Comments on: Dangers of repatriation

By: Tanja

Tanja — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:35:09 +0000

To defend my fellow countrymen about the Eichoernchen thing, I’m in Russia with a bunch of other exchange students right now, and the Americans made me and a lot of other people say “squirrel” because Russian can’t pronounce it for their lives.

They were pretty disappointed to see that I can say it without dificulties

By: Squirrel Squad

Squirrel Squad — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:06:37 +0000

Jah jah, ze squeirol iz ze kryptonite to ze Deutsch tongue!

A good deal many of Germans seem to have convinced themselves that Eichhörnchen is in some way difficult to pronounce.

I fear this all harks back to the perverse Teutonic pride and lack of humour: because it’s so insanely funny hearing a German attempt to pronounce squirrel, your average German becomes unduly offended, and attempts to compensate for this by going on the offensive. Pretending that eichhörnchen is in some way impossible for an English-speaker to pronounce tempers the offended German’s pride and gives them an empty laugh.

By: Sherrie

Sherrie — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:53:08 +0000

Squirrels have bloodlust in Germany as well!

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2609118,00.html

Just a sample:

A squirrel with aggression issues acted out in the southern German town of Passau, injuring three people before his last victim finished him off with a crutch.

The Bavarian town of Passau, on the Austrian border, is usually a fairly quiet place, with man and nature living in relative harmony. But this week, the bucolic balance was thrown off when a squirrel went berserk, terrorizing three in a biting rampage that ended only with his death.

His first victim was a 70-year-old woman, who was sitting peacefully in her living room when she was surprised by the sensation of small claws on her back. The squirrel had jumped through a window and onto the woman, soon sinking its teeth into her hand. Acorns weren’t on this little guy’s mind, arteries apparently were.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

By: Bonita

Bonita — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:17:11 +0000

The next time a German makes you say “Eichhörnchen” turn the tables on them and make them say “squirrel”. It’s almost as impossible for them as Eichhörnchen is for you!

By: aurelix

aurelix — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:01:24 +0000

hm, reminds me of this horrifying article…

The 6 Cutest Animals That Can Still Destroy You
http://www.cracked.com/article_15853_6-cutest-animals-that-can-still-destroy-you.html

Editor’s Note: The link contains naughty words but is really informative and funny.

By: Bird of Prey

Bird of Prey — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:27:08 +0000

Those US squirrels are rather dull-coloured, whereas our German squirrels’ fur is FLAMING RED!!

By: vanessa

vanessa — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:32:28 +0000

don’t underestimate the ferocity of the common grey squirrel! They might appear cute, but they are some sort of secret ninja cult in cuter outfits. At my first visit to London I was amazed how friendly they seemed coming up to me in regents park, but soon I would find out they were only on a raid for food, attacking me in huge numbers. I preferred to withdraw.

By: Harry

Harry — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:55:38 +0000

We should be glad that we don’t live in Siberia:

Russian squirrel pack ‘kills dog’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4489792.stm

By: Sommermorgen

Sommermorgen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:33:36 +0000

As a German teacher in the US, I agree:
The only thing cuter than a squirrel is an American trying to pronounce the German word for squirrel. :o)

By: John

John — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:49:55 +0000

OK, as soon as I am back from vacation on Friday, I will say “Eichhörchenschwanz” and post it here, so that everyone can laugh at me.