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#77201 08/08/02 03:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
A
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Well technically there is nothing wrong with schmetterling, but it isn't quite as sonorous as papillon, and the "schm-" sound can be rather comic. I do like fensterbank! One of my favorite German words is their word for porcupine, although I can't spell it correctly -- "schtockelschwein," or "prickly pig."


#77202 08/08/02 10:23 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
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the "schm-" sound can be rather comic.

You're just ticked because you can't say, "Schmetterling, shmetterling!"

Besides, what's wrong with having comic connotations in the word for butterfly?


#77203 08/08/02 12:28 PM
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enthusiast
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I always had a soft spot for the Dutch window-sill: fensterbank. A lot better than our version.

If we're looking at Dutch, my favourite has to be sinnasappelsap (probably misspelled here, and sounding the best when liltingly mispronounced). It's the word for orange juice, and compares nicely to German - Chinaapfelsaft (China-apple juice).


#77204 08/08/02 01:37 PM
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veteran
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my favourite has to be sinnasappelsap (probably misspelled here, and sounding the best when liltingly mispronounced)

"De sinnasappelsap is op de fensterbank"

Hmmm!


#77205 08/10/02 12:35 AM
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Hi, Alex. I don't speak German, but today I learned a phrase they have: "Error! - said the hedgehog, and dismounted from the cactus."



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