My latest experiences call for interrupting the steady flow of Germanisms in American English in this column and for replacing at least today’s attempt at exploring a term with exploring hotels. Specifically, mattresses. And trust me, I’m not trying to sell you a particular brand. I’d just like to share with you on what thoughts […]
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Let’s Talk! – Winter’s Quiet
It’s a quiet day in spring as I ponder my friend Tyrean Martinson’s next prompt – and invite you to switch off your screens and ponder yourselves. “Winter’s Quiet” is maybe a bit unusual to think of this time of year. On the other hand – maybe it will make some sense, after all. When […]
Across the Fence: Ansatz
There is another Germanism in the English language that I didn’t know about. It is the term “Ansatz” (pronounce: ‘un-zuts), which means approach. It refers to very different processes, as a matter of fact, but always means that it is the beginning of a bigger picture. Basically, it’s the seed of an idea. The field […]
Let’s Talk! – A Paper Bag Lunch
What comes to YOUR mind when you are reading this week’s prompt and invitation to switch off your phones and screens to ponder? Here’s what comes to mine. First and foremost, I never had paper bag lunches until I came to live in the U.S. My mother packed me second breakfasts for kindergarten and school, […]
Across the Fence: Liedermacher
I had no idea that the German term for singer-songwriter has made it into the English language. A liedermacher (pronounce approximately: ‘leader-ma-her) is basically a song maker, thus the literal meaning. The word only came up after WW II, notably introduced by German musician Wolf Biermann. Being of a more conservative family background, I wasn’t […]
Let’s Talk! – Grabbing Each Branch for the Climb
What a great prompt from Tyrean Martinson’s book, again! As I am writing this, I can’t switch off my screen, of course, but after having received the topic, YOU can! When I was a kid and a teenager, I LOVED climbing trees. In front of our apartment building, there was an old cherry tree with […]
Across the Fence: Hügelgrab
Today, the Germanism I have chosen will lead us into the Neolithic Age – and what we are still able to find, interestingly all over the world: the burial sites that are falling into the category Hügelgrab (pronounce approximately: ‘hoo-gal-grahb, meaning mound grave). They are gravesites built from rocks, then covered with smaller stones and […]
Let’s Talk! – At the Snap
Whoa, is this even an idiom? It should be “at the snap of a finger”, shouldn’t it? Because this immediately comes to my mind when reading these three words. So, at the snap of my fingers, please, switch off your screens and start contemplating this week’s writing prompt. Snap! You wouldn’t believe that as a […]
Across the Fence: Kutte
The first thing that came to my mind when I came across the Germanism “Kutte” (pronounce: ‘koote with a short “o”) in the English language was the traditional garment of a monk. A cloak with a hood and a rope-like belt; the fabric coarse and simple, the color black, gray, brown, or white. Think of […]