Scientists urge people to stop using English terms

Ananova ^ | 04/07/03 | Ananova

[bedolido]

German scientists are telling the public to stop using words derived from English and use French terms instead.

Armin Burkhardt, who heads the working group on language in politics, calls the project a way of "peaceful linguistic protest".

He is a professor at the German department at Magdeburg University.

In an appeal published by the committee, Burkhardt suggests Germans should buy billets not tickets, go on a rendezvous instead of a date and agree by saying d'accord rather than okay.

He is also calling for "formidable" to replace "cool" and "bonvivant" to replace "playboy".

French expressions have long been part of German, whereas most English expressions only entered the language after World War II.

The group lists about 30 French replacements for English expressions.

Yet, Burkhardt insists the project isn't directed against English-speaking countries.

"But it is meant to show that the political line of the French president and the German chancellor on Iraq have the support of the majority of the public."

Story filed: 19:04 Monday 7th April 2003

[Mr. K]

That's formidable with me.

[Thebaddog]

The Germans will probably find several useful French terms for collaborator, crimes against humanity and genocide.

[Cyber Liberty]

I'm pretty bonvivant with that, too....

[mad puppy]

What is the new word for 'idiot'?

[Ditto]

I wonder how you say "Bite Me" in Frog?

[Spunky]

"He is also calling for "formidable" to replace "cool" and "bonvivant" to replace "playboy".'

I guess he wants them to say "Oh crapola!" instead of "Oh sh*t!"

[RippleFire]

bump

[Sapper26]

I believe the word you're searching for is Chirac.

[Dutchgirl]

Armin Burkhardt... sounds like poulet merde to me!!

[BillyBoy]

The German language is much closer to the English language in structure and origins, so he's going to have a bit of problem trying to get everyone to embrace the whiny French mumbo-jumbo as a substitute. Go back in time about 1500 years, and German-English was essentially the same language anyway.

And it's easy for any English speaker to convert stuff into German. Just add "ch" alot, replace every "s" with a "z" and "o" with "u", then smoosh all your words together:

Thiz ist an guudechample uf hou verieazyundsimple iz ist tu spechen everizinglewurde into Deuctch. LOL.

[Willie Green]

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la tête
Je te plumerai la tête
Et la tête, et la tête
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le nez
Je te plumerai le nez
Et le nez, et le nez
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai les yeux
Je te plumerai les yeux
Et les yeux, et les yeux
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le cou
Je te plumerai le cou
Et le cou, et le cou
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai les ailes
Je te plumerai les ailes
Et les ailes, et les ailes
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai le dos
Je te plumerai le dos
Et le dos, et le dos
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai les pattes
Je te plumerai les pattes
Et les pattes, et les pattes
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai
Je te plumerai la queue
Je te plumerai la queue
Et la queue, et la queue
Alouette, Alouette
O-o-o-o-oh
Alouette, gentille Alouette
Alouette je te plumerai

[johniegrad]

This is a pile of dousche.

[LuvUSA]

What a bunch of retards,,,

[cyn]

well, it's bound to have more syllables than the handy English equivalent ("formidable" for "cool"?), showing their desire to complicate anything and everything.

[mountaineer]

Germans should buy billets not tickets, go on a rendezvous instead of a date and agree by saying d'accord rather than okay.

Why does this dipwad want Germans to speak French instead of German? How about saying "gut" instead of "d'accord"? Too nationalistic for him, perhaps?

[r9etb]

This is a pile of dousche.

The idea isn't completely without merit, however.

For example, the Senator from Delaware can change his name to "Joe Bidet."

[eastsider]

Mein Dieu!

[r9etb]

("formidable" for "cool"?)

Phonetically, it's "For-me-dahhhhb-luh."

Says a lot about the French that they can't even come up with a cool-sounding substitute for "cool."

[RWG]

The liberals have made such a big deal out of the freedom fries issue judging that it was infantile. And now this.