There are a lot of things to do in Steilacoom any time of the year. Halloween is probably one of the busiest times for those who love to be active, and this activity here will be for bookworms and/or friends of bookworms (think gifts …) – because the reward is one of 10 signed copies […]
Across the Fence
Across the Fence: Leberwurst and Braunschweiger
It was a staple at my home, and as a child, I simply hated it – leberwurst (prounounce ‘labor-woorst) or, as you might also know it, liverwurst. I didn’t care for the flavor, for the texture, nor – and that was probably the biggest problem, the smell, and the grayish color. It didn’t help that […]
Across the Fence: Plattenbau
There are words with which a German immediately has specific associations. The German term “Plattenbau” (pronounce ‘pluttn-bow, meaning panel building) is one such word; I just hadn’t known that it made it into the English language. Plattenbau, often combined with the term “Siedlung” (pronounce ‘zea-dloong, meaning settlement), is the description of what is often considered […]
Across the Fence: Volkswagen and Fahrvergnügen
You probably have watched one or the other car advertisement on television, willy-nilly. Such as this one: Therefore, you might be familiar with the two American-English Germanisms, Volkswagen (pronounce ‘fawlx-vu-gn, meaning people’s car) and its slogan “Fahrvergnügen” (pronounce far—vah-gnoo-gn, meaning joy of driving). Did you know that Germans abbreviate Volkswagen as VW (pronounce fow-vay)? And […]
Across the Fence: Blitz
Do you like thunderstorms? I always used to like them, especially their approach. The dark cloud masses accumulating until they are darkening the entire sky, the sudden silence of Nature, the first sheet lightning, rumbling thunder somewhere in the distance, and then the first “real” lightning, a Blitz. This Germanism has made it into the […]
Across the Fence: Oktoberfest
They are about to pop up everywhere these days – Oktoberfests. This Germanism is as Bavarian as it gets – the reminiscence of the then future-king Ludwig I of Bavaria’s October wedding to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Even the venue to which the citizens of Munich were invited is the same historical site today – […]
Across the Fence: Dollar
Who would have thought that the American currency has been named for an ancient Bohemian currency?! Wait! Where is the Germanism in this, you might ask. The Bohemia region has a truly colorful history of belonging here and there, also with a very dominant history of German and Jewish influences. Which means that the term […]
Across the Fence: Dirndl and Lederhosen
Oh, the joys for so many tourists in Germany of experiencing the Munich Oktoberfest! Or the Stuttgarter Volksfest, its hardly less popular cousin … And to see more and more visitors dress up in dirndl and lederhosen (the English pronunciation of either is hardly any different from the German one), THE typical traditional German clothing. […]
Across the Fence: Fräulein, Frau, and Herr
“Mein Fräulein” – how many of you know the term and have used it in addressing a German woman in their life? To try out their German, nothing more? Just as saying “Jawohl”, “Prost”, or “Auf Wiedersehen”? Did you know that the term Fräulein (pronounce ‘froy-line, meaning Miss) is on the list of German words […]