I was on a work call today, and we were talking about how a particular item was 'grandfathered' into the project. Afterwards, my colleague from Germany pinged me:
A: I understood the topics and how we must keep the old things, but I do not understand the use of this word?
H: Grandfathered? It's an English term, for if something is currently against the rules, but previously it was allowed under the rules at the time. Therefore we allow it now, it is 'grandfathered' in.
A: Hmm......ok.
H: So you don't 'Grossvater' or 'Opa' anything?
A: No.
H: So what if something is an exception to the rule? It is not correct according to the rules, but because of certain reasons, we allow it. How do you call this in German?
A: (silence)
H: (imagining a German staring at the screen with a befuddled look.) A, you don't have this in German do you? An exception to the rules that is allowed?
A: No H, I don't think we have a word for that...
Yet another example of where the language reflects the culture.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Hahahahahaha!
That's fantastic - it's amazing how language and culture come to reflect each other.
Schutz Angestammter Rechte- the protection of prviously allowed rights. Nothing shorter. My husband had no issue with the concept- his motorcycle license was "grandfathered" when they raised the age limit in Germany.
I think it should be "Opaet" or "Opatet"
I shall try it on Birgit tomorrow. Has du das geopat? :)
By the way I have nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award - I hope you don't mind...
Post a Comment