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

[thetruckster]

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

For those two, I would consider "tight" or "sweet" and "jerk."

[B-Chan]

Man sagt also in Französich «Playboy»: «bon viveur», nicht «bon vivant».

[B-Chan]

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

Mangez-moi!

[sarasota]

Merde, alors.

[weegee]

And the left ridiculed boycotts of French w(h)ine and names such as "French" fries. Let's see them laugh at this retalitory exercise too...

[theDentist]

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

[B-Chan]

I've always found "Alouette" to be a bloodthirsty little tune...

[sourcery]

This is why scientists should stick to science, and actors should stick to acting. When they get involved in politics and linguistics, they become amateurs of the worst sort.

[Theophilus]

What is French for "schadenfreude"? : "Ve are all Americans now"

[Publius6961]

What is the new word for 'idiot'?

Andouille

[expatpat]

Armin Burkhardt, who heads the working group on language in politics......

These are not scientists IMO, but political NewSpeak activists, trying to bring Orwell's 1984 to fruition.

[Sparky760]

I am sure the word Retreat must be in there somewhere

[cyn]

really!

[Billthedrill]

I'd like to recommend they replace "howdy" with "Achtung! Hande hoch!" It used to be the only German the French spoke.

[weegee]

The arbitors of cool have just ruled that the word "formindable" is NOT equivalent.

Dig it, daddy-o.

[LiteKeeper]

Maybe they should revert to Vietnamese: "chu hoi" for instance loosely translated means "I surrender"

[Williams]

Good. Then they won't understand when we call them no good <:!!#@!^ &!%%!$ **!!!@@s! Oops! Most of those words ARE German or French.

[ozzymandus]

He's not a "scientist", he's a commie university prof. BFD.

[Constitution Day]

"Royal with cheese" bump!

[ellery]

To paraphrase Churchill, the germans are either at france's feet or at its throat. Wonder how it feels to be german, kissing the collective rears of the french???