http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE58R37Y20090928
QuoteGerman minister-to-be rebuffs question in English
BERLIN (Reuters) - Guido Westerwelle, who is widely expected to become foreign minister in the next German government, admonished a reporter who asked him a question in English on Monday, saying: "We're in Germany here."
The head of the Free Democrats (FDP), who are poised to enter government in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, was giving his first news conference since Sunday's election when a BBC reporter asked whether he might be willing to respond to a question in English.
"Would you please be so kind, this is a press conference in Germany," Westerwelle replied in German.
Undeterred, the reporter then asked Westerwelle if he could respond in German to a question in English, only to be rebuffed again.
"In Great Britain people are expected to speak English and it is the same in Germany, people are expected to speak German," Westerwelle answered.
Using a translator, the BBC reporter then proceeded to ask a question about how German foreign policy would change with Westerwelle as foreign minister.
Westerwelle dodged the question, before adding: "Just so it's clear, I'm happy to meet you for tea outside the press conference and then we can speak only English. But we're in Germany here."
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What is German for giant douchebag?
...so?
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 11:37:31 AM
What is German for giant douchebag?
German, oddly enough.
Sounds like a Nazi to me. Anybody who shows the slightest bit of German nationalism is suspect.
Obviously a French sleeper.
I only speak Swedish in Sweden. If an American tourist with a baseball cap and blue-haired wife comes up to me and ask for the way to the Royal Palace I say "ja ja hej så länge tack tack!" and consider my work done.
Still, what can you expect from a homosexual? Intollerance is their lifeblood.
You should run for foreign minister.
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
OTOH you generally do NOT want to hear an Anglo-Saxon butcher the language of Goethe and Hitler. They can't get German right.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
Right? I mean I can understand lacking Estonian speakers or something but sending somebody to report on Germany who is unable to speak in German?
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 11:52:19 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
Right? I mean I can understand lacking Estonian speakers or something but sending somebody to report on Germany who is unable to speak in German?
http://www.abendblatt.de/politik/deutschland/article1149499/Murphy-ist-neuer-US-Botschafter-in-Deutschland.html
An article about the new U.S. ambassador to Germany (Philip D. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs exec) says, "Unlike his predecessors, he speaks German."
The one on the left isn't bad looking - is it him?
-----
As for this comeback... Where's the limit between accomodating others and being taken for granted? It's quite arrogant to assume that because english is the 'lingua franca' (that's a laugh) of the planet, anyone spoken to in that language should switch to it, no matter the circumstances.
G.
Quote from: Syt on September 30, 2009, 11:58:56 AM
An article about the new U.S. ambassador to Germany (Philip D. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs exec) says, "Unlike his predecessors, he speaks German."
Well that is different. U.S. ambassadors are political cronies selected because of their financial support and value to the party, not because of any professional qualifications...except for truly shitty assignments no cronies want.
I would hope the professionals who do the actual work speak German.
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 11:52:19 AM
Right? I mean I can understand lacking Estonian speakers or something but sending somebody to report on Germany who is unable to speak in German?
Yeah, we're not talking about some tribal language in the Congo here. That a major news agency like the BBC would be asking questions in English in an important country like Germany is kinda embarrassing.
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 12:02:11 PM
Quote from: Syt on September 30, 2009, 11:58:56 AM
An article about the new U.S. ambassador to Germany (Philip D. Murphy, a former Goldman Sachs exec) says, "Unlike his predecessors, he speaks German."
Well that is different. U.S. ambassadors are political cronies selected because of their financial support and value to the party, not because of any professional qualifications...except for truly shitty assignments no cronies want.
Valid point.
And compare ambassador to the Germany's vita: Head of Goldman Sachs Frankfurt, President of G-S Asia, three years as National Finance Chair of the Democratic National Committee
to the one of the ambassador to Austria: main business achievement is Executive Vice President of Alliant Foodservice Inc, together with services in lobbying groups and stuff like Chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. And fundraising during Obama's presidential campaign.
Though for austria this might be of note: "Following a long-standing tradition established by previous US ambassadors, he is also an ex officio member on the Board of Directors of the Salzburg Global Seminar."
Guido? How teutonic! :bleeding:
Wow, sounds like a total dick. You occasionally get people like this in lesser European nations where they are very protective about their language (Netherlands, Scandis) but odd to see from Germany.
