Denglisch

Robin at Carob wonders about what is known in Germany as ‘Oxford English’, while I am bemused by a poster that virtually nobody could understand:

fiftiesw.jpg

4 thoughts on “Denglisch

  1. I got horrible grades in my translation classes because I was imprecise, too interpretive.  However, in this situation, it might help.   Could this be a sign for a dance class or a social club of some kind?   “We invite you to dance in a pleasant and unforced environment, with people of the same age”  (this is a selling point).  It took me a few minutes to parse it (it’s been several years since the last time I spoke German).  The more I look at it now, the more it makes sense this way.   What do you think?

  2. I agree that the German should be understood by Germans – it’s the ‘…over 50th Day’ I’m worried about!
    It’s obviously intended to mean ‘Over Fifties Day’ or ‘Over 50s Day’. It took me a while for the penny to drop. Germans over 50 or over 60 are the group who often don’t understand English anyway – there’s a group of ‘Senioren’ in Nuremberg who are always campaigning against anglicisms in German. And if you don’t understand it’s for over 50s, how do you understand ‘people of your own age’?

  3. Terrible English and boy, did they miss the target audience on that one. Although I suppose they don’t run the risk of being overwhelmed with teenage participants.

  4. Lest I have offended anyone, I have to say I’m in the target audience myself and I understood it, but I don’t think I’m going to make it – although I love watching at those cafés where people have afternoon dances, but I don’t really want to join in.

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