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Archiver > GEN-DE > 1997-11 > 0880421912


From: Alan Weiner <>
Subject: Re: Translations ...
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 20:38:32 -0500


Hello.

C / K Hofmann wrote:

> If the
> German langange has to be so perfect, and I think not, then it can only
> be used by someone born and raised in a family that has this as it's
> native tongue (Zunge). Over time, with use I am sure many people who
> would like to try to practice here would improve thier skills, me
> included.

I agree with Charles Hofmann. Also, It seems like the
English written by Germans on this newsgroup has never been as bad
as some of the English written by some Americans. ;)

On a lighter note on page 133 of the March 1997 issue of
"Reader's Digest" there was the following story:

-----------------------------------------------------------------
When I was transferred
to an Army unit in Germany,
I immediately tried to put my
high-school German to use. It
was going well
until one night on
the subway. Sit-
ting across from
a nicely dressed
couple, I initiated
a conversation in
German and asked
for directions to a local shopping dis-
trict. All this took about a minute.
When I finally stopped talking, the
woman looked at her husband and in
a Southern drawl said, "Keep smiling,
honey, and he'll go away."

- Contributed by Sgt. James S. Houk II
--------------------------------------------------------------

Sincerely yours,

Alan Weiner

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