Miss-Verständnis » Uncategorized

Polyglotastic!

Miss-Verständnis — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:00:58 +0000

I’ve just had word that the biggest (or only?) Polyglot Scrabble Tournament in the world is taking place this year in Spain. This is apparently the first event of its kind, where the world’s most cunning linguists can meet and defeat, playing Scrabble in many different languages. And they are promoting it so zealously that even Joe Nobodys like me have been invited. Unfortunately, I (typically) missed the cut-off date, and, besides, I only speak two languages… and some incrediblly lacklustre French and Spanish. And to think, I could have WON something!

Would any of you enter a Polyglot Scrabble competition? Do you consider yourself a Polyglot?

Miss V’s Top 5 list of Mega Cool things about Germany (video)

Miss-Verständnis — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:02:31 +0000

I share my favourite five things about Deutschland with you, the lucky viewer. What are yours?

The new shorthand?

Miss-Verständnis — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:35:37 +0000

Okay, okay, I know I have done the SMS Thema almost to death, but hey, I’m on the other side of the world. What is anyone going to do about it? Phil (who you can find down in Austria, or over at Phil’s Blogging) recently unearthed the fact that using SMS-slang instead of full words and sentences is more efficient. Which is important these days, as he so eloquently puts it, “b/c time=$”. And since the old art of shorthand seems to be dead or dying for all but crazy investigative journo-types, perhaps SMS is the condensed language of the future. And maybe Germany can lead the way! I mean, they’re into efficiency, right?

Verbification

Miss-Verständnis — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:31:07 +0000

Verbs, as the ‘doing words’ of any language, are always the more fun than boring old nouns. Englischers ‘verb’ (or, as I like to say, ‘verbify’) nouns all the time, especially in slang. For example: if the police use a taser gun on someone, that person was ‘tasered’ (or ‘tased’ – as in “Don’t tase me, bro.”). We ‘microwave’ food and ‘vacuum’ the house. If you send someone a text message (SMS) you ‘text’ them or ‘message’ them.

Deutschies do it too! My German friends ‘simsen’ from their Handys all the time.

But it gets really interesting when you employ Deutschlisch. I have found myself verbifying German nouns in English sentences. How sophisticated (if I do say so myself).

You may remember the abbreviated ‘Entschuldigung’ – ‘Schuldi!’. Well, now it’s new and improved – it’s a verb! ‘To schuldi’ means to excuse oneself (usually in a crowd). So if you need to get to the front of a crowded concert, you might need to schuldi your way past the other concert goers!

And when I was schlumping around – I was verbifying as well. And I didn’t even know it! Just call me Shakespeare.

When good Deutschlisch goes bad

Miss-Verständnis — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:31:26 +0000

Sometimes, I am glad that Deutschlisch exists. This is because I get to use the convenient and practical German phraseology (cool word, huh?), all from the comfort of speaking English. So I often ask if there is an ATM “in the near from here” (in der Nähe von), or if friends want to ‘make a party’ (well, do you?).

BUT! There is a warning which must be issued to users of Deutschlisch: it can make your English bad! When someone calls me, and I’m at a friend’s house, I report that “I’m by Herr Versteh-a-lot”. ‘Bei’ does not equal ‘by’! Speaking of my good friend, Herr V, he advised me whilst cooking: “When you want to make the curry hot, add chili.” Okay: -

1. DON’T tell Miss Verständnis how to cook. She is the Guru;

2. What you mean, dear Herr V, is “if you want to make the curry hot.” This is the problem with saying wenn too much.

This is an Englischer Service Announcement, brought to you free of charge by the always caring and concerned Miss Verständnis.