Agreed that its bad from the Beeb too in not sending a German speaker though.
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
Then again, if you were getting grilled by journos, the sensible option is to demand you are spoken to in your own language (unless there is a compelling reason not to). It's harder for a predatory journalist to twist your words or pitch an ambiguous question when it is in your native tongue.
Quote from: Warspite on September 30, 2009, 12:48:36 PM
Then again, if you were getting grilled by journos, the sensible option is to demand you are spoken to in your own language (unless there is a compelling reason not to). It's harder for a predatory journalist to twist your words or pitch an ambiguous question when it is in your native tongue.
Or if the question is asked in foreign you can selectivly morph the question into one you would rather ask and if challenged on it put it down to translation issues. (you answer in your own language of course)
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 12:48:24 PM
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
If I spoke Swedish, I would not look askance, I would just answer his question. If I was fluent, I would do so in Swedish, otherwise in English and leave it to the translators.
What is so hard about that?
I for one welcome our new gay German overlords. :P
Quote from: Grallon on September 30, 2009, 12:00:20 PM
The one on the left isn't bad looking - is it him?
Nope, it's his partner. The minister is the one on the right.
You have to remember that politics is showbiz for ugly people.
Quote from: Neil on September 30, 2009, 11:43:12 AM
Still, what can you expect from a homosexual? Intollerance is their lifeblood.
Is "intollerance" some sort of negative disposition towards tariffs and tolls?
Quote from: The Brain on September 30, 2009, 11:49:57 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
OTOH you generally do NOT want to hear an Anglo-Saxon butcher the language of Goethe and Hitler. They can't get German right.
Do you mean there's a foreign language they do not butcher? :huh:
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 11:37:31 AM
What is German for giant douchebag?
I understand that Obama always fluently answers all questions posed to him in German by foreign journalists?
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 12:57:06 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 12:48:24 PM
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
If I spoke Swedish, I would not look askance, I would just answer his question. If I was fluent, I would do so in Swedish, otherwise in English and leave it to the translators.
What is so hard about that?
Eurocommies are sensitive to Anglophone's preponderance in global politics.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on September 30, 2009, 01:16:38 PM
Quote from: The Brain on September 30, 2009, 11:49:57 AM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
OTOH you generally do NOT want to hear an Anglo-Saxon butcher the language of Goethe and Hitler. They can't get German right.
Do you mean there's a foreign language they do not butcher? :huh:
There are languages that need butchering.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 12:57:06 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 12:48:24 PM
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
If I spoke Swedish, I would not look askance, I would just answer his question. If I was fluent, I would do so in Swedish, otherwise in English and leave it to the translators.
What is so hard about that?
I imagine the press conference was televised to local people. It's not like he was having a private chat with the journalist, but making pronouncements that are heard not just the guy asking a question but other people as well.
Quote from: Martinus on September 30, 2009, 01:20:43 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 12:57:06 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 12:48:24 PM
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
If I spoke Swedish, I would not look askance, I would just answer his question. If I was fluent, I would do so in Swedish, otherwise in English and leave it to the translators.
What is so hard about that?
I imagine the press conference was televised to local people. It's not like he was having a private chat with the journalist, but making pronouncements that are heard not just the guy asking a question but other people as well.
Nobody watches press conferences, get real.
Even if someone WAS watching, I would still just answer his question. If I really cared about what other people who theoretically were watching thought, I would translate it myself, then answer it, which would make me look awesome. Or more awesome.
Quote from: Martinus on September 30, 2009, 01:18:03 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 11:37:31 AM
What is German for giant douchebag?
I understand that Obama always fluently answers all questions posed to him in German by foreign journalists?
He usually uses Muslim
Quote from: Martinus on September 30, 2009, 01:16:23 PM
Quote from: Neil on September 30, 2009, 11:43:12 AM
Still, what can you expect from a homosexual? Intollerance is their lifeblood.
Is "intollerance" some sort of negative disposition towards tariffs and tolls?
Enjoy your ban.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 11:46:52 AM
The BBC (and other news agencies) should try getting reporters who actually speak the local language.
I agree. He's totally right.
