Borrowings
The German we hear about us every day in Switzerland is littered with words borrowed from English. Many of these words and expressions have the same meaning as they have in English. You could, for example, talk about a laptop, a whistle-blower or a flyer in English and an English speaker would understand what you meant.
But some words we use in German that look like English words, would leave an English person puzzled. Let me give just two examples that I hear almost every day.
But some words we use in German that look like English words, would leave an English person puzzled. Let me give just two examples that I hear almost every day.
Firstly, I’ve bought a new handy.
A German speaker might use this phrase and expect an English person to understand it. After all handy is an English word, right? Well, yes and no. It’s true that there is an English word “handy” which means something like “praktisch”. But that word is never used to mean what German speakers call a Händy. To talk about that, an English person would be likely to say: I’ve bought a new mobile.
A German speaker might use this phrase and expect an English person to understand it. After all handy is an English word, right? Well, yes and no. It’s true that there is an English word “handy” which means something like “praktisch”. But that word is never used to mean what German speakers call a Händy. To talk about that, an English person would be likely to say: I’ve bought a new mobile.
Well, I’m sure you knew that already. But what about this second example?
Someone recently said to me, There is a beamer in the classroom. Of course, the person meant that the classroom is fitted with a projector that can be connected to a laptop.
But what would an English person understand by that sentence? I think he or she might be puzzled. In fact, a beamer is not something you would find in the classroom at all; you would be more likely to find it outside in the car park. A beamer is an informal British name for a BMW.
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If you’re interested in English lessons or translation and checking services, please feel free to contact me in the language of your choice - English, French, German or even Lingala!
Here are my details:
Here are my details:
Mobile
078 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
+41 78 609 56 51
Location
Tödistrasse 9, 8634 Hombrechtikon
(New address from 24th March 2018)
(New address from 24th March 2018)
If you are travelling from Rüti / Wolfhausen, drive past the Hombrechtikon place-name sign for about 300 metres and turn right into Tödistrasse, just before the Tobel bus stop.
Approaching from Hombrechtikon
If you are approaching from the centre of Hombrechtikon, follow the signs to Rüti. At the Tobel junction (the Methodist Church is on the left) turn left. Tödistrasse is the next turning on the left, just past the Tobel bus stop.
The entrance to our new flat is about 100 metres from the junction with Rütistrasse, on the left-hand side of the road.
The house number is number 9 and we are on the first floor.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
There are a few visitor’s parking bays a short distance beyond the entrance, on the left.
Arriving by bus
If you arrive by bus from Bubikon, get off the bus at Tobel and follow Tödiweg until you get to Tödistrasse. Our house is on the right.