Looking into lists of Germanisms in the English language, I recently came across one that astonishes me and that I have never heard anybody use before. “Mannschaft (pronounce: ‘munn-shufft, meaning team) apparently refers to Germany’s national male soccer team whereas “Nationalelf” (pronounce: ‘nut-sea-o-naahl-elf, meaning national eleven) is the nickname for Germany’s national female soccer team. […]
Let’s Talk! – The Moment Before the Alarm Goes Off
It’s only shortly after one in the morning. Why am I awake already? It makes no sense at all. I still have another three hours till my iPhone’s melodious sound will do its work to rouse me from Morpheus’ arms. How lovely to know. How relaxing, right?! Ah, wishful thinking. I change my position in […]
Across the Fence: Bismuth
How do you feel about chemistry? I’m not talking about that between people but that of the periodic tables in your former classrooms. As uncomfortable as I do? I have to admit that I had to look this one up because I knew it was on that table but never had to deal with it. […]
Let’s Talk! – Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
“What’s wrong with gentle?” was my first thought upon reading today’s conversation prompt that popped up in my friend Tyrean Martinson’s book “A Pocket-Sized Jumble of 500 + Writing Prompts.” What context does this line come from? Though well-read, other than “Under Milkwood” and “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, I can’t remember anything that I […]
Across the Fence: Gesundheit
What do you say when somebody sneezes? Some of you may say “God bless you”. Others will use the Germanism “Gesundheit!” (pronounce: ga-‘zoont-hite), which means health and is a kind wish on the sneezer. How this word made it into American English? Because of the vast numbers of German immigrants, of course. Don’t ask me […]
Let’s Talk! – Watch for Me by Moonlight
What a tricky prompt Tyrean Martinson’s book gave us for today’s conversation topic … My first train of thought was “person, moonlight, danger”, and I ended up with werewolf! Now, I could make up a story of me turning into a werewolf, of course. Is the female form “werewolverine”, by the way? Knowing my friend, […]
Across the Fence: Hamster
We all have encountered this Germanism during the Corona virus pandemic – hamster (pronounce hum-stah). Indeed, the English version of the noun and verb is identical in its unconjugated or undeclined form whereas the German infinitive adds an “n”, hamstern. As a linguist, I’m thrilled of course, to find that word, although allegedly derived from […]
In the Book Nook with … D.L. Fowler
Author D.L. Fowler from Gig Harbor, WA, a former investment manager and tax accountant, began writing in about 2007 and published his first novel in 2011. “The Turn: a bond that shaped history” was a finalist in several competitions and won first place in historical fiction in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association literary contest. His […]
Let’s Talk! – Walk the Red Carpet
Red carpets are always related to a special event. After the 19th century’s Industrial Revolution, red carpets were apparently associated with power and wealth. Train companies started using them for their clients to board trains. Hotels spread them at their entrances. One of my first children’s books was by German author James Krüss; it told […]