27 December 2008

AUSFAHRT AND OTHER AMUSING WORDS...



Can't help but chuckle every time I see the sign Ausfahrt in Austria. It indicates a vehicle exit, and the Americanized version is somewhat of an exit, too, isn't it?

LG was sick a bit when we returned from our three weeks in France and Spain. She keeps telling us that she is no longer girting, which is her version of the Slovak word for vomitting...

LG is all show biz. JA and KF are much lower key and as they grow up they will most likely end up as her cohorts in crime. She is the oldest and has the strongest "leadership" skills! LG isn't shy about performing, even with her as-yet limited talent. To our great and diabolical amusement, she always insists that we "crap" for her. "We are crapping..."

And, grandpa carefully compared two trendy shirts for JA while shopping at Du Pareil au Meme, finally settling on a very urban/trendy look to go with the "grunge" sweater jacket and cool scarf. Unfortunately, some French words don't translate as PC in American English. The little squishy guy's wonderful shirt announces "retard" in letters bolder than we would wish... With Latin the base language for both French and English, it makes sense that this French word meaning delay or lateness in America English refers to the developmentally disabled [now considered a derogatory term, but commonly used in the late 20th century. Never acceptable when used as a noun: retard; commonly and politely used as an adjective: "The child is retarded."].

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