Kinda unfortunate because if Americans understood the Hitler speeches they'd know he's a whiney bitch who sounds just as stupid as Trump with just as much of a victim complex.
I don’t like the stereotype (and it is just a stereotype) of German being a ‘screamy’ language. As a Dutchman who also speaks German, it’s a perfectly pleasant language to me in 99% of the cases (but then I think it’s beautiful anyway, hence why I learnt it). There’s nothing inherently ‘screamy’ about German.
Though I have to admit that when I do hear it being screamed in, it immediately triggers associations with that period in history like I was there myself. I blame movies.
I blame what have done Germany 80 years ago in Europe as the main reason, we are barely getting out of the phase were all people that lives through these times are dead but it is still rembered.
This is exactly what it is. That reputation has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual sound of German. The stereotype, btw is not about it being screamy, but ugly.
People claim it sounds ugly and aggressive, for no reason other than Nazis. It's a cultural stereotype that was completely projected onto the language, most notably how it sounds.
I bet most people who believe this have never heard normal German speech, only exaggerated phrases from movies and comic sketches, where Germans are bad guys who intentionally sound threatening.
It could just be that for a lot of people their only exposure to German is that clip from Der Untergang where Hitler gets super pissed and it does indeed sound like yelling in German is way more aggressive than yelling in English - but the other people in the room don't yell back at him and there's nothing aggressive about their speech.
That and the videos of people pronouncing words in different languages and of course ambulance is said in a normal tone while Krankenwagen is yelled because stereotyp funni, but that's based more on how the words look when written down I think.
I don’t like the stereotype (and it is just a stereotype) of German being a ‘screamy’ language.
Yeah it's exactly that: Stereotype and being used to a certain melody in a language. For me (German) Arabic often sounds aggressive for some reason... Farsi and Dari sound pleasent though. I don't understand neither of them...
Even in Germany we consider some other dialects rude or aggressive sounding. For a lot of people Berlin's dialect sounds rude or some people from the north have the same feeling with some dialects from the sound. (For me it's the dialects spoken in the Black Forest).
Honestly Saxonian ist the worst. I automatically assume I am talking to a Nazi and brace myself. The fact that that I am right in about 1 of 2 cases doesn't really help either
Well, it's no secret anymore that you guys actually speak German at home and have your funny Dutch language only for the tourists, so no wonder you like how it sounds!
I used to drive for a living and all night long I would listen to podcasts and audiobooks. I really enjoy spy, military, and sci-fi. So I've listened to a ton of spy and military books with Russian characters. Eventually I started trying to impersonate different voices and got really good at the Russian and Scottish voices.
My Scot doesn't really fool anyone, but I've got a few people now with the Russian voice. It also helps that the Russian accent most people know if the one American actors use in TV and film. I'm sure anyone who knew what a real Russian accent sounded like would know instantly.
Konjunktiv I, and "bei" would be appropriate for "by candlelight" or "at the bakery", but not "by some agent". "vom Bäcker" -- you're getting fucked by the baker, "beim Bäcker' -- you're getting fucked at the bakery. Dative in both cases.
Same in Polish, iirc. Comes from German immigrants to Poland not being able to learn the language (es ist wirklich sau schwer nur ordentlich "Hallo" zu sagen!).
Basically all languages east of Germany. In Russian it's niemcy or something, also meaning mute. And AFAIK it was less nit being able to learn but rather not willing. Germans formed their own communities and stuck together - or still to this day do.
The Russian language is definitely intimidating when spoken with a deep voice. It feels like the world is ending. Somewhat similarly, I've hired a few Ukranian women at work and while their language is quite flowery on the surface, when they get pissed off about something and start ranting to each other, you've got to get the fuck out of there or you're going to be disciplined.
