Comments on: Germans win even when they lose http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/ German Quirks from an American Perspective Thu, 17 May 2012 01:32:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Was von der WM bleibt… | vanDyrk's Blog http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-27006 Was von der WM bleibt… | vanDyrk's Blog Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:51:57 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-27006 [...] Ausland. Wenn man so will, sind wir mal wieder die Meister der Herzen, auch einige Beschränkte das nicht verstehen können, warum auch ein dritter Platz ein Erfolg sein kann. Das Entscheidene ist die Aussicht, daß hier was Großes wachsen kann. Özil ist 21 Jahre alt. [...] […] Ausland. Wenn man so will, sind wir mal wieder die Meister der Herzen, auch einige Beschränkte das nicht verstehen können, warum auch ein dritter Platz ein Erfolg sein kann. Das Entscheidene ist die Aussicht, daß hier was Großes wachsen kann. Özil ist 21 Jahre alt. […]

]]> By: Johanza http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-19057 Johanza Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:50:34 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-19057 Wer ist jetzt eig. Astrid? Und hier mal ein FAKT von Oliver Pocher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM-ZK87XrHA Wer ist jetzt eig. Astrid? Und hier mal ein FAKT von Oliver Pocher

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM-ZK87XrHA

]]> By: Dent http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1723 Dent Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:29:37 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1723 what about "it looks after rain out" (looks like it will be raining), also by Lübke what about “it looks after rain out” (looks like it will be raining), also by Lübke

]]> By: alex http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1712 alex Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:42:15 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1712 The most popular of that kind of translations is 'Equal goes it loose (Gleich geht's los)' by our former Bundespräsident Heinrich Lübke. The most popular of that kind of translations is ‘Equal goes it loose (Gleich geht’s los)’ by our former Bundespräsident Heinrich Lübke.

]]> By: Bird of Prey http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1702 Bird of Prey Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:17:28 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1702 Treppengeländer = stairs go countries Treppengeländer = stairs go countries

]]> By: Tarkus http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1687 Tarkus Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:14:36 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1687 I assumed that you would figure out what 'No Clockthing!' means. ;o) I suppose you are confronted with such creations permanently? Did you know, that we (Germans) intentionally(!) mistranslate sometimes, too? Namely when Germans imitate Germans speaking English. The rules seem to be simple: Translate word by word (in perfection syllable by syllable)! Ignore the orthography of both languages! Use the wrongest of all possible meanings! Avoid English pronunciation! The major difficulty is, to translate it in such a way, that other Germans, who re-translate it, will understand what is meant. The results are neologisms like... Übersetzung = oversitting (translation) Achtung! = Eighting! (Attention!) Sieh dich vor! = Look you before! (Be careful!) Nimm dich ja in acht! = Take you yes in eight! (Be very careful!) Fronleichnam = Happycadaver (Feast of Corpus Christi) Einen Augenblick, bitte! = An eyewatch, please! (Just a moment, please!) Raumfahrer = roomdriver (spaceman) fortsetzen = awaysit (to continue) Yes, we can over so something laugh! ;o) Additional true story: During our schooldays we asked our (German) English teacher to translate 'Fallschirmspringer'. Okay, following the rules above, it could be something like 'fall-umbrella-jumper'. But i suppose our teacher had the correct word (sky diver) in the back of his visual mind, when he seriously(!) told us the translation is 'from-the-air-jumper'. :o) I assumed that you would figure out what ‘No Clockthing!’ means. ;o) I suppose you are confronted with such creations permanently? Did you know, that we (Germans) intentionally(!) mistranslate sometimes, too? Namely when Germans imitate Germans speaking English.

The rules seem to be simple:
Translate word by word (in perfection syllable by syllable)!
Ignore the orthography of both languages!
Use the wrongest of all possible meanings!
Avoid English pronunciation!

The major difficulty is, to translate it in such a way, that other Germans, who re-translate it, will understand what is meant.

