Birte Priebe
Congrestolk     -     Konferenzdolmetscherin     -     Conference Interpreter
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Word of the Week: REALPOLITIK

28/10/2013

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This German term, defined by Merriam-Webster as "politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives," seems to have been around in English since 1914. I suspect that English isn't the only foreign language that uses it. What amuses me is that English also uses the word realpolitikers for those engaging in this kind of politics - the German plural is Realpolitiker, and the plural "-s" sounds very funny to German ears.

The image is from genesismorocco.blogspot.com.
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Word of the Week: ŠPRIC - ШПРИЦ

21/10/2013

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With influenza season approaching fast, some of you might be thinking of getting a flu shot. Time to look at the Russian word for syringe, шприц (pronounced "shprits"). It comes from the German Spritze, with the only major difference in pronunciation being that the "e" that you can hear clearly at the end of the German word has disappeared in the Russian version. Now when you go for your flu shot, make sure that they use a new syringe, since "a drug addict's syringe is a possible source of infection," as this poster tells us.

The image is from www.vimeo.com.
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Word of the Week: AHA-ERLEBNIS

14/10/2013

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It's always great to have an Aha-Erlebnis (epiphany, light bulb moment) - and even better to provide other languages with just the right word for it! In the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium, the German term has taken root. 

The image is from www.beautyloves.be.
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Word of the Week: HABENGUT

7/10/2013

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It's time for Danish again: the German expression Hab und Gut (all one's belongings or worldly goods) is used in Danish in the form of habengut, as is nicely illustrated by the logo of a coffee/beer/wine bar in Copenhagen's newest neighborhood, Ørestad.

The image is from www.habengut.dk.
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    This is a blog about the traces German (my mother tongue) has left in other languages. Contributions from your language(s) are more than welcome! Mail me at [email protected].
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