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Do you use correct grammar/spelling on the Internet? | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 59 comments | Search Discussion
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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by maxwell demon on Sunday September 28 2014, @11:50AM

    by maxwell demon (1608) on Sunday September 28 2014, @11:50AM (#99161) Journal

    Of course your German and English texts are not exactly equivalent. The literal English translation of the German line is:

    Dear guests. We ask you not to throw litter on the ground.

    The literal German translation of the English sentence above would read:

    Bitte Müll nicht auf den Boden werfen.

    And actually, when in Germany that's the version you'll more likely find (possibly without the "bitte"). Except for the fact that nobody here would think of putting up that sign because the vast majority of Germany would consider that a matter of course, and the few who wouldn't would not care about such a sign anyway.

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by jimshatt on Sunday September 28 2014, @07:40PM

    by jimshatt (978) on Sunday September 28 2014, @07:40PM (#99316) Journal
    Of course you're right. I exaggerated a little to make my point. But it is a fact that German texts are usually a little lengthier than the English equivalent. Outside of Germany the translations tend not to be exactly equivalent and the German version tends to be more formal and polite (that's what I meant with cultural difference). About throwing litter on the ground, well, that's just infuriating to see someone doing that. I know you'll get fined in Germany when caught (and not some sissy fine at that). Having said that, here's a link [dejongsblog.de] for you to consider (thank's google!).

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 05 2014, @09:50AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday October 05 2014, @09:50AM (#101969)

      By listening to the articulation and phonation of the language, listening to the German language sounds like a declaration of war.

      Whereas in French it sounds like ordering a meal.

      And they both could be saying the same thing...

      • (Score: 2) by jimshatt on Sunday October 05 2014, @11:44PM

        by jimshatt (978) on Sunday October 05 2014, @11:44PM (#102230) Journal
        Close. German can also sound like a really cheap porn movie (Ich will mein Bratwurst in dein Senf stechen...)