On the US State Department I believe they're having a real problem getting people who speak useful languages or are able/willing to learn them - can't remember the article but there was a recent one about this. So the professionals don't always speak the language, not that this is new. During the Iranian revolution I think the US embassy had 50 staff who could speak Farsi out of the 600 embassy staff. None of the CIA posted there could speak it.
Quote from: The Brain on September 30, 2009, 01:19:35 PM
OTOH you generally do NOT want to hear an Anglo-Saxon butcher the language of Goethe and Hitler. They can't get German right.
Quote
Do you mean there's a foreign language they do not butcher? :huh:
Quote
There are languages that need butchering.
I can see what you are getting at. Not that I approve it :goodboy:
He should have said: "Allow me to answer in German." followed by the answer.
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
He should have answered in the fashion of the Munich tour guide.
http://video.canadiancontent.net/43720662-family-guy-german-tour.html
Talking to a German friend, it's rumored he can barely speak English.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
In Tashkent? Absolutely.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 30, 2009, 01:55:17 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
In Tashkent? Absolutely.
So even if hardly anyone speaks your language, it is better for the government to be unable to communicate with the world, rather than simply speaking in a common language?
Sure, I guess that makes a lot of sense.
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 30, 2009, 01:55:17 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
In Tashkent? Absolutely.
Really? He should at least know Russian and be willing to use that.
Language super-ego is so funny.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 30, 2009, 01:59:46 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on September 30, 2009, 01:55:17 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
In Tashkent? Absolutely.
Really? He should at least know Russian and be willing to use that.
:bleeding: And people wonder why Americans make so many diplomatic blunders.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
Uzbekistan is not Germany. But I would hope that any journalist there would at least speak Russian
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 02:04:31 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
Uzbekistan is not Germany. But I would hope that any journalist there would at least speak Russian
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
What an odd criteria.
Why in the world should a Uzbeki official be required to speak in anything but Tashkent with the media, if a German official is justified in refusing to speak in anything but German?
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 02:04:31 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
Uzbekistan is not Germany. But I would hope that any journalist there would at least speak Russian
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
What an odd criteria.
Why in the world should a Uzbeki official be required to speak in anything but Tashkent with the media, if a German official is justified in refusing to speak in anything but German?
If 1% or more of the world's population speaks it, then media companies/governments should make sure that journalists or diplomats they send should know it.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 30, 2009, 02:12:11 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 02:04:31 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
Uzbekistan is not Germany. But I would hope that any journalist there would at least speak Russian
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
What an odd criteria.
Why in the world should a Uzbeki official be required to speak in anything but Tashkent with the media, if a German official is justified in refusing to speak in anything but German?
If 1% or more of the world's population speaks it, then media companies/governments should make sure that journalists or diplomats they send should know it.
Why?
Why 1%? Why not .1%? Or 2%?
This is pretty amusing - people getting all offended at being asked to answer a question in English, but turning around and saying that *other* languages don't matter enough to bother with them.
As opposed to, you know, just speaking in a language both people actually speak well. Can't have that!
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:14:41 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on September 30, 2009, 02:12:11 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 02:04:31 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:51:47 PM
What if he was the foreign minister for Uzbekistan - should he still insist that everyone ask him questions in his language?
Uzbekistan is not Germany. But I would hope that any journalist there would at least speak Russian
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
What an odd criteria.
Why in the world should a Uzbeki official be required to speak in anything but Tashkent with the media, if a German official is justified in refusing to speak in anything but German?
If 1% or more of the world's population speaks it, then media companies/governments should make sure that journalists or diplomats they send should know it.
Why?
Why 1%? Why not .1%? Or 2%?
Because the number of German speakers is higher than 1% and the number of Uzbek speakers is lower. :contract:
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:14:41 PM
Why?
Why 1%? Why not .1%? Or 2%?
Do you really want your news from reporters that don't speak the language of the country they are reporting from?
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 02:24:07 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:14:41 PM
Why?
Why 1%? Why not .1%? Or 2%?
Do you really want your news from reporters that don't speak the language of the country they are reporting from?
Not really - but I don't think the reason the German guy refused to speak English with the guy who didn't know German was due to any concern about me.
Clearly a professional journalist is much more capable if they speak the language where they are reporting from, if for no other reason than there will be times when there isn't a common language at all.