87 Comments
Lasherz12@lemmy.world · 107 pts · 1y
Kinda unfortunate because if Americans understood the Hitler speeches they'd know he's a whiney bitch who sounds just as stupid as Trump with just as much of a victim complex.
red_bull_of_juarez@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 69 pts · 1y
Die in hell. points at shoes
superkret@feddit.org · 40 pts · 1y
English insults are like "How's your day, love?" and the other lad is positively miffed on account of how you pronounced it.
paequ2@lemmy.today · 34 pts · 1y
UND KEINE EIER!
toxoplasma0gondii@feddit.org · 6 pts · 1y
That guy has the thickest accent, which makes the song even funnier to me
DonAntonioMagino@feddit.nl · 33 pts · 1y
I don’t like the stereotype (and it is just a stereotype) of German being a ‘screamy’ language. As a Dutchman who also speaks German, it’s a perfectly pleasant language to me in 99% of the cases (but then I think it’s beautiful anyway, hence why I learnt it). There’s nothing inherently ‘screamy’ about German.
Though I have to admit that when I do hear it being screamed in, it immediately triggers associations with that period in history like I was there myself. I blame movies.
Mouette@jlai.lu · 10 pts · 1y
I blame what have done Germany 80 years ago in Europe as the main reason, we are barely getting out of the phase were all people that lives through these times are dead but it is still rembered.
bennypr0fane@discuss.tchncs.de · 6 pts · 1y
This is exactly what it is. That reputation has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual sound of German. The stereotype, btw is not about it being screamy, but ugly. People claim it sounds ugly and aggressive, for no reason other than Nazis. It's a cultural stereotype that was completely projected onto the language, most notably how it sounds.
tauren@lemm.ee · 7 pts · 1y
I bet most people who believe this have never heard normal German speech, only exaggerated phrases from movies and comic sketches, where Germans are bad guys who intentionally sound threatening.
boonhet@lemm.ee · 6 pts · 1y
It could just be that for a lot of people their only exposure to German is that clip from Der Untergang where Hitler gets super pissed and it does indeed sound like yelling in German is way more aggressive than yelling in English - but the other people in the room don't yell back at him and there's nothing aggressive about their speech.
That and the videos of people pronouncing words in different languages and of course ambulance is said in a normal tone while Krankenwagen is yelled because stereotyp funni, but that's based more on how the words look when written down I think.
sockenklaus@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 1y
Yeah it's exactly that: Stereotype and being used to a certain melody in a language. For me (German) Arabic often sounds aggressive for some reason... Farsi and Dari sound pleasent though. I don't understand neither of them...
Even in Germany we consider some other dialects rude or aggressive sounding. For a lot of people Berlin's dialect sounds rude or some people from the north have the same feeling with some dialects from the sound. (For me it's the dialects spoken in the Black Forest).
Language is weird.
RidderSport@feddit.org · 6 pts · 1y
Honestly Saxonian ist the worst. I automatically assume I am talking to a Nazi and brace myself. The fact that that I am right in about 1 of 2 cases doesn't really help either
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 2 pts · 1y
When I attended presentations in English by researchers from e.g. Egypt, I've always wondered what they are so angry about.
AGreenPurple@lemmynsfw.com · 2 pts · 1y
Well, it's no secret anymore that you guys actually speak German at home and have your funny Dutch language only for the tourists, so no wonder you like how it sounds!
https://www.der-postillon.com/2018/05/niederlaendisch.html
raltoid@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 1y
You sound just like people from the UK who talk about not liking the word fookin' used in jokes because they don't talk like that.
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 1y
Lass sofort ein Bier rüberwachsen, sonst setzt's Randale!