The results are neologisms like…
Übersetzung = oversitting (translation)
Achtung! = Eighting! (Attention!)
Sieh dich vor! = Look you before! (Be careful!)
Nimm dich ja in acht! = Take you yes in eight! (Be very careful!)
Fronleichnam = Happycadaver (Feast of Corpus Christi)
Einen Augenblick, bitte! = An eyewatch, please! (Just a moment, please!)
Raumfahrer = roomdriver (spaceman)
fortsetzen = awaysit (to continue)

Yes, we can over so something laugh! ;o)

Additional true story:
During our schooldays we asked our (German) English teacher to translate ‘Fallschirmspringer’. Okay, following the rules above, it could be something like ‘fall-umbrella-jumper’. But i suppose our teacher had the correct word (sky diver) in the back of his visual mind, when he seriously(!) told us the translation is ‘from-the-air-jumper’. :o)

]]> By: John http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1657 John Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:06:28 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1657 Wow, it took me like 30 seconds to figure out what you meant by "no clockthing". I guess if I didn't write the jokes on this site, I wouldn't get them... Wow, it took me like 30 seconds to figure out what you meant by
“no clockthing”. I guess if I didn’t write the jokes on this site, I wouldn’t get them…

]]> By: Tarkus http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1654 Tarkus Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:58:05 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1654 No Clockthing! ;o) No Clockthing! ;o)

]]> By: John http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1653 John Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:58:56 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1653 Tarkus, thanks for pointing out that egregious translation error. I have corrected the translation and am working on patching my translation software to avoid such bugs in the future. Tarkus, thanks for pointing out that egregious translation error. I have corrected the translation and am working on patching my translation software to avoid such bugs in the future.

]]> By: Tarkus http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1652 Tarkus Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:11:33 +0000 http://nothingforungood.com/2008/06/30/germans-win-even-when-they-lose/#comment-1652 Kleine Korrektur: Die Übersetzung (für Astrid) müsste lauten ''...und wenn wir nicht GEWINNEN, suchen wir uns einen anderen Sport...''. Nothing for ungood! ;o) Btw (1): We (Germans) definitely do NOT tend to celebrate a ''second winner''. Quite the contrary, we are disappointed about loosing. Solely media exploit nearly everything, even the opposite of it, when they see a chance of making big profit. 4 Astrid: Wir (Deutsche) tendieren definitiv NICHT dazu, einen ''Zweiten Gewinner'' zu feiern. Im Gegenteil, wir sind enttäuscht über Niederlagen. Einzig und allein die Medien schlachten alles aus (sogar das Gegenteil davon), wenn es einen großen Gewinn verspricht. Btw (2): I already knew the actual meaning of ''public viewing'' before i read it here. I became a little bit confused about that wrong german interpretation as well as you. But in case of celebrating a looser it makes sence somehow, doesn't it? ;o) Ich kannte die eigentliche Bedeutung des Begriffes ''public viewing'' schon bevor ich das hier gelesen hatte. Ich war, ebenso wie ihr, etwas irritiert über diese deutsche Fehlinterpretation. Allerdings, wenn man einen Verlierer feiert, dann passt es doch wieder irgendwie, oder nicht? ;o) Kleine Korrektur: Die Übersetzung (für Astrid) müsste lauten ”…und wenn wir nicht GEWINNEN, suchen wir uns einen anderen Sport…”. Nothing for ungood! ;o)

Btw (1): We (Germans) definitely do NOT tend to celebrate a ‘’second winner”. Quite the contrary, we are disappointed about loosing. Solely media exploit nearly everything, even the opposite of it, when they see a chance of making big profit.

4 Astrid: Wir (Deutsche) tendieren definitiv NICHT dazu, einen ”Zweiten Gewinner” zu feiern. Im Gegenteil, wir sind enttäuscht über Niederlagen. Einzig und allein die Medien schlachten alles aus (sogar das Gegenteil davon), wenn es einen großen Gewinn verspricht.

Btw (2): I already knew the actual meaning of ”public viewing” before i read it here. I became a little bit confused about that wrong german interpretation as well as you. But in case of celebrating a looser it makes sence somehow, doesn’t it? ;o)

Ich kannte die eigentliche Bedeutung des Begriffes ”public viewing” schon bevor ich das hier gelesen hatte. Ich war, ebenso wie ihr, etwas irritiert über diese deutsche Fehlinterpretation. Allerdings, wenn man einen Verlierer feiert, dann passt es doch wieder irgendwie, oder nicht? ;o)

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