If a Caucausian speaks Chinese to me in Hong Kong, I'll insist in speaking English :bowler:
What makes the story interesting is that this a new *foreign* minister, and moreover one about whom there have been questions posed about whether he has sufficient experience and is up for the job. As a pratical matter, the ability to speak English is a basic job requirement for a foreign minister. One can debate endlessly about whether this is fair or just but for the time being it happens to be true. So for a new foreign minister to get excited about this issue can only raise questions about whether he is ready to go or needs more seasoning.
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 12:03:34 PM
Yeah, we're not talking about some tribal language in the Congo here. That a major news agency like the BBC would be asking questions in English in an important country like Germany is kinda embarrassing.
Yep. And Guido was right to call the Limey out on it.
I may have found my new Fortuyn :blush:
Germany hasn't been an important country since Bagration.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
Um...what? It would just be daft to send a reporter to an English speaking country that doesn't speak English. Why did you make that caveat?
Damn furriners! Why can't you all just speak American!!!! :cool:
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 03:07:05 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
Um...what? It would just be daft to send a reporter to an English speaking country that doesn't speak English. Why did you make that caveat?
Because the actual problem here is that someone asked the poor German official to speak in English - a language he could, in fact, speak.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 03:13:17 PM
Because the actual problem here is that someone asked the poor German official to speak in English - a language he could, in fact, speak.
I guess I find it also justified when bilingual Texas officials insist their press conferences and debates are done in English even when asked questions in Spanish because, you know, this is America we speak English here so everybody in the room can understand.
I guess you find that douchebaggy?
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 03:16:58 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 03:13:17 PM
Because the actual problem here is that someone asked the poor German official to speak in English - a language he could, in fact, speak.
I guess I find it also justified when bilingual Texas officials insist their press conferences and debates are done in English even when asked questions in Spanish because, you know, this is America we speak English here so everybody in the room can understand.
I guess you find that douchebaggy?
If some reporter who did not speak English asked a question in Spanish which the person being asked understood, then yes, he is being a douchebag if he refuses to answer it just because it wasn't spoken in English.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 03:24:10 PM
If some reporter who did not speak English asked a question in Spanish which the person being asked understood, then yes, he is being a douchebag if he refuses to answer it just because it wasn't spoken in English.
Fair enough. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
I wonder why Westerwelle even wants to be foreign minister. His political interests so far were usually economic policy as far as I can tell. And foreign minister is not a particularly glamourous job in Germany anyway as Angie takes all the limelight at important events.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 03:13:17 PM
Quote from: Valmy on September 30, 2009, 03:07:05 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 02:07:31 PM
So the language elitism is ok, as long as it is a "major" language that isn't English?
Um...what? It would just be daft to send a reporter to an English speaking country that doesn't speak English. Why did you make that caveat?
Because the actual problem here is that someone asked the poor German official to speak in English - a language he could, in fact, speak.
Faeelin brings up whether he can speak it very well. Maybe that is the problem?
Quote from: Zanza on September 30, 2009, 03:25:58 PM
I wonder why Westerwelle even wants to be foreign minister. His political interests so far were usually economic policy as far as I can tell. And foreign minister is not a particularly glamourous job in Germany anyway as Angie takes all the limelight at important events.
Does he have a shot at any higher position?
Quote from: Zanza on September 30, 2009, 03:25:58 PM
I wonder why Westerwelle even wants to be foreign minister. His political interests so far were usually economic policy as far as I can tell. And foreign minister is not a particularly glamourous job in Germany anyway as Angie takes all the limelight at important events.
B/c Genscher is the only FDP guy that anyone outside of Germany can ever remember, just like Joshka is the only Green. Being Economics Minister is a not a ticket to fame and recognition.
I'm trying to think of this happening in the US. If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew I think the American would jump at the chance to showboat their language skills.
At first I was torn, and then I noticed he even deflected a question from that reporter when the reporter had it phrased through an interpreter. Assuming he would be addressing a German-speaking forum and finding he has to respond in English without warning could be a viable reason to be upset (I speak German, but would be pretty upset about having to formally answer in it without warning), but refusing to acknowledge a question through an interpreter is pretty damn unacceptable in diplomatic terms.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 03:32:12 PM
I'm trying to think of this happening in the US. If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew I think the American would jump at the chance to showboat their language skills.