NichEherVielleicht@feddit.org · 24 pts · 1y
albert180@piefed.social · 20 pts · 1y
Der Schaum sieht jämmerlich aus
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 20 pts · 1y
I'm German, but I have to hand it to them: The Dutch have by far the best insults of any language.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_profanity
SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 1y
When the Dutch start cussing:
AnonomousWolf@lemm.ee · 5 pts · 1y
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 19 pts · 1y
Einmal Pommes mit Ketchup zum mitnehmen bitte, aber ohne Zwiebeln
CaptainBlagbird@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1y
Ne, ich bin die Currywurst und er Pommes rot-weiß.
cows_are_underrated@feddit.org · 6 pts · 1y
*Pommes-Schranke
cows_are_underrated@feddit.org · 6 pts · 1y
Wer ist Pommes mit Zwiebeln?
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 1y
Ich, wie gesagt, nicht, aber manche Leute essen alles mit Zwiebeln. Bis zu einem gewissen Punkt geh ich da mit, aber bei Pommes und Obstsalat nicht
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 4 pts · 1y
Jedes gute Rezept fängt damit an eine Zwiebel in Würfel zu schneiden und in der Pfanne goldgelb anzudünsten, außer das von Marmorkuchen.
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 4 pts · 1y
Marmorkuchen ohne Zwiebeln? Muss ich mal ausprobieren!
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 3 pts · 1y
Holländer: Friet Speciaal
Tja@programming.dev · 5 pts · 1y
Und ohne Blei.
Luffy879@lemmy.ml · 16 pts · 1y
Its so funny seeing Americans just thinking normal hochdeutsch is hardcore
Just wait until you hear Ze cute Bayrische Dialekt
Tja@programming.dev · 8 pts · 1y
Oida!
froh42@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Wosn?
Jumi@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Hoid dei Fetzbebn
NichEherVielleicht@feddit.org · 2 pts · 1y
Dai Fotzen daugt nur für a Maulfotzen!
Jumi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Wos mechst, du Saubazi?! So a Packal Scheyn is schnell ausbackt!
AGreenPurple@lemmynsfw.com · 1 pts · 1y
I highly recommend "Dicht & ergreifend" (band) for a first (shallow) deep dive - Wanda dog is a good start. The video to the song is available online.
TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 1y
fireweed@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 1y
East Asian languages in general (excluding Japanese). My first thought seeing this meme was "this MF never heard Cantonese before?"
SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Korean either sounds whiny or argumentative
InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
They say that about North Mexico.
beerclue@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 1y
Mit Karte bitte!
Birch@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 1y
I'm sorry I'm sorry!
banghida@lemm.ee · 13 pts · 1y
Russian sounds super soft. Childish, almost.
RobotFK@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 9 pts · 1y
Я тоже так думаю
banghida@lemm.ee · 6 pts · 1y
I can't read Cyrillic.
RobotFK@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 9 pts · 1y
It means 'I think too' and is with the Latin alphabet roughly: Ya tosche tak dumaio
banghida@lemm.ee · 3 pts · 1y
Dumaio - to think? Curious. We have an archaic expression 'dumati' around here. Same meaning.
fxomt@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 1y
grimdeter@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 1y
Полностью с вами согласен
AkatsukiLevi@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
i dont like russian government but the russian language actually sounds cool for me
oppy1984@lemm.ee · 5 pts · 1y
I used to drive for a living and all night long I would listen to podcasts and audiobooks. I really enjoy spy, military, and sci-fi. So I've listened to a ton of spy and military books with Russian characters. Eventually I started trying to impersonate different voices and got really good at the Russian and Scottish voices.
My Scot doesn't really fool anyone, but I've got a few people now with the Russian voice. It also helps that the Russian accent most people know if the one American actors use in TV and film. I'm sure anyone who knew what a real Russian accent sounded like would know instantly.
epicstove@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 1y
I'm in Switzerland rn and German really does not sound that aggressive. They actually sound quite kind and sweet.
Polish and Finnish swearing though... That's next level.
ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 1y
Yeah, strangely most languages sound intimidating when you just yell the words.
_cnt0@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 1y
Ich nehme den Saupressmagen in Biersoße mit Kartoffeln und dazu ein Hacker-Pschorr.
NichEherVielleicht@feddit.org · 11 pts · 1y
Ich hab nur Augustiner!
