From: John Stewart-Smith (john_stewartsmith@hotmail.com)
Date: Sun Feb 24 2002 - 15:23:08 PST
Normally in German, the phrase is "Ich komme aus..." , "I come from...." ,
rather than the English usage, "I am a...." , as in "I am a New Yorker".
Kennedy used "Ich bin ein..." which is "I am a...".
People from Berlin do sometimes call themselves Berliners, tongue in cheek.
(ouch). Natives of Hamburg usually do not call themselves Hamburgers, unless
they have a sense of humour. (Rare for a German)
A perfectionist with a translation dictionary will point out that "Ich komme
aus..." literally translates as "I come out of....".
Remember, I said that machines tend to translate literally, humans tend to
translate with more flowing accuracy.
I had no idea that I was opening a bucket of worms by offering my
translation. No two people will translate an entire paragraph in an
identical manner.
I'll try to finish on a funny note. There is a major city in Austria called
Vienna. In the German language, Vienna is spelt Wien. Wien is where
Wienerschnitzel, Wienerwurst (Vienna sausage) etc. come from.
Natives of Wien call themselves Austrians.
-John
----- Original Message -----
From: <nourmahal@att.net>
To: "John Stewart-Smith" <john_stewartsmith@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 4:53 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] Kettenkrads and funny translations
> Howdy John,
>
> I lived for a while in Berlin in 1971 but never knew that President
Kennedy made a colloquial gaff with that,
> now famous line. I also did not eat any jelly donuts!
>
> What do natives of Berlin call themselves?
>
> TIA,
> Mel Miller
> M725
> > Finally! I found a use for being able to speak foreign languages!
> > Here is my (official US DoD) translation:
> >
> > "I also own a tracked vehicle and at this time I am putting together a
list
> > of tracked vehicle owners. I have addresses for parts and eventually can
> > help. With friendly greetings, Reiner Bamberger."
> >
> > Software translation programs are okay, but there's no substitute for a
> > human translator. The problem with software programs is that they
translate
> > literally, which frequently confuses the meaning of the message. They
also
> > cannot translate colloquialisms.
> > The US military pays FLPP (Foreign Language Proficiency Pay) to all
tested
> > foreign language speakers, except Spanish and Tagalog. This came about
after
> > notable gaffes, such as President Kennedy proclaiming "Ich bin ein
> > Berliner!" ( I am a jelly doughnut!) and President Carter in Gdansk
hoping
> > that the American people and the Polish people could have carnal
relations
> > in the near future.
> > Hope that makes you smile!
> >
> > -John (7 languages) in Austin
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Wayne Harris" <papercu@hotmail.com>
> > To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2002 6:47 PM
> > Subject: Re: [MV] Kettenkrads
> >
> >
> > > For a free on-line translation site try
http://www.freetranslation.com/
> > > According to it, the translation is:
> > >
> > > "I possess also a Kettenkrad and generate a list owner of
Kettenkrädern at
> > > present. I have addresses for parts and can help ewentuel Mfg. Pure
> > > Bamberger"
> > > You are on your on with the "ewentuel" part.
> > >
> > > Wayne
> > >
> > >
> > > >Regarding this post we just received: "Ich besitze auch ein
Kettenkrad
> > und
> > > >erstelle zur Zeit eine Liste Besitzer von Kettenkrädern. Ich habe
> > Adressen
> > > >für Teile und kann ewentuel helfen Mfg. Reiner Bamberger"
> > > >Jack (nicht auf Deutschland),but in California
> > >
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
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>
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