Duane Nickull wrote:
> And also (take it with a grain of salt, it is humor).
>
>
>
> Don't even get me started on their lack of proper ontology for animals in
> natural German language.
>
> Examples:
>
> 1. A toad is a "krote". A turtle is named a Schildkrote which somehow
> implies it is a toad that acquired a sheild, rather than unique genus.
>
>
what about a butterfly? (sommerfugl in norwegian, literally meaning
summer bird; see http://www.insects.org/ced4/etymology.html for more)
> 2. Schinktier - the name for a skunk. Very literal if you ask me (means
> "smelly animal")
>
> 3. Nilepferd. Rather than recognizing a hippopotamus as a distinct species,
> the Germans consider it a Pferd (Horse) that swims in the Nile. Perhaps
> this is perhaps why so many German tourists try to encourage Nilepferds into
> weight loss programs??
>
'hippopotamus' is better just in abstracting from Nile, though.
> 4. Nasehorn: again, a literal name for the Rhinocerous, a noble beast who
> might be a bit sensitive about the appendage sticking out of the middle of
> its' forehead. IMO, not polite to give it a name to constantly remind it of
> the growth.
>
'nasehorn' is no worse than 'rhinoceros'.
> 5. Waschbehr: This is the German name for a Raccoon. They assume it is a
> small bear (behr) that washes itself (wasch) rather than a distinct species.
>
> With these examples, I am often surprised that bees are not called "small
> flying bears" or "miniature yellow levitating zebras".
>
ever heard about silverfish?
> ;-)
>
>
;) (01)
vQ (02)
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