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

[Teacher317]

Nice catch.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Bonjour... mon nom est Armin Burkhardt et je suis une piqûre avec de la trop d'heure sur mes mains!

[demosthenes the elder]

here's the difference between french and english:
an American, a Briton, and a Frenchman were on vacation at the beach.
The American went for a swim and was attacked by a shark. He yelled "F*CK! Help! Shark!" The people on the beach heard and understood him, and the lifeguards were able to save him before he was too badly damaged.
Then the Briton went for a swim, and he, too, was attacked by a shark. He yelled "Oh, Bloody HELL! Help! Shark!" The people on the beach heard and understood him, and the lifeguards were able to save him before he was too badly damaged.
Then the Frenchman went for a swim and was attacked by a shark. He yelled "Merde alors! Au succour! Aidez-moi! Rocain! Rocain!" The people on the beach heard him, but didn't understand him. More importantly, the words carried no suggestion of meaning by their very sound, unlike the English word SHARK, and the lifeguards were not able to save him before he was too badly damaged.
Fortunately for the frenchman, since he never bathed he tasted so foul that the shark spat him out after one nibble.
But the Frenchman surrendered anyway, throwing both of his arms high above his head... and, as a consequence, drowned.

I hope this clears up any confusion about the difference between the languages and cultures.

[demosthenes the elder]

Q: What's the French word for dumbass?
A: "Francois"

[ODDITHER]

it will be formidable if the boviant son of Sadaam was under the 2,000 lb bunker buster yesterday.

[RansomOttawa]

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

Morons. One French slang term for "cool" happens to be "cool." Something especially formidable is said to be "super cool."

[E Rocc]

Now there's a useful expression. >:)

-Eric

[boris]

The German word for "Space travel" or "Space flight" is Rhaumfhart.

The Germans found a need to invent a singular word conveying the concept "poison dwarf" (possibly thinking of Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)): giftzwerg.

--Boris

[Publius6961]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

That will teach those nasty Americans and brits!

Good luck as you fall behind in all the sciences and technology.

Why don't you start with air traffic control?
That will raise your excitement levels and also take your minds off the takeover of your countries by the sand maggots.

[cinFLA]

Germany and France will be speaking French, the rest of the world will be doing business in English. I hope this guy suceeds in getting his wish.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Next the Krauts will be watching Jerry Lewis movies...

[r9etb]

Mark Twain was right

Never trust Germans on matters linguistic:"THE AWFUL GERMAN LANGUAGE",

"Surely there is not another language that is so slipshod and systemless, and so slippery and elusive to the grasp. One is washed about in it, hither and thither, in the most helpless way...."