|
|
It often happens that the meaning of words are twisted when imported into another language, and more so in daily speech than in the dictionaries. One example: A Norwegian dictionary will still say that a "trailer" is something pulled by a tractor (or 'trekkvogn' in Norwegian - 'traktor' is the kind that the farmer uses out in his fields), but lots of people refer to any large covered truck as a 'trailer', even a single four-wheel unit. (Count 'traktor' as a second example.)
So in Norwegian, beskøyter is skipskjeks - very dry and hard, suitable for long term storage. The English Wikipedia explanation does not apply to the Norwegain meaning of the words.
|
|
|
|
|
digimanus wrote: skipskjeks -> Kaakje (very dry cookie which you have to 'baptise' in your tea to make it eatable)
We call those rusks.
|
|
|
|
|
How on earth did schadenfreude[^] not make it onto the list.
"There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies. The first method is far more difficult." - C.A.R. Hoare
Home | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter
|
|
|
|
|
You didn't seriously expect the list to be exhaustive, including every single word in every language of the world, that does not have an English equivalent, did you?
I am quite sure that if you go outside the Western culture (which certainly several of the 38 do), you can find hundreds, probably thousands, of words that could be included. Words that refer to cultural phenomena, or philosophy, where even the concept may be rather unfamiliar to Westeners. Or a concept is understood quite differently.
One example that I have been told of (I have absolutely no knowledge of Chinese myself): In Chinese culture, the difference between a 'truth' and a 'deep truth' is that a deep truth has several different interpretations, which can all be said to be 'correct' and not in conflict with each other. The more interpretations it has, the deeper is the truth. -- This is a kind of truth that I have never seen in our Western culture.
I notice that one Norwegain word was included in the list, I could mention several other without any hesitation, and probably a dozen or two if you gave me some time. Such as:
Hils ham! - Remind him of me when you meet him, bring my greetings.
Jeg unner ham det - the opposite of envy: I am happy that he gets this, it will please him.
And the most specific to Norwegian culture:
Polkø - the long waiting line at the (state monpoly) liquor store. In my childhood, before Christmas and similar celebrations, the line could continue out the door and a block or two down the sidewalk. Nowadays, many (but not all) stores are self-service; you don't have to wait for the person at the counter walk into the storage room to fetch the bottles, one by one, but some places you still see polkøer on the sidewalk before Christmas.
|
|
|
|
|
"schadenfreude" is known in Norwegain as well ("skadefryd"), and can be illustrated by a Norwegian saying that can be translated to something like "Own success is great, but the misfortune of others may be a great substitute" (Egen lykke er bra, men andres ulykke er heller ikke å forakte). That expresses the sentiment of "skadefryd" quite well.
|
|
|
|
|
Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that you are actually Norwegian, and not American as your profile says??? 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
-
The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
-
Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
Mark Twain
modified 14-Jun-19 9:24am.
|
|
|
|
|
Quite simple: Being American is the default when you sign up as a CP member. I guess I should have non-defaulted my profile, but I never cared to. I guess my philosophy is that people should judge me by what I am saying / writing, not by my nationality.
If I were an American living for 20 years in Norway, speaking Norwegian fluently and feeling very much at home in the Norwegian society, would you then want to judge my statements as made by an American, or by a Norwegian? In which ways, or why, does it matter?
Or the other way around: If I had stayed in the US - I was living there for about a year and a half, thirtyfive years ago, and would probably have been allowed to settle permanently - would you then want me to appear as an American or a Norwegain today? I did not feel very much at home and would probably have been reflecting Norwegian attitudes even after 35 years in the US. Would you then want my statements to be judged as an American or Norwegian? Would it matter?
Non-defaulting my profile is a way of telling the world: I want you to judge what I say/write not only by its contents, but also by my nationality. I do not have such a wish. So my profile still has the default value.
|
|
|
|
|
I don't understand why "Kopfkino" didn't make it on the list...
Who the f*** is General Failure, and why is he reading my harddisk?
|
|
|
|
|
Anything term, phrase, etc, without an English equivalent simply ain't worth sayin'.
Just sayin'...
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
Quote: 10. Faamiti (Samoan)
To make a squeaking sound by sucking air past the lips in order to gain the attention of a dog or child.
aka "whistling"...?
Quote: Bakku-shan (Japanese)
Or there's this Japanese slang term, which describes the experience of seeing a woman who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.
Butterface? (ok, still not a real English word, but it's been around...) 
And I've never heard any of their French examples. And they're not single words; they're composites.
|
|
|
|
|
(The title's an Insider [News] joke -- you had to be there)
... I finally figured out, today, why the Godawful "Softness is a thing called Comfort" advertising jingle from a couple of decades ago kept repeating through my brain at my current contractee's location.
It's the lifts (Leftpond: elevators).
Whenever they stop at a floor, they chime out two notes that are precisely the same as the first two notes of the jingle -- and it echoes up and down the lift shaft (it sounds almost as loud on the sixth floor as it does on the first when it stops on the first).
Knowing this won't stop the bloody jungle running through my head, but now at least I know why.
Oh, and my microwave oven is still open to to having a new owner (or a good ten-minute session with a three-pound lump hammer), because it still starts with a "hmmmMMM" sound that inspires my brain to have Sam Cooke's Cupid[^] running through it for at least 20 minutes, each time.
It's not that I don't like the song, but it would be nice to give it a bloody rest!
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
|
|
|
|
|
Mark_Wallace wrote: two notes that are precisely the same
Ah, you're doomed Maybe a bit of grease somewhere can change the notes, but then, it could tune to a worse earworm[^].
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, those marketing people know what they are doing, I even remember jingles from 50 years ago.
It was a time when you were glad to watch any kind of television or listen to the radio, even advertising.
Quote: In het ochtendgloren wordt BUMS geboren
(bread advertisement) 
|
|
|
|
|
Its chicken nugget alternative contains egg
I'm not sure they actually understood what the purpose of making fakemeat was before jumping on the bandwagon. 🤣🤣🤣
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
|
|
|
|
|
I know, right!? What research company are they using...if any? 
Edit: not that they should really need one to know the difference between vegetarian and vegan, but maybe they do.
|
|
|
|
|
'Ear 'ear, what's Tyson done now?
modified 13-Jun-19 16:26pm.
|
|
|
|
|
"Well, unless turkey is a vegetable!"
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
|
|
|
|
|
Any animal becomes a vegetable if you knock it on the head just right.
|
|
|
|
|
Jeeze! Did you really say that in public?
Keep looking over your shoulder. The tree huggers tofu eaters twinkly snowflakes people who love animals will be coming to get you.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
|
|
|
|
|
Mark_Wallace wrote: people who love animals
[Raises hand]
They're soooo tasty.
|
|
|
|
|
Made me lol  I guess I shouldn't but it still did. Cheers
|
|
|
|
|
you mean its like fake news that's not really even fake news...
Caveat Emptor.
"Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long
|
|
|
|
|
Dan Neely wrote: I'm not sure they actually understood what the purpose of making fakemeat was before jumping on the bandwagon.
Are you suggesting that vegans are the only ones not eating meat products?  
Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other.
Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it.
Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.
|
|
|
|
|
But eggs are meat, it is just at an early development stage.
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
