Comments on: After the shooting grab a body bag and head to the public viewing http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/ German Quirks from an American Perspective Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:10:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: deutschermichel http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-56962 deutschermichel Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:19:57 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-56962 It is obvious the Germans have a massive language problem.Thats why there is such a big discussion going on and everybody is at each others throat!Germans lack total "Feingefuehl" of the englisch language. Sprachgewalt geht vom Volke aus. Sprachvergewaltigung von deutschen Idioten! They murder the english language and their own and call it "language progress" Es lebe der Deutsche Michel! It is obvious the Germans have a massive language problem.Thats why there is such a big discussion going on and everybody is at each others throat!Germans lack total “Feingefuehl” of the englisch language.

Sprachgewalt geht vom Volke aus.

Sprachvergewaltigung von deutschen Idioten!

They murder the english language and their own and call it “language progress”

Es lebe der Deutsche Michel!

]]> By: Florian Blaschke http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38407 Florian Blaschke Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:57:23 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38407 I get your point that one should be careful with foreign slang. A German who uses the word in question among American friends, expecting amusement, could well experience uncomfortable repercussions instead. I get your point that one should be careful with foreign slang. A German who uses the word in question among American friends, expecting amusement, could well experience uncomfortable repercussions instead.

]]> By: Florian Blaschke http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38406 Florian Blaschke Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:45:15 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38406 Well, surprise perhaps, but no disconcertment. I mean, many people here are reasonably liberal and relaxed, and also used to reports of unusual sexual practices in the media. Those people are likely to treat them using the maxim "whatever rocks your boat" and "as long as you don't harm anyone, it's not my business". And ain't it so? We've got more important worries, after all, than to monitor what people draw sexual pleasure out of in private. Well, surprise perhaps, but no disconcertment. I mean, many people here are reasonably liberal and relaxed, and also used to reports of unusual sexual practices in the media. Those people are likely to treat them using the maxim “whatever rocks your boat” and “as long as you don’t harm anyone, it’s not my business”. And ain’t it so? We’ve got more important worries, after all, than to monitor what people draw sexual pleasure out of in private.

]]> By: Florian Blaschke http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38405 Florian Blaschke Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:36:46 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38405 But then, Germans are generally less uptight about sex and most younger Germans at least have no moral qualms with the idea of people engaging in group sex, provided that it is consensual (and preferrably, safe). There is nothing shocking about the idea per se anymore, just as in the case of many other unusual sexual practices, which may elicit comment but usually amusement rather than surprise or even outrage. But then, Germans are generally less uptight about sex and most younger Germans at least have no moral qualms with the idea of people engaging in group sex, provided that it is consensual (and preferrably, safe). There is nothing shocking about the idea per se anymore, just as in the case of many other unusual sexual practices, which may elicit comment but usually amusement rather than surprise or even outrage.

]]> By: Florian Blaschke http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38403 Florian Blaschke Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:30:18 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38403 OK, I just read this: http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=466229&idForum=2&lp=ende&lang=de I think I get it now. You are referring to the fact that the word is considered gross and highly offensive in English (or at least very raunchy) and wouldn't be used in public. That connotation is lost on Germans, or at least not as strong here. People are, of course, aware that it is slang but a young German woman would not be shocked or even offended to hear the word in a casual conversation among friends of mixed gender. The word is rather perceived as naughty in German and mention will elicit laughter rather than shock. Provided, of course, that the situation is sufficiently relaxed and casual that naughty jokes are welcomed. OK, I just read this:

http://dict.leo.org/forum/viewUnsolvedquery.php?idThread=466229&idForum=2&lp=ende&lang=de

I think I get it now. You are referring to the fact that the word is considered gross and highly offensive in English (or at least very raunchy) and wouldn’t be used in public. That connotation is lost on Germans, or at least not as strong here. People are, of course, aware that it is slang but a young German woman would not be shocked or even offended to hear the word in a casual conversation among friends of mixed gender. The word is rather perceived as naughty in German and mention will elicit laughter rather than shock. Provided, of course, that the situation is sufficiently relaxed and casual that naughty jokes are welcomed.

]]> By: Florian Blaschke http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38400 Florian Blaschke Sun, 09 Jan 2011 15:10:52 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38400 I suspect it's supposed to be witty. The meaning of "gang bang" is very well known in Germany, as far as I have observed. I suspect it’s supposed to be witty. The meaning of “gang bang” is very well known in Germany, as far as I have observed.

]]> By: Amerikanerin http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38228 Amerikanerin Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:49:08 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-38228 There is a large club, sorry I mean "disco", here in Cologne that has "Gang Bang Night". I am still amazed that they use this phrase on flyers and advertisements! There is a large club, sorry I mean “disco”, here in Cologne that has “Gang Bang Night”. I am still amazed that they use this phrase on flyers and advertisements!

]]> By: Nordlicht http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-31356 Nordlicht Sun, 26 Sep 2010 10:54:33 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-31356 The culprits of these misuses are found mainly among the writers in the advertising agencies. Example: "Come in and find out" (Douglas) was a popular slogan a company issued to lure customers into their shops, until they realized that people understood "enter and find your way out" (Kommen Sie herein und finden Sie wieder heraus). The culprits of these misuses are found mainly among the writers in the advertising agencies. Example: “Come in and find out” (Douglas) was a popular slogan a company issued to lure customers into their shops, until they realized that people understood “enter and find your way out” (Kommen Sie herein und finden Sie wieder heraus).

]]> By: Nicole http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-31218 Nicole Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:18:29 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-31218 Hi folks, just stumbled on this website - I love it. Talking about Germans' funny usage of English - how about "talkmaster"? Hi folks,

just stumbled on this website - I love it.

Talking about Germans’ funny usage of English - how about “talkmaster”?

]]> By: Constantin http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-28834 Constantin Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:54:47 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/21/after-the-shooting-grab-a-body-bag-and-head-to-the-public-viewing/#comment-28834 oh we have a few of these words. Like Handy (from hand) meaning our cellphone or Beamer (from to beam) which neither means the device from star trek or a BMW but instead a video-projector connected to your laptop for presentations.... oh we have a few of these words. Like Handy (from hand) meaning our cellphone or Beamer (from to beam) which neither means the device from star trek or a BMW but instead a video-projector connected to your laptop for presentations….

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