*ahem*

[lirazel]

Dear German language,

I love you and the fact that you have a word for everything. I also love that when there's not a word for something, you make one up by smooshing already-existing words together. I hope we get tons more loan-words from you (schadenfreude is one of the most useful words in the world!), but I hope we steal this one from you next:

fremdschämen: cringing embarrassment for the actions of others

What English says with seven words, you say with one.

SO. USEFUL.

It describes why I can't watch The Office or America's Funniest Home Videos and why I can't be friends with that one--very nice girl--from high school who I have a lot of common interests with but who makes me wince whenever she's around.

Thank you!

Umarmungen und Küsse,

Lauren

P.S. You are also the most fun language in the world to sing in.

Comments

[blackfrancine.livejournal.com]

Dude. In the movie Jarhead, there's a great one of those crazy German words. It means something like looking out on a horizon that goes on forever and feeling the bleakness of an uncertain future. Or something. I have no idea what the German word was--I'm gonna have to rewatch that movie someday and take note of it.

Also. I was tempted to post all the lyrics to 99 Luft Balloons here. But! Instead I give you this little gem:

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

It means something like looking out on a horizon that goes on forever and feeling the bleakness of an uncertain future

Ooooh! I must know this word!

99 Luftballoons! ICH LIEBE DIESEN SONG!

And I can't wait to get home to check out the Hoff. SILLINESS ABOUNDS!

[blackfrancine.livejournal.com]

The Hoff makes me giddy with the silliness when I watch this. Usually, I'm just embarrassed for him (um, I guess I'm feeling fremdshamen). But, when he sings in German? I sort of love him.