Well, I know that whoever is still reading all of this is most likely not that interested in how I'm doing and other inane babble about, say, my comics 'n such, so let's just dig into the newspapers of today, shall we ?
- 'Antitabaksverdrag' (anti tobacco treaty). The war on smokers has reached the excess of an actual treaty signed in Geneva, which the WHO wants enforced worldwide. Still, I have my doubts that this requires three words to be thrown together into one.
- 'Billenknijpen' (butt sqeezing). Note the difference between the Dutch version and the English one ? That's right - a SPACE. It's TWO words, folks. The verb is *not* in the dictionary as one word.
- 'Toekomst-mentoren' (future-mentors). This is a cute label for college students in Amsterdam going to help out underprivileged kids sort out and get on their way in regards to plans of the future. I nearly didn't nominate this, because the initiative is admirable, and the word *was* written between quotes in the paper. But when I look at the word out of context, I have to admit, it makes no sense. The addition of this word to Dutch language is not helpful to its progress.
- 'Scheepsarcheologie' (ship archeology). Let's illustrate this by a discussion I had about this word with a colleage, shall we ?
colleage: "No no, that word exists, seriously."
me: *checks the dictionary* "Nope, it doesn't."
colleague: "Well, then they just forgot to put a dash in there."
me: "Nope, the dictionary doesn't recognize the version with a dash either."
colleague: "Er... well, then someone just forgot to add a space between the words."
me: "Right. The word 'scheeps', used seperately." (To Dutch people it's obvious here that this word is never used seperately)
NOMINATED !
- 'Telefoonterreur' (phone terror). This is too rich: the phone company has invented some kind of internet trick to let you click on someone's phone number, then fill in your own, and then you can call to that number through your computer. Apparently it doesn't check wether or not that actually *is* your own phone number, so it can be used to call some number repeatedly just to harrass them. And *that* they call phone terror. Quick, George, get the nukes out ! Axis of Evil !
- 'Openluchtbordeel' (outdoors brothel). Er. Errrrr. Outdoors.... brothel ? Isn't the whole point of a BROTHEL that it's INDOORS ? How does this work ? Isn't this just outdoors prostitution ? Why does the word 'brothel' need to get thrown in there ? Or is this a brothel with the roof missing ?
Tough decision today. But the last Word of the Day of February 2005 has to be... 'Toekomst-mentoren' !
Monday, February 28, 2005
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Easy Like Sunday Morning
I can't sleep yet. I blame it on the adrenaline of hurrying through another Grim DotCom-episode - I was late ! The episode wasn't up at midnight, for the first time since I started this comic ! I'm deeply ashamed and want to apologise to the fans of the comic - albeit I'm unsure how few of you there really are who actually *follow* the strip, in contrast to just the casual readers. Might only be one or two. In any case, I blamed it on ClickBurg, and rightly so if you ask me - although it's not so much the fault of all the work that goes into ClickBurg as the fact that there's only 24 hours to a day, combined with the discovery that I'm only human and there's only so many things even I can do in a week's time.
In any case, I can't sleep yet (although my body and eyes are willing to give it a try) so I thought I'd pick the word of the week, get that over with, and work all day tomorrow on a side project I was hoping to have finished by now (and I'm not even completely halfway yet).
So what nominations did this week produce ?
Monday: imamopleiding
Tuesday: fakejeeps
Wednesday: biermoeheid
Thursday: vogelpestpandepedemie
Friday: patateter
Saturday: silaa7
There's no competition here, really. I only have to look at the list to realise, that the Word of the Week is: vogelpestpandepedemie !!!
Ok, my roommate came home from going out with some of our friends (I had hard labour for the webcomics world to do of course so no social life for me) so I'm going to leave you all and I'll be back Monday again.
In any case, I can't sleep yet (although my body and eyes are willing to give it a try) so I thought I'd pick the word of the week, get that over with, and work all day tomorrow on a side project I was hoping to have finished by now (and I'm not even completely halfway yet).
So what nominations did this week produce ?
Monday: imamopleiding
Tuesday: fakejeeps
Wednesday: biermoeheid
Thursday: vogelpestpandepedemie
Friday: patateter
Saturday: silaa7
There's no competition here, really. I only have to look at the list to realise, that the Word of the Week is: vogelpestpandepedemie !!!
Ok, my roommate came home from going out with some of our friends (I had hard labour for the webcomics world to do of course so no social life for me) so I'm going to leave you all and I'll be back Monday again.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Lost In Transgression.
