caused a controversy, when Estonian TV aired the film Airheads
Airheads
Airheads is a 1994 American comedy film written by Rich Wilkes and directed by Michael Lehmann. It stars Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi and Adam Sandler as a band of loser musicians called "The Lone Rangers" who take a radio station hostage, just so that their song would get played on the radio...
, in which the slur "retards" was translated as "tibla" (a completely different meaning). When confronted, the translator, a well-known linguist, apologised, saying that she was careless.
The word "tibla" is commonly used today for an person from other ethnic group (inc. russians) and/or other foreign language speaking person who ignores and/or does not respect the state, its laws and citizens in which the one lives. Today, the meaning of the word has lost much of its link to chauvinism. The word etymology is not entirely clear, it is referred to the possible origin of the obscene. Previously known as a derogatory word of nationally-oriented Estonians to either russians or any unpleasant person.
In 1990-s tibla was widely accepted to the written language and the printed text by Ivan Orav stories from Andrus Kivirähk.