Barbara, BARBARA!!! -

Does your book tell anything about from what those words are derived from in the according language?

Remember 'Korinthenkacker': That is german. The word is composed of two other words you won't understand if you don't know german. First 'Korinthen' - 'currants' in english (thanks, PA). 'Kacken' is an expression a little less improper (?) than 'scheissen' = 'to sh*t' (? I am still not sure that a verb like this really exists in english but you'll understand what I mean). Now imagine, you go to the toilet and the result of the work you are normally doing there has turned into something similar to currants. You will be worried. Now think of somebody who considers such to be quite normal. Map this into the general output you and he is giving to the world. You will realize that you are disgusted of somebody like him who only sees and therefore produces details. And now try to find a word that describes all of this, also you being disgusted. That word is a good word - in german.

What I mean is that if you want to have an expression like this in english, do not adopt 'Korinthenkacker' but understand its meaning and translate it to your own language. Then find a word for it in your own language being in some similar way self-explaining and adopt that. Adopt a new foreign concept you have understood, do not introduce a new foreign word for something that might be taken to be a known concept.

Maybe 'currant shitter' will do the job - maybe not.

Another example is 'plunderbund' - DELICIOUS! I suppose you don't know that a german who knows a little english can almost understand dutch - finding the expressions used there very funny. 'Plunderbund' is not a german word but can be understood to be one and then it HITS what is meant. I don't know, how to translate 'Plunder' correctly: In my dictionary i find 'gewgaw' and 'trash'. 'Bund' is (here) a kind of holy expression for an alliance (alliance for life = matrimony / 'LebensBUND' = 'Ehe'). So translate 'plunderbund' to something like 'trash matrimony' - maybe you'll understand why I AM amused.

Because of this I am very interested in the background of the words you tell us. That would be the real key to them - although simply naming concepts other languages have words for is more that I can expect from about 95% of what I am currently experiencing as 'the world'. So if your book provides any further explanations, please add them.

Love, Joerg