On days like these I don't want to play Language Cop anymore. I mean, honestly, you don't know where to begin, and to make matters worse, I'm even late with my next Grim DotCom episode ! So I'm going to give you a quick but no doubt incomplete rundown of a few things that only took me seconds to find:
- 'Poppenseks' (puppet sex) - from an article about Team America, of course. Is this word intended for all situations where puppets have sex with one another ? How often will that be ? And does it in- or exclude sex between humans and puppets ? And animals and puppets ? And - good god, even *my* sick mind wants to stop thinking about this now. Bad word. We don't need it !
- oh ! The 'stoeptegelincident' story returns ! By now it's a murder, and to decide the guilty one from the two main suspects, DNA-testing will now be involved. The murder is labelled 'viaductmoord' (overpass murder). Come on, folks. Overpass murder ?? As *one* word ?? Why ?!! And to make matters worse, the article also invents the word 'risicoviaducten' (risky overpasses).
- 'betalingsbeschermingsverzekeringen'... *takes a deep breath before figuring out the translation of THAT one* 'payments protection insurances'. You have to admit, it's a gem. Imagine having a job where you have to pronounce that all day. The size your tongue would be when the day is over !
- 'bemoeizorg' (meddle care). The label was necessary to put a face to more proactive (and even, judging from the article, forced) care for people in troubled families when they don't voluntarily go get the help and care they require. I'll admit, considering the other gems I've found today, this is a weak one. On a quiet day this would have been a real beauty to mention.
- and this story is too good to omit: apparently the government took over half a year to figure out what the word 'silaa7' means, which was found on a list of items that were necessary to prepare an attack on the government and a nuclear power plant. Apparently the word is easy enough to find in the Arabic-Dutch educational dictionary, and apparently it delayed the case for the full half year. Even our intelligence agency, our national criminal investigation agency, and our national forensic institute had been put on figuring out the meaning of the word and couldn't figure it out. In the end, someone simply googled it (which is impressive, because I only get one hit on that word, and I couldn't figure it out from that one page). (For the record, it means 'weapon')
So, despite all the great candidates for the Word of the Day today (and admit it, there are some real beauties in there), for once the Word of the Day is awarded the title for different reasons. The Word of the Day is 'silaa7' and let's hear it for all the bright minds in the Dutch offices of authority ! *Applause*
Since this made me laugh so damn much, I can't claim to make an impartial decision on what the Word of the Week will be, so I will pick it tomorrow (which is what the original idea was anyway) and if you'll excuse me now, I have a lot of writing and drawing to do before midnight. Wish me luck !
- 'Poppenseks' (puppet sex) - from an article about Team America, of course. Is this word intended for all situations where puppets have sex with one another ? How often will that be ? And does it in- or exclude sex between humans and puppets ? And animals and puppets ? And - good god, even *my* sick mind wants to stop thinking about this now. Bad word. We don't need it !
- oh ! The 'stoeptegelincident' story returns ! By now it's a murder, and to decide the guilty one from the two main suspects, DNA-testing will now be involved. The murder is labelled 'viaductmoord' (overpass murder). Come on, folks. Overpass murder ?? As *one* word ?? Why ?!! And to make matters worse, the article also invents the word 'risicoviaducten' (risky overpasses).
- 'betalingsbeschermingsverzekeringen'... *takes a deep breath before figuring out the translation of THAT one* 'payments protection insurances'. You have to admit, it's a gem. Imagine having a job where you have to pronounce that all day. The size your tongue would be when the day is over !
- 'bemoeizorg' (meddle care). The label was necessary to put a face to more proactive (and even, judging from the article, forced) care for people in troubled families when they don't voluntarily go get the help and care they require. I'll admit, considering the other gems I've found today, this is a weak one. On a quiet day this would have been a real beauty to mention.
- and this story is too good to omit: apparently the government took over half a year to figure out what the word 'silaa7' means, which was found on a list of items that were necessary to prepare an attack on the government and a nuclear power plant. Apparently the word is easy enough to find in the Arabic-Dutch educational dictionary, and apparently it delayed the case for the full half year. Even our intelligence agency, our national criminal investigation agency, and our national forensic institute had been put on figuring out the meaning of the word and couldn't figure it out. In the end, someone simply googled it (which is impressive, because I only get one hit on that word, and I couldn't figure it out from that one page). (For the record, it means 'weapon')
So, despite all the great candidates for the Word of the Day today (and admit it, there are some real beauties in there), for once the Word of the Day is awarded the title for different reasons. The Word of the Day is 'silaa7' and let's hear it for all the bright minds in the Dutch offices of authority ! *Applause*
Since this made me laugh so damn much, I can't claim to make an impartial decision on what the Word of the Week will be, so I will pick it tomorrow (which is what the original idea was anyway) and if you'll excuse me now, I have a lot of writing and drawing to do before midnight. Wish me luck !
