“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 […]
Across the Fence
Across the Fence: Kaffeeklatsch
One term that has it made into the English language as well as has the procedure into American culture is the German “Kaffeeklatsch” (pronounce ‘kuffay-clutch), meaning chatting or gossiping over coffee. It is usually enjoyed in the afternoon, either at a private home or at a café. Unfortunately, the classic café is becoming more and […]
Across the Fence: Poodle
Who has never heard or seen a poodle? My first longer-time encounter was with a so-called Standard Poodle my American Aunt and Uncle used to have. Charlie was ginormous and gentle, felt ashamed of his looks when he came back from the groomer, and did his best to destroy any fancy accessories on him as […]
Across the Fence: Bock
Have you ever heard of the German term “Bock”? The beer drinkers among you certainly know it to be a strong, dark lager variant. But why is it called “bock”?! To be honest, I didn’t know this either, except that it is a strong beer. And that, accordingly, Doppel-Bock (“double bock”) must be doubly strong. […]
In the Book Nook with … Alle C. Hall
Author Alle C. Hall from Seattle, Washington, used to be a national sales and marketing manager and freelance writer before she became a stay-at-home mom. She started as a journalist in 1991 and, in 1998, began to write her novel, which was published this past March. Her book, “As Far as You Can Go Before […]
Across the Fence: Leitmotif
For the first time, I came across the German term “Leitmotiv” (spelled with a “v”, pronounced ‘light-mo-teef, meaning leading theme) in music when I was in fifth grade, my very first year in grammar school. We had a music teacher who was simply amazing when it came to explaining the difference between rhythm and meter […]
Across the Fence: Edelweiss
Think of one of the flowers you associate with German-speaking countries – and you might come up with Edelweiss. In German it is spelled with an “ß“, Edelweiß, but pronounced the same as in English; the name means simply “noble white”. There are other Germanic nicknames, and different languages call it different names – but […]
In the Book Nook with … Linda Jordan
Author Linda Jordan lives in Tulalip, Washington, and writes for a living. She started writing in her late 20s and had her first novel published in 2011. Linda belongs to the Writers Cooperative of the Pacific Northwest. “Most other groups I avoid because I’m introverting.” When Linda isn’t writing, she likes gardening and what she […]
Across the Fence: Nix
It seems that, in order to stress an expression, we often use foreign terms for emphasis. Think of a word like voilà, which sounds so much more sophisticated than a mere “here you are” or, even worse, a triumphant “ta-dah!” The German term “nix” – same pronunciation as in English – is an even more […]