English is a world language and it is the first foreign language Germans learn in school. Thus, most Germans can speak and understand English to a certain degree. Some Germans even make fun of the English language by spoofing it. The spoof is that they translate German compound words or phrases word by word. This spoof might derive from reality because Germans who are not that competent in English simply tend to verbalize the extra-linguistic world with their linguistic knowledge of German, that is, they make use of (unconscious) language rules that perfectly function in the German language but which should better be not applied to English. \u2013 By the way, scientifically it is a matter of fact that a native language does always influence the learning of a foreign language.<\/p>\n
I have no idea if other speech communities do also make fun of English like we Germans. Maybe making fun of English in this way is rooted in the fact that German and English are genetically closely related. Although I am quite competent in English, I am faced from time to time with some difficulties and have to ask native speakers \u201cCan you say that in English in the same we do in German?\u201d<\/p>\n
No matter whether you are a native speaker of English, I think that the following examples will give you some insight into the German language.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1. English for runaways \u2013 Englisch f\u00fcr Fortgeschrittene \u2013 English for advanced learners<\/p>\n
The German word \u201cfortgeschritten\u201d (means \u201cadvanced\u201d or \u201cprogressed\u201d in English) is a very figurative term \u2013 just like the English word \u201crunaway\u201d, which is \u201cder Ausrei\u00dfer \/ die Ausrei\u00dferin\u201d in German \u2013 and could depict a person who stepped further from where he or she has\/had been.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2. to be heavy on the woodway \u2013 schwer auf dem Holzweg sein \u2013 to be totally barking up the wrong tree<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3. All start is heavy! \u2013 \u00a0Aller Anfang ist schwer! \u2013 Every beginning is hard!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
4. the far<\/span> looking<\/span> tower<\/span> \u2013 Der Fern<\/span>–seh<\/span>–turm<\/span> \u2013 the TV tower<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Pig strong!\u00a0 –\u00a0 Saustark! \u2013 Smashing! (Exclamation)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6. the umbrella<\/span> power<\/span> \u2013 Die Schirm<\/span>herrschaft<\/span> – patronage<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7. Thanks for the after<\/span>–question<\/span>. \u2013 \u00a0Danke f\u00fcr die Nach<\/span>frage<\/span> \u2013 Thanks for asking\/your concern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. the character<\/span>–train<\/span> \u2013 Der Charakter<\/span>zug<\/span> \u2013 character trait<\/p>\n The German word “Zug” is either train<\/em> or trait<\/em> in English.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9. the through<\/span>–holding<\/span>–fortune<\/span> \u2013 \u00a0Das Durch<\/span>halte<\/span>verm\u00f6gen<\/span> \u2013 endurance<\/p>\n The German word “Verm\u00f6gen” can either mean fortune \/ asset <\/em>or capability.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10. the high<\/span>–time<\/span>–duo<\/span> – Das Hoch<\/span>zeits<\/span>paar<\/span> \u2013 bridal couple<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 11. the head<\/span>–stone<\/span>–plaster<\/span> \u2013 \u00a0Das Kopf<\/span>stein<\/span>pflaster<\/span> \u2013 cobblestone<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 12. the after<\/span>–beat<\/span>–factory<\/span> \u2013 \u00a0Das Nach<\/span>schlage<\/span>werk<\/span> \u2013 reference book<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 13. the cry<\/span>–test<\/span> – Die Wein<\/span>probe<\/span> \u2013 wine tasting<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 14. flower power \u2013 Blumend\u00fcnger \u2013 flower fertilizer<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 15. I break together! \u2013 Ich brech zusammen! \u2013 I crack up (with laughter)!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 16. That\u2019s me sausage. \u2013 Das ist mir Wurst.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 17. on<\/span>–again<\/span>–see<\/span> \u2013 auf<\/span> Wieder<\/span>sehen<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 18. Soft<\/span>egg<\/span>! \u2013 Weich<\/span>ei<\/span>! \u2013 Wimp!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 19. the sleep<\/span>–at<\/span>–train<\/span> \u2013 der Schlaf<\/span>an<\/span>zug<\/span> \u2013 pajama<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 20. Take yourself in eight! \u2013 Nimm dich in Acht! \u2013 You\u2019d better watch out!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" English is a world language and it is the first foreign language Germans learn in school. Thus, most Germans can speak and understand English to a certain degree. Some Germans even make fun of the English language by spoofing it. The spoof is that they translate German compound words or phrases word by word. This…<\/p>\n