Friday, February 25, 2005
Lavishing you with Linguistic Litter
I know you all must have missed me like crazy yesterday, but I was too busy - it was, for once (and today I feel very strongly that it also was the last time), my day off instead of Friday, I switched them around. Of course I also packed that day full with activities, and towards the evening I had to go to The Hague, where I unexpectedly stranded and had to stay over with some friends. All day I was only online for about a total of half an hour I think, and even then I had lots to do, so I didn't get round to the Word of the Day of yesterday. At least I didn't get round to it.. online. I did, however, pick up a newspaper and picked a word or two that I thought were definate candidates. I'll first run the picks of Thursday by you, and then today. That should make up for it - right ?
- 'Griepgolf' (flu wave). No. Nonono. The article also uses the perfectly acceptable word meaning flu epidemy, there really is no reason whatsoever to speak of a flu wave. Especially in the light of the recent tsunami tragedies - have a heart, folks !
- another epidemy: 'vogelpestpandepedemie' (bird flu building epidemy). *just sits and stares at the word, trying to figure out why.. and what the HELL it means*
- economy news: faith in the Dutch economy amongst citizens is reportedly restoring, and the article gratefully uses these words: 'consumentenvertrouwen' (consumer trust) and 'producentenvertrouwen' (producer trust).
There was also the word 'hoofd-naar-voren-en-weer-naar-achteren-muziek' (head forward and back music), but since it came from a column-like review of a disco (which was written in a more personal and creative way), I'll let that slide. I'm feeling generous.
And the winner of Thursday was... 'vogelpestpandepedemie' !
*continues to sit here and look at the word for a couple of minutes, then shakes his head and goes on*
Now, I do believe I owe you a Word of the Day for Friday, too, don't I ? Let's see what the media have slipped into their articles then.
- news from my own city: Tilburg is the first in the Netherlands to get a dispenser for vibrators and other sex toys. This thing of course needed a name (as it usually goes) and it consequently got labelled 'erotiekautomaat'. (erotica dispenser)
- the policy of club bouncers who reportedly keep people out on racist grounds, needed a label as well, and the choice was made to call it 'horecadiscriminatie' (catering industry discrimination). How many ways can you interpret this word, exactly ? It's mindboggling, honestly. Let's kill this word of quietly now before people new to the Dutch language bust their minds on it.
- 'patateter' (french fries eater). You have to understand: it's reasonably difficult in this country to find someone who never ever eats french fries. So we're talking about a large section of the population - but is the fact that they eat or have at some point eaten french fries common ground enough to justify a label instead of solving this with a combination of two or three words ? I love how it sounds when you try to say it, too. Patateter. Patateter. Patateter. It's like a machine gun.
- 'hoefijzeropstelling' (horse shoe formation). I've checked, the word doesn't exist. Since the context is that three jeeps were lined up in this formation, I take it that they stood in a sort of circle which reminded the author of a horse shoe. But, again, how clear is this word ? And do we need it ? Why doesn't anyone seem to stop and think about these things ?
Luckily, these are all the gems I have for you today, and once again, I get to dictatorially pick the winner. The Word of the Day is 'patateter'. Patateter. Patateter. My tongue hurts now.
- 'Griepgolf' (flu wave). No. Nonono. The article also uses the perfectly acceptable word meaning flu epidemy, there really is no reason whatsoever to speak of a flu wave. Especially in the light of the recent tsunami tragedies - have a heart, folks !
- another epidemy: 'vogelpestpandepedemie' (bird flu building epidemy). *just sits and stares at the word, trying to figure out why.. and what the HELL it means*
- economy news: faith in the Dutch economy amongst citizens is reportedly restoring, and the article gratefully uses these words: 'consumentenvertrouwen' (consumer trust) and 'producentenvertrouwen' (producer trust).
There was also the word 'hoofd-naar-voren-en-weer-naar-achteren-muziek' (head forward and back music), but since it came from a column-like review of a disco (which was written in a more personal and creative way), I'll let that slide. I'm feeling generous.
