German expressions in recent Trek novels

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Cut, Dec 16, 2008.

  1. Cut

    Cut Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    Back on topic:

    What's the deal with Graylock in 'Gods of Night'? What fellow is he? Is he Austrian, is he German? He is being named both, an austrian and a german. There the book is inconsistant.

    And what was that about there being no funny german caberatists? That's just plain wrong.
     
  2. Una McCormack

    Una McCormack Writer Red Shirt

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    I think the only time I was surprised was when I typed 'glamor' and it turned out not to spelt like that in US English, at least not by Microsoft.
    Oh, "forward" instead of "forwards" is the one I always forget.

    It didn't take long to train myself to the alternate spellings: I think we're so used to seeing US English spellings (particularly with the internet) that so long as you remember to flick the switch in your head you can write in that mode relatively naturally. I did a lot of HTML at one point, and you have to use 'color' there too. And I always used the '-ize' form anyway.

    It's much harder to do idiom: I'd never write something like "Be sure to..." rather than "Make sure that you..."
     
  3. William Leisner

    William Leisner Scribbler Rear Admiral

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    Really? Sorry, you must have had one miserable week... :(
     
  4. Marie1

    Marie1 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    You sure there's a contradiction in the books and not just posts here?
    GoN page 31 "Graylock, the Austrian-born engineer" (italics added) so he could be German and just born in Austria. He's speaking German, but the two places are so close, and well, Hitler was Austrian, but he spoke German and was Chancellor of Germany...

    Ahh! Idioms! They're so different between French and English! One of my French classes this semester was full of them!
    I didn't know the UK used "forwards" instead of "forward!!"
    I love this, its facinating!!!
     
  5. captcalhoun

    captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

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    Austrians SPEAK German
     
  6. Cut

    Cut Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    I am reasonably sure it's a mistiake of the book. It is clear that he could speak german as an austrian, but that's not my point. He is being reffered to as (broad-shouldered) austrian and then again, once he tries making a joke, one of the other characters thinks to himself, that there are indeed no funny germans (caberatists) or something like that. I think there were other references for Graylock being a German as well. It really doesn't matter to me, if he is supposed to be from germany or Austria, but it would be nice to decide for one country and stick to it.

    Yes, well, sort of ;)


    Ah and two nitpicks after having finished Gods of Night yesterday:
    1. 'scheisskopf' is definately no german word. If it were, it had to be written with a capital S anyway.
    2. The Brecht quotation has a spelling mistake as well: 'Krieg' needs to be spelled with a capital K as well.

    Aside from this, intersting story, and well done cliffhanger. Mere Mortals is on its way to be as I write this :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2008
  7. MichaelS

    MichaelS Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Care to rephrase that, laddie? :evil:
     
  8. Cut

    Cut Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    As much as I like to hear an austrian speak, you simply have a (different) accent. ;) That just sounds 'funny' to us, as we are used to our version of german, as it is most probably sounding funny to you, when you hear us talking. Am I right?

    So, please, no hard feelings :)
     
  9. MichaelS

    MichaelS Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Well, if you put it like that, I can hardly disagree. I simply get a little testy when I hear people say that what we speak isn't "real" German.
     
  10. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I think it's safe to say that the entire world has had more than enough arguments over what is or is not "true" German. ;)
     
  11. Una McCormack

    Una McCormack Writer Red Shirt

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    Well, I'll admit it was a disappointing end to Strictly Come Dancing. But I only need to think "lorries and crisps and whatnot" and I'm chortling again ;)
     
  12. Brefugee

    Brefugee No longer living the Irish dream. Premium Member

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    Oh yeah that finished last night, thank god for that.

    Regardless of the winking eye icon, this joke is not big, clever and most especially NOT funny.

    Yes it is that.
     
  13. Cut

    Cut Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    That I can completely understand. Your german is of course as real as ours here. :bolian:
     
  14. captcalhoun

    captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

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    Lisa fan?

    me = Tom fan. :bolian:
     
  15. Defcon

    Defcon Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yeah, I already pointed that out in another thread, although since it's a quote and he made the same "mistake" in an interview I did with him, I guess it could be how it was spelled in his version of the text. *shrug*
     
  16. captcalhoun

    captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

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    are there any German comedians?

     
  17. Defcon

    Defcon Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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  18. Baerbel Haddrell

    Baerbel Haddrell Commodore Commodore

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    It was a very long time ago but I enjoyed the work of the comedian Otto Waalkes very much. I also watched his first movie. After moving to England I lost track of what he did since then.
     
  19. Defcon

    Defcon Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    More movies, occasional TV shows, but mostly the same old jokes.
     
  20. captcalhoun

    captcalhoun Admiral Admiral

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    i was looking at German humour on Wikipedia. i don't think it translates well...