_cnt0@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 1y
Augustiner trink ich wenn ich kotzen will.
Jumi@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Weils so gut ist, dass du dich immer brutal volllaufen lässt?
MeatPilot@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 1y
Ich bin ein Berliner
RidderSport@feddit.org · 3 pts · 1y
Himbeere oder Pflaume?
MeatPilot@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Pflaume
Successful_Try543@feddit.org · 2 pts · 1y
Senf
Onionguy@lemm.ee · 10 pts · 1y
Idk man "May you get fucked by a swordfisch" (spanish insult) is pretty hard in my book x)
MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 1y
Magst du gefickt werden bei einem Schwertfisch?
barsoap@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 1y
*Mögest du von einem Schwertfisch gefickt werden.
Konjunktiv I, and "bei" would be appropriate for "by candlelight" or "at the bakery", but not "by some agent". "vom Bäcker" -- you're getting fucked by the baker, "beim Bäcker' -- you're getting fucked at the bakery. Dative in both cases.
paequ2@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 1y
What's this in Spanish?
Onionguy@lemm.ee · 8 pts · 1y
¡Que te folle un pez espada!
paequ2@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 1y
TIL https://crossidiomas.com/que-te-folle-un-pez/
Onionguy@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 1y
That's a cool site
PlexSheep@infosec.pub · 9 pts · 1y
Einmal Döner mit alles und scharf bitte
Tja@programming.dev · 3 pts · 1y
Dürüm, du Geringverdiener!
altphoto@lemmy.today · 8 pts · 1y
See that? You don't. Its not night. You insult in the shadow of an old drunk Mexican.
missandry351@lemmings.world · 7 pts · 1y
You never heard Portuguese people
Redex68@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
I swear to god, why tf do they sound so Russian, like how.
beejboytyson@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Porkchops sound like deaf or mentally ill spanish people.
atro_city@fedia.io · 6 pts · 1y
Italian insults are just funny. Everything is about dicks.
ThirdConsul@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 1y
In Poland we have this old joke, where the reveal is that German language is barbed wire.
Don't remember the joke though ;)
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
ln Hungary, there's a legend, that the word "német" (German) comes from "néma" (mute)
xspurnx@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 1y
Same in Polish, iirc. Comes from German immigrants to Poland not being able to learn the language (es ist wirklich sau schwer nur ordentlich "Hallo" zu sagen!).
RidderSport@feddit.org · 3 pts · 1y
Basically all languages east of Germany. In Russian it's niemcy or something, also meaning mute. And AFAIK it was less nit being able to learn but rather not willing. Germans formed their own communities and stuck together - or still to this day do.
Johanno@feddit.org · 4 pts · 1y
Drei im Weggla bidde!
NichEherVielleicht@feddit.org · 5 pts · 1y
Johanno@feddit.org · 6 pts · 1y
Früher hat das noch 50 Pfennig gekostet.....
NichEherVielleicht@feddit.org · 7 pts · 1y
RidderSport@feddit.org · 4 pts · 1y
50 Pfennig? Das sind x,xxxx % der Staatsverschuldung der DDR. Mit den bisherigen Spenden hätte man die DDR um x,xxxx% entschulden können.
Bekomme ich jetzt auch eine Schnapspraline?
Sonor@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1y
Basszátok szájba magatok
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Imagine a Hungarian peasant in a fancy dress.
Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1y
The Russian language is definitely intimidating when spoken with a deep voice. It feels like the world is ending. Somewhat similarly, I've hired a few Ukranian women at work and while their language is quite flowery on the surface, when they get pissed off about something and start ranting to each other, you've got to get the fuck out of there or you're going to be disciplined.
bennypr0fane@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 1y
If that Cthulu image was from a movie, I'd wanna watch that!
fxomt@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 1y
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1y
Where swearing in Québecois? https://youtu.be/9kUhXDKii8c?t=27