No Arithmetic

I just enjoy saying this word in English, whether I am actually feeling indignant or not.

de: empört

it: indignato

pl: oburzony

vi: phẫn nộ

jp：激昂（げっこう）

Not only one of my favorite animals, but a favorite word, since there is no sure history to this animal’s name in English. The Vietnamese stand out in this list since they aren’t borrowing the word “Penguin” from anyone, but have their own descriptive name.

de: der Pinguin

it: pinguino

pl: pingwin

vi: Chim cánh cụt

jp: ペンギン

Inspired by a Wir sind Helden song in which we learn the following truth:

Generall alles was Spaß macht: Keine Arbeit

de: die Arbeit

it: lavoro

pl: praca

vi: công việc

jp: 労（ろう）

In college I also learned that the word in Japanese for having a second job/moonlighting was based on the German word for work: アルバイト

At the beginning of 2008, I made a list of 100 things to do in 1000 days. The due date is coming up in September, so I’ve decided to take a look at the things I had listed and figure out if I had achieved any.

The very first goal I had was to make an afghan for Afghans:

http://www.afghansforafghans.org/

I have just re-read the guidelines and the expectation for size is actually smaller than I had first thought, which means that I can actually make an adult and a children’s size blanket with what I’ve got. This is a fantastic surprise.

de: die Überraschung

it: sorpreso

pl: niespodzianka

vi: sự ngạc nhiên

jp: 驚喜（きょうき）

I am a huge fan of onomatopoeia. With that as the criteria, the Vietnamese definitely have the best word for this animal.

According to my German etymological dictionary, there isn’t a clear history for where the German word comes from (English, German and Polish are very similar- with the Romance languages not being that far off either). It may be German; it may be North African through the Celts somehow. It also mentions the phrase “für die Katze sein” meaning something is worthless, like the fish guts and other things you can throw to a cat to eat. Knowing how picky my cat is, I’m not sure this was meant about housecats.

I have a female cat, so when it matters, I kept to the feminine form.

vi: mèo

de: die Katze

it: la gata

pl: kot

jp: 猫（ねこ）

This entry was inspired by a talk with a co-worker about whether or not the word “fall” has a falling tone in Chinese (Mandarin). He said it does, but so does the word for “rise.” Before looking for the correct word in other languages, I didn’t realize all the “falling” differentiation there is, so this could certainly be revisited. And by the way, the Vietnamese word below doesn’t have a falling tone.

de: fallen

it: cadere

pl: padać

vi: ngã

jp: 散る（ちる）

To share the feelings of others is profound. With the pictures and videos coming from Haiti after the devastating earthquake, it is hard not to share the sadness.

it: compassione

de: das Mitleid

pl: współczucie

vi: lòng thương

jp: 同情　（どうじょう）

This is one of my favorite poems ever written. There are translations in other places on the internet if the Mittelhochdeutsch is unfamiliar (just search for the first line). Would this be filed in a bookstore under Medieval erotica?

Under der linden an der heide,
dâ unser zweier bette was,
dâ mugt ir vinden
schône beide gebrochen bluomen unde gras.
vor dem walde in einem tal -
tandaradei!
schöne sanc die nachtigal.

Ich kam gegangen zuo der ouwe,
dô was mîn friedel komen ê.
da wart ich enpfangen hêre frouwe,
daz ich bin sælic iemer mê.
kuster mich? wol tûsenstunt!
tandaradei!
seht, wie rôt mir ist der munt.

Dô het er gemachet also riche
von bluomen eine bettestat.
des wird noch gelachet innecliche,
kumt iemen an daz selbe pfat.
bî den rôsen er wol mac -
tandaradei!
merken, wâ mirz houbet lac.

Daz er bî mir læge, wessez iemen,
- nu enwelle got – sô schamt ich mich.
wes er mit mir pflæge, niemer niemen
bevinde daz wan er unt ich
und ein kleinez vogellîn!
tandaradei!
daz mag wol getriuwe sîn.

Appropriately enough, begin with “begin” and then we see where the next step takes us.

de: anfangen

pl: zacząć

it: cominciare

vi: bắt đầu

jp: 始める