My list of Germanisms in the (American) English language keeps surprising me with words I have never encountered over here. Although there is the possibility that Americans have encountered this one over in Germany after WW II and simply adopted it. Because a foreign cussword sometimes sounds less offending than one in one’s own mother tongue. In this case, the term is Dummkopf (pronounce ‘doomm-kopf, literally stupid head). It’s one of the many German words for idiot.
We all know that idiot is a pejorative. But where does it come from? I admit, I knew it was Greek, but I had to look it up in Wikipedia to figure out the meaning. So, “idiotes” were originally simply “private people”, persons who kept themselves away from any kind of public or political tasks and offices even if they would have had access to them. The ancient Greeks didn’t like people who didn’t contribute to their democracy, as they preferred the educated, politically aware citizens. They even punished those who did nothing during their people’s assemblies.
Now, if you keep yourself away from what’s going on and don’t even educate yourself, you naturally get out of the loop. So, the Romans considered “idiota” as fumblers, botchers, and ignorant people. Well, the distance between ignorant and stupid is closed up easily, isn’t it? The synonym “Honk” – “Helfer ohne nennenswerte Kenntnis” (pronounce ‘hellfah ‘oh-nah ‘nan-nans-wear-tah ‘kent-nis) –was introduced into the German language in the 2000s and pretty much says it all: assistant without significant knowledge. Funny enough, to Germans “Honk” sounds like an Americanism and is, therefore, so much cooler than Dummkopf!
In the end, Dummkopf is the judgement somebody finds for somebody else whom they deem less intelligent than themselves. Which means that they are placing themselves above the other person although they might not have anything but a singular incidence in mind on the grounds of which they judge the other. Which is neither kind nor – let’s admit it – clever, either.
In the end, name-calling, even if it’s a rather harmless term like Dummkopf, makes the person who does so, look bad. As in a hand pointing at somebody with one finger and, therefore, pointing back at the judge with so many more. In times like these when the atmosphere is explosive on so many levels, it might be advisable not to use any pejorative terminology, at all. First of all, it doesn’t make us better nor is it humble. But foremost, because for the rest of our lives we will live side by side with people who don’t share our opinions or life-style but are happy as they are. Which is a state that is desirable. Happiness for everybody. And as we don’t have to live in anybody else’s shoes but our own, who is to judge who is a Dummkopf?!
Susanne, I believe you are wiser beyond your years! What you said really struck home with me. Others may not share our opinions, but they truly are happy with their status quo. Therefore, pejoratives are truly unnecessary and unacceptable.
Thank you so very much for your very kind words, DM! <3 Of course, I don't expect everybody to share my views. If they are happy and and I am too with mine – why not leave it that, right?!
Happy weekend! <3
Susanne, I took two years of German and one semester of Russian, before returning to another half year of German. Although my foreign languages fall short . . . when I’m watching movies on TV all of a sudden I hear comments, orders, and asides and know what the actors are talking about. Thank you, Herr Burkardt, and Gaspideen Smith for your efforts.
I totally get you, Don! I find that happening with French, Italian, and Spanish movies or radio programs, and it makes me feel happy if I feel it’s so much easier even than back in the day. Because back then, everything was about grades and certificates. Today, it’s about the essence of what is being said. And, of course, not every teacher was inspiring … I never learned Russian except from an old book that my maternal grandfather used during WW II – So, dobroye utro, Gaspadin Doman! 😉 And happy weekend.
Brings back memories of my grandmother when she was upset with what we were doing.
She was the last generation to actively speak the language as German people distanced themselves from WW2.
As logic is under such attack these days, there will always be cause for “Dummkopf”.
Brian, I know about that distancing from German culture. But it has happened even way earlier, during WW I, too. So, your grandmother was probably more of an exception than the rule, I guess …
On another note:
Isn’t what you call logic just one point of view?! What is logic from one angle, might not be logic from another unless it is scientifically proven …