Posts tagged &#8216;German language&#8217;

Eifersucht, Frühlingsmüdigkeit, Hungerlohn, Torschlusspanik, Schadenfreude, Weltschmerz, Katzenjammer, Freitod, Holzpyjama, Lebensmüde, Fernweh

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: Spirit Annihilation Asylum

Jul 6

Austrian word of the Week – Cleaning Gretl

Putzgretl: A guy’s dream and a woman’s nightmare. You remember Hansl and Gretl, don’t you? And that mean old witch in the woods who made Gretl scrub the tiles on her hands and knees while lazy old ignorant Hansl had his fill of candy canes and gingerbread? Well there you go. The first Putzgretl was born. (The Grimm Brothers may have been the first novelists to write mantasies). Much to the chagrin of my nearest and dearest, I shall never be at risk of coming down with the affliction of Putzgretlness. Sure, I can be sweet talked into a cute apron, a pair of ripped jeans and my hair in a ponytail to put in some elbow grease but no one would ever confuse me with a Putzgretl — because – alas – I might clean because I know it needs done but I will never ingratiate myself to the thankless Sisyphus work of spray, wipe, smile, repeat. Spray, wipe, smile, repeat. Give me a good podcast and I can clean a place in no time flat. Just clear on out of my way and don’t make me remove my headphones for anything. But just clean for cleaning’s sake — for, like, fun. No way.

Der Kleine Wappler – How to swear and bad mouth in Austria

Delve more into the Austrian creative side with their rant words: “Der Kleine Wappler” by Astrid Wintersberger, Residenz Verlag — book is completely in Austrian language.

Website of Austrian Dialect: Ostarrichi.org

More Words of the Week

Eifersucht, Frühlingsmüdigkeit, Hungerlohn, Torschlusspanik, Schadenfreude, Weltschmerz, Katzenjammer, Freitod, Holzpyjama, Lebensmüde, Fernweh

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: Spirit Annihilation Asylum

Jun 25

Austrian word of the Week – Small House Paper Robber

Häuslpapierfladerer: The German word “Haus” is a cognate of the English word “house.” In German you add the ending “chen” as a diminutive >> Häuschen. In Austria you add an “erl” as the diminutive. A Häuserl is not a little house as in Laura Ingalis’ house on the Prairie – it’s that even smaller closet-sized shack out back that we never see Ma, Pa, Laura, Mary or Carrie visiting but we know must be there. Papier and Paper are also cognates. And fladern? It means to steal. So an Outhouse paper robber is a person who steals the toilet paper from public bathrooms. For shame! Who does such a thing?!

Der Kleine Wappler – How to swear and bad mouth in Austria

Delve more into the Austrian creative side with their rant words: “Der Kleine Wappler” by Astrid Wintersberger, Residenz Verlag — book is completely in Austrian language.

Website of Austrian Dialect: Ostarrichi.org

More Words of the Week

Eifersucht, Frühlingsmüdigkeit, Hungerlohn, Torschlusspanik, Schadenfreude, Weltschmerz, Katzenjammer, Freitod, Holzpyjama, Lebensmüde, Fernweh

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: Spirit Annihilation Asylum

Jun 8

Austrian word of the Week – Spirit Annihilation Asylum

“We don’t need no education. We don’t need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom.” — Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: As I write, thousands of Austrian students who are nearing graduation are being subjected to one last round of tests – four written, and three or four oral. They fail? Tough luck, you don’t graduate. And you thought fixing the tassel on your funny cardboard hat was a lot of pressure at the end senior year. And maybe that’s why Austrian novelist, Thomas Bernhard, referred to schools as Geistesvernichtungsanstalten. “Geist” is the mind or spirit — you might be familiar with the German (and English) term “Zeitgeist” – meaning the “spirit of the times.” “Vernichtung” means annihiliation – yes total destruction – Bernhard was never an author known for holding back or softening the blow. And an “Anstalt” is an institution – but more along the lines of an asylum. So what’s a spirit annihilating asylum? A school.

Now see if you can say the 26-letter word really fast, three times and KC will give you a gold star.

Nie mehr Schule… keine Schule mehr…

More Words of the Week

Eifersucht, Frühlingsmüdigkeit, Hungerlohn, Torschlusspanik, Schadenfreude, Weltschmerz, Katzenjammer, Freitod, Holzpyjama, Lebensmüde, Fernweh

Geistesvernichtungsanstalt: Spirit Annihilation Asylum