And the winner of Thursday was... 'vogelpestpandepedemie' !
*continues to sit here and look at the word for a couple of minutes, then shakes his head and goes on*
Now, I do believe I owe you a Word of the Day for Friday, too, don't I ? Let's see what the media have slipped into their articles then.
- news from my own city: Tilburg is the first in the Netherlands to get a dispenser for vibrators and other sex toys. This thing of course needed a name (as it usually goes) and it consequently got labelled 'erotiekautomaat'. (erotica dispenser)
- the policy of club bouncers who reportedly keep people out on racist grounds, needed a label as well, and the choice was made to call it 'horecadiscriminatie' (catering industry discrimination). How many ways can you interpret this word, exactly ? It's mindboggling, honestly. Let's kill this word of quietly now before people new to the Dutch language bust their minds on it.
- 'patateter' (french fries eater). You have to understand: it's reasonably difficult in this country to find someone who never ever eats french fries. So we're talking about a large section of the population - but is the fact that they eat or have at some point eaten french fries common ground enough to justify a label instead of solving this with a combination of two or three words ? I love how it sounds when you try to say it, too. Patateter. Patateter. Patateter. It's like a machine gun.
- 'hoefijzeropstelling' (horse shoe formation). I've checked, the word doesn't exist. Since the context is that three jeeps were lined up in this formation, I take it that they stood in a sort of circle which reminded the author of a horse shoe. But, again, how clear is this word ? And do we need it ? Why doesn't anyone seem to stop and think about these things ?
Luckily, these are all the gems I have for you today, and once again, I get to dictatorially pick the winner. The Word of the Day is 'patateter'. Patateter. Patateter. My tongue hurts now.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Book 'em, Danno.
Some more crimes against the Dutch language:
- an article that mentions the word 'gesteggel', which comes from the verb 'steggelen', which is mostly a dialect-spoken-word (meaning to have a debate about something) and isn't actually in the dictionary. There are also plenty of alternatives for it, and I was taught in school that newspapers really oughtn't to be using words that aren't in the dictionary (just as that they should follow the correct current spelling of words, etc. - because, after all, for a lot of folks they're the main source of current Dutch language that they read). So technically the word exists and a large amount of people know it, but it really shouldn't be in the newspaper.
- an article that notes getting plastic surgery done on your genitals is becoming more and more common, that mentions the word 'lippen-lift' (I don't think I need to translate this one). Obviously it refers to 'face-lift', but in a face-lift, the face actually gets lifted, and from what I gathered from this article, the 'lips' don't...
- There's an article about 'multivitaminen' (this one should be obvious too), which, let's face facts, folks, is a BRAND NAME here. It's quickly becoming a common word, following the long tradition of 'refridgerator', 'super soaker', etc. but I'm fairly certain we could talk about these things without having to use the brand name of one particular type.
- but.. the word of the day is.. 'biermoeheid' !
Translated it means 'beer fatigue', and it's from an article where breweries are noticing that the A-brands of beer are being consumed less. This one nearly made me choke on my morning tea with laughter when I read it. It's indesputably the Word of the Day !
- an article that mentions the word 'gesteggel', which comes from the verb 'steggelen', which is mostly a dialect-spoken-word (meaning to have a debate about something) and isn't actually in the dictionary. There are also plenty of alternatives for it, and I was taught in school that newspapers really oughtn't to be using words that aren't in the dictionary (just as that they should follow the correct current spelling of words, etc. - because, after all, for a lot of folks they're the main source of current Dutch language that they read). So technically the word exists and a large amount of people know it, but it really shouldn't be in the newspaper.
- an article that notes getting plastic surgery done on your genitals is becoming more and more common, that mentions the word 'lippen-lift' (I don't think I need to translate this one). Obviously it refers to 'face-lift', but in a face-lift, the face actually gets lifted, and from what I gathered from this article, the 'lips' don't...
- There's an article about 'multivitaminen' (this one should be obvious too), which, let's face facts, folks, is a BRAND NAME here. It's quickly becoming a common word, following the long tradition of 'refridgerator', 'super soaker', etc. but I'm fairly certain we could talk about these things without having to use the brand name of one particular type.
- but.. the word of the day is.. 'biermoeheid' !
Translated it means 'beer fatigue', and it's from an article where breweries are noticing that the A-brands of beer are being consumed less. This one nearly made me choke on my morning tea with laughter when I read it. It's indesputably the Word of the Day !
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