Süddeutsche Zeitung journalist Axel Hacke is having a take - sometimes serious, sometimes ironic, sometimes a bit too elitistic - to the way in which words are (mis)used, in everyday translations and mistaken linguistics. Im Bann des Eichelhechts und andere Gechichten aus Sprachland is partially based on letters received from his readers or by his own observations when abroad or just about to place an order at a restaurant´s.
Some mistakes are hilarious, while in some cases - particularly when it has to do with (mis)pronunciation - there is a certain touch of arrogance in disqualifying someone as a person entitled to speak a language only based on placing the wrong accent. Definitely, acquiring the right accent is part of learning a language, but the grammar and the understanding of the proper meaning is in my opinion more important.
The sources of inspiration for Hacke´s short installments are restaurant menus or simple name shields. Sometimes, the comma is in the wrong place, sometimes is missing hence the hilarious effect. Overall, there is a lot to learn, particularly when struggling hard to become a better German writer or/and speaker.
Good to add at the bibliography - the audiobook format I had access to is lively and entertaining - but keep your critical thinking awake...books about language and words cannot be fully innocent.
Rating: 3 stars
No comments:
Post a Comment