German Professors Declare War on English Terms

Stupidity is contagious!

Well if the Germans are going to get all moody, I spose we'll have to ban BMWS, MERCS, AND THINGS. Or pull down some old statue

IMO, the professors are attempting to separate themselves from anything American or British. I think that their tune will change fast, when Germany will be looking to get a "piece of the action" in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Careful, oldandnew, to us old timers "mercs" refers to Ford mercurys, still desirable to collectors.

Phoenix

Your link leads to the Reuters article.

The link to the "professors website" is

http://www.sprache-in-der-politik.de/aktuelles.htm

It's a registered association, translated "language in politics". They suggest to change new anglism to the former used French words (Gallicism), because the English couldn't be used as a "Leitkultur" anymore.
Their suggestions should show that unlawful agression isn't tolerated by the international community.


All members of the executive board of this associaton are German (language) linguists, btw.

The news about this was published here in Germany - if published at all - in the 'Varia/Panorama/"You-wont-believe-it"- sections' of the magazines/papers some days ago.

Ah flyboy --- we don't get ford mercurys on our side of the babbling brook. Did see a Ford Galaxy about 40 years ago and a Chevy Impala once or twice.

I don't see any harm as long as they stick to words...... c.i.

Walter, being a linguist proves very little.

(At least they're not members of the Bundestag.)

And the French say "OKah" much more often than "d'accord".

fbaezer

That was just the reason -them being linguists- why I named that.

Well, and okay/d'accord in France: obviously, this depends on where you are and/or with whom you talk.
I've always made different observations.

Walter, It would be nice if the Germans would change the road signs from "Phart" to "out." c.i.

Should then happen with timetables etc as well, c.i,, :wink:

I think it's a good idea, and long overdue. I don't like seeing a language being sullied by 'chewing gum' from another.

It's been done in Quebec for about the last 20-25 years. There are very significant fines to companies that don't give priority to French advertising over English. When I took French in school, and was in a residential immersion program in Quebec, we lost marks if we were caught anywhere either mixing English into our French or saying um or er. I'm somewhat of a purist when it comes to language. It's got nothing to do with the current political situation for me. I'd congratulate anyone who makes an effort to keep MickeyD language out of German or French or any other language.

ehBeth- It would not be so funny if the German linguists wanted their expressions to be German. That would make sense. But what they are attempting to do is changing English expressions for FRENCH ones!

Phoenix, I don't think it's funny in any appreciable way.

ehBeth- Well, maybe funny was a poor choice of words. Ironic would be more like it. I think that a definite statement is being made. In and of itself, it is not very crucial, but it DOES reflect shifting of alliances!

Phoenix

They want to change them to the original forms, as the words were used here for centuries and/or have been created for centuries.

About one years ago, linguists tried to "re-invent" German(ic) words by creating new words for all those French (infuenced) ones.
Didn't work.

Walter- Aha! Didn't know that. Thanks for the background. But it does seem coincidental that the German linguists are attempting to de-anglicize (is that a word? ) at THIS particular point in time!

It's not all coincidence!

They say explicite that we shouldn't use these words due to ... guess what. (The chairman and a couple of others are from the new countries. Since they have lived quite a time in a so-to-say 'occupied country', the opposition to any war is in the former GDR the greatest here in Germany.)

It's just the timing of all this that makes it look ridiculous. c.i.