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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 141
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 141 |
The German language's affinity for sesquipedalians once led Mark Twain to
quip, "Some German words are so long that they have a perspective." Having
polysyllabic words in a language is no sin as long as you get your words'
worth. In that respect, those lengthy German words are worth every syllable.
Where else can you find a single word, schadenfreude, for example, that
conveys the whole concept of 'pleasure derived from the misfortunes of
others'. The English language knows a good thing when it sees one and has
generously borrowed terms from German. This week we meet seven of them,
both with and without 'perspective'.
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387 |
This isn't exactly about German loanwords,but Mark Twain did write a funny essay, called The awful german language. That's where Wordsmiths quote comes from, and the parts about parentheses and gender are funny.I can't tell you where to get a copy,though, because mine was printed in the 30's. jimthedog
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 387 |
This is about a funny essay on German by Mark Twain more than loanwords,but here goes it. Mr. Twain wrote The awful German language.It's got some funny parts on gender(3,not related to the person) and parentheses(use them whenever you want,as long as it's frequent.)Also, I believe it's where Anu got his quote.I wouldn't know where to get it, though, because our copy is old enough to be out of print.you might be able to borrow it from somebody. jimthedog
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Joined: Dec 2000
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,055 |
Hier herrscht ja Totenstille.
This section might as well be deleted
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
During WWII, many German military terms became widely known. Just a few are:
flak - antiaircraft fire
Luftwaffe - airforce
Panzer - tanks, etc.
Blitzkrieg - literally lightning (swift) attack in war
Feuerwerfer - flame thrower
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
During WWII, many German military terms became widely known.
Just a few of them are:
flak - antiaircraft fire
Luftwaffe - (German) Air Force
Panzer - tanks, etc.
Blitzkrieg - lightning (fast) war
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
During WWII many German military terms became widely used in newspapers and magazines.
Just a few examples:
flak: anti-aircraft fire
Panzer: tanks and othere armored vehicles
Blitzkrieg: lightning fast attack
Luftwaffe: (German) air force
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Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I submit this post for the sole reason of removing the tag "one posts" from this thread on the main index page. Obsessive? Who's obsessive?
Danke.
Chuz.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
I am submitting this post for the solely to change the "one posts" tag on this thread on the main index page.
Obsessive? Who's obsessive?
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
Just a test from Switzerland, to check the reach of big brother
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