May 29, 2020

Evolving German Mischmasch Language

I’ve abused the German language for many years. Sometimes, I’ve spoken in a mischmasch of English and German, because it was more convenient. For example, my husband asks me for the whereabouts of something, then my reply is usually this: “It’s in the Einbauschrank!” The Einbauschrank is the built-in closet in the entry way of an apartment in Germany. At least around here where we live. You see, I don’t bother translating it. I use the local word.

The other day, I discovered this new word on a notice at the doctor’s office. “… zu spät sein sollten, wird der Termin automatisch gekänzelt.” (In case you’re late, your appointment will be automatically cancelled)

Sprachnudel känzeln

There is a new platform called Sprachnudel (Language Noodle), which collects all the words not suitable for the Duden (Germany’s pre-eminent language resource).

Sprachnudel, the platform for Wörter der Jetztsprache (Words of the Present Language) sounds so much like Language Doodle. 🙂

Oct 2, 2017

German Term for the Day: Logopädische Praxis

I’m having fun with this ad by a speech therapy clinic right here in Oberursel. At first, the wrong spelling of Praxis (clinic) got me off track. Then I noticed the spelling for Logopädisch (logopedics) having gone wrong too.

I’m just glad they work on speech correction. They would never win a spelling bee* contest.

Oct 5, 2014

9 Interesting Facts about the English Language

For students and teachers of English:

* The longest word with only one vowel is ‘strengths’ (a nine-letter word).

* There are only four words ending with -dous are tremendous, stupendous, hazardous and horrendous.

* The oldest word is ‘town’.

* The longest one-syllable word is ‘screeched’.

* The longest word with all the letters in alphabetical order is ‘almost’.

* The only two words ending with -gry are hungry and angry.

* The longest word without the main vowels is ‘rhythms’.

* The dot on the top of the letter ‘i’ is called a tittle.

* The most commonly-used word in conversation is ‘I’.

Dec 30, 2013

Three Ways to say Happy New Year in German

In German, we actually have three different ways of saying Happy New Year.

Surprised…? Not really, are you.

1) Anytime late December until midnight Dec 31, we wish others “Einen guten Beschluss!” ( =  a good ending to the year!) or ” Einen guten Rutsch! (=  a good “slide” into the New Year!)

2) At midnight itself, when we run into others with a drink in hand, we say “Prost Neujahr!” (Cheers to the New Year!)

3) Once we get past the partying stage and anytime up to the end of the first week (or later), we greet others by saying “Alles Gute im Neuen Jahr! (Happy New Year!)

New Year's good luck charm

New Year’s good luck charm

In the supermarkets and other shops, you might find quite a few of these gifts, such as pots of four-leaf clover decorated with a plastic piglet, marzipan pigs at the bakery, and various other good-luck presents.

The chimney sweep is also a favorite good-luck messenger.

These small gifts are given to friends, family, neighbors and/or business associates before and shortly after the New Year.

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