BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 01:06 PM

I remeber using the phrase 'foto Graf' to describe Tony Armstrong Jones, the photographer who was 'elevated to the peerage' after his marriage to Princess Margaret.

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 18 Oct 03 - 05:04 AM

Metchosin - In your place I wouldn't despair and try a 3rd year German. It's a very easy language: I learned it when not older than a year.

Now back to erwischt: It's of the colloquial level. One also could say ertappt. It's of a higher level of speech, growing archaic now and giving an additional ironic touch.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Metchosin
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 11:43 AM

with a bit of poor spelling and a rip from Rocky and Bullwinkle, you might claim that Arnold was now Obergropenführer in the little State of Badgeschmelt.

Thanks for the advice Wilfried, I was given a pass in 2nd year German in highschool, upon the promise I would never study the language again....and quite rightly too. When I read Micca's comment, I thought he was referring to one's ears. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 10:54 AM

Kim C - don't follow Micca's advice grabbing someone's balls before hollering erwischt! It's not only unusual over here, it also could endanger your health more than smoking. :<(

Wilfried

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:09 PM

'Gotcha' is broader than 'erwischt'

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Micca
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:06 PM

No, KimC you take a firm grip on "der Eier" and then holler "Erwischt!":o)

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 04:00 PM

So, in Germany, do you just holler "Erwischt!"?

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 02:28 AM

gotcha = erwischt
I think Wolfgang is wrong here: his translation hits the nail in everyday speech, and it was the first solution I thought of when reading the question, too.

Wilfried

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 11:48 AM

Danke Wolfgang. :-)

Doesn't Aha! work in just about any language?

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Micca
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 11:47 AM

Wolfgang, Maybe both parties regard Iain Duncan Smith At election time as a gift,
The Conservatives in the German sense of the word!!!
Labour in the English sense!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 10:35 AM

Der SPIEGEL online

Some things work better in one language and others better in another. There is no really good equivalent to 'gotcha'. The best I can think of is 'erwischt' but that's not really good.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 09:46 AM

Wo ist Der Spiegel online?

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:36 AM

The neatest comment on this whole thing is in Simon Hoggart's parliamentary sketch in today's Guardian:

"Both main parties hold different views on the top issue of the day: the Tories want to dump Iain Duncan Smith as soon as possible, and Labour is desperate for him to stay. However, both have to pretend they believe the opposite. This is known as politics."

Subject: RE: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 07:20 AM

That's better than most punning headlines I've seen in British newspapers! What's the German for "gotcha!"?

Steve

Subject: BS: A German-English wordplay on IDS(mith)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 06:55 AM

Maybe someone likes this:

Today's article in the online SPIEGEL about the cabale in the British Conservative Party is titled:

Ab, Duncan

The first obvious reading is '(Fuck) off, Duncan'

Only some time later I realised that when I speak it, it is phonologically identical to

'abdanken' and that means 'resign'.

Wolfgang