Have I mentioned that I’m part German?
Yep. And I’ve never been more proud of the fact than today.
A group of German linguists has chosen ‘shitstorm’ as the “Anglicism of the Year.”
Shitstorm…defined as “a public outcry, primarily on the Internet.” The jury who made the declaration said shitstorm fills a gap in modern German vocabulary.
This pleases me on many levels.
I always think of the Germans as being so practical-minded. And sure, they may have added this word to ‘fill a gap.’ But it’s a poop word! I love that.
It also makes some of the words that we silly Americans have added to our dictionary of late seem a little less, well…silly. Word like turducken. Bromance. Defriend. LBD.
Tramp stamp.
Yep. That’s a shitstorm of language going on there.
Fit for a queen
People in England speak English. It makes foreign travel a bit easier for we language-challenged Americans.
But they still talk funny.
Not the accent — it’s lovely. The words and phrases they use in street signs, menus, and casual conversation.
This photo reminded me of my favorite ‘Huh?’ moment during my first trip to London.
If you’ve been there, you recognize the instructions at the entrance of the subway trains in the Tube. “Mind the gap” (don’t fall in the crack between the train and the platform) — so wonderfully British in its phrasing. I liked it so much, I bought a postcard.
And now, on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I post this photo. Because I’ve taken a lot of subways during my trips to England…
But I’ve never met the Queen.
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Posted in Humor, Life, News, transportation, Travel, Vacation
Tagged Americans, commentary, England, English, fit for a queen, Humor, language, language-challenged, life, London, mind the gap, postcard, Queen's Diamond Jubilee, subway, terminology, Travel, Tube, turn of phrase