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

[lilylangtree]

RRRiiiggghhhttt! Has anyone, as a general rule, ever known teens to listen to adults (even scientists) in creating their own expressions? BTW what happens if the people refuse to use the french terms? Public execution or whipping with a noodle?

[holdmuhbeer]

This guy is very unformidable.

[ZULU]

Diese Deutschen sint Schweinhunden!!!

[Minty]

Thats riduCULOus

[N. Theknow]

Kissez-vous, mon Clymer, Monsewer Burkhardt.

[12B]

I nearly laughed my kiester off when I read this article on Bloomberg today. I work at a French Company (in Germany though) so I've got a French guy sitting to my left and a German guy on my right. Actually they are both pretty cool, er, make that for-mee-DAH-bluh.

Anyhoo, since this article hit the ticker I've been taking every single opportunity I can to use some sort of ridiculous French word or phrase in the ordinary course of doing business. I told them it was the least I could do for the Axis. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I said I'm driving all of them up the wall with this routine.

[razbinn]

Bollocks!!!!

God Bless america

[Willie Green]

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

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the head
I will pluck you the head
And the head, and the head
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the nose
I will pluck you the nose
And nose, and nose
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the eyes
I will pluck you the eyes
And eyes, and eyes
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the neck
I will pluck you the neck
And the neck, and the neck
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the wings
I will pluck you the wings
And wings, and wings
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the back
I will pluck you the back
And the back, and the back
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the legs
I will pluck you the legs
And legs, and legs
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the tail
I will pluck you the tail
And the tail, and the tail
Lark, Lark
O-o-o-o-oh
Lark, nice Lark
Lark I will pluck you

[weegee]

To honor this protest, please consider using one of the following alternates to "cheese eating surrender monkey":

(in German) Affe iBt Kase und gibt uber == Ape eats cheese and hands over

(in French) Le singe mange du fromage et succombe == The monkey eats cheese and succumbs

[stainlessbanner]

How old are these guys? We used to play "word of the day" in grade school. Idiots (I'm sure they have a new word for that, too).

[jae471]

The name "Old English", used to refer to the language of England prior to the Norman invasion of 1066, is an ultra-modern creation. In the past the language of Beowulf was not called "Old English", but Saxon.

Places such as Essex, Wessex, and Sussex all share this root. Essex = East Saxony, Wessex = West Saxony, and Sussex = South Saxony.

[weegee]

Alternate to learning new words, the Germans can just say everything in "Clouseau"

Inspector Clouseau's rules of speech (How to speak Clouseauese)

[aruanan]

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

Maybe we can replace "A-hole" with Burkhardt.

[Living Free in NH]

"Nazi bastard" translates to "bâtard de nazi."

[xusafflyer]

To make it simple for the Hitler Youth of Germany and France.

Verpisst Dich!

How's that instead of saying "go jump in the river".

[isom35]

Armin Burkhardt is full of merde.

[xm177e2]

"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."

Just not the majority of the Iraqi public. Here's another French term for ya: "primates capitulards et toujours en quête de fromages."

[lizbet]

Love that! Thanks for the laugh of the day!

[mhking]

Message to German pocket protector crowd: Bite me.

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

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