I am a jelly doughnut!
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 03:32:12 PM
If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew
:lol:
Quote from: ulmont on September 30, 2009, 03:36:21 PM
I am a jelly doughnut!
Or Hillary with a big red button.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 03:32:12 PM
I'm trying to think of this happening in the US. If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew I think the American would jump at the chance to showboat their language skills.
Assuming he possessed such skills... I think the key of this business is, the man's English is supposed to be awful, so broken and heavily accented that he feared he would become a laughingstock.
The reporter was being a weenie. Go ahead and ask the question directly in English, if Herr Homosexual wants to respond directly he can, in crappy English or in German, or he can wait for the translation. It's not the reporter's place to specify which language he/she wants the response in.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 03:47:09 PM
The reporter was being a weenie. Go ahead and ask the question directly in English, if Herr Homosexual wants to respond directly he can, in crappy English or in German, or he can wait for the translation. It's not the reporter's place to specify which language he/she wants the response in.
:huh: I didn't see where the reporter asked for the response in English. The minister was the one complaining about the question being in English, and also ignoring the question when it came from the interpreter.
QuoteUndeterred, the reporter then asked Westerwelle if he could respond in German to a question in English, only to be rebuffed again.
"In Great Britain people are expected to speak English and it is the same in Germany, people are expected to speak German," Westerwelle answered.
Herr Homosexual got annoyed about the question itself, and then brushed off the interpreter.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 03:32:12 PM
I'm trying to think of this happening in the US. If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew I think the American would jump at the chance to showboat their language skills.
Doubt that, unless they really, really, really knew the foreign language. Too much potential for screw-ups, like the jelly doughnut example. We might even screw up the translation of "reset" in Russian <waits for DGuller to pop up>
Btw, does Hillary speak any languages besides English & Shrillfeminazi?
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 03:51:33 PM
:huh: I didn't see where the reporter asked for the response in English. The minister was the one complaining about the question being in English, and also ignoring the question when it came from the interpreter.
QuoteThe head of the Free Democrats (FDP), who are poised to enter government in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, was giving his first news conference since Sunday's election when a BBC reporter asked whether he might be willing to respond to a question in English.
"Would you please be so kind, this is a press conference in Germany," Westerwelle replied in German.
Undeterred, the reporter then asked Westerwelle if he could respond in German to a question in English, only to be rebuffed again.
Jeez dude, it's like have the article.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 03:54:49 PM
Jeez dude, it's like have the article.
Jeez dude, it's like I already edited in the applicable quote. :contract:
The first time I could understand: the whole on-the-spot thing. The second response is what gets him into trouble; there's just no excuse for saying what he said- if there was an interpreter there, he could have just told him to go ahead and that somebody would interpret, and he'd still get to act annoyed at the stupid question.
Instead, he badgered a foreign national about speaking his country's language, and he snubbed an interpreted question. Reasonable, possibly, but really crappy behavior from a guy who's supposed to be in charge of the nation's diplomacy.
Quote from: derspiess on September 30, 2009, 03:53:41 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 03:32:12 PM
I'm trying to think of this happening in the US. If somebody posed a question to a US secretary of State in foreign language that this person actually knew I think the American would jump at the chance to showboat their language skills.
Doubt that, unless they really, really, really knew the foreign language. Too much potential for screw-ups, like the jelly doughnut example. We might even screw up the translation of "reset" in Russian <waits for DGuller to pop up>
Btw, does Hillary speak any languages besides English & Shrillfeminazi?
To bad the Jelly Doughnut thing never happened.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 03:51:33 PM
:huh: I didn't see where the reporter asked for the response in English.
QuoteThe head of the Free Democrats (FDP), who are poised to enter government in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, was giving his first news conference since Sunday's election when a BBC reporter asked whether he might be willing to respond to a question in English.
Jeez dude. :D
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 04:07:21 PM
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 03:51:33 PM
:huh: I didn't see where the reporter asked for the response in English.
QuoteThe head of the Free Democrats (FDP), who are poised to enter government in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, was giving his first news conference since Sunday's election when a BBC reporter asked whether he might be willing to respond to a question in English.
Jeez dude. :D
You caught me on that one. I was a little too eager to argue down the fact that it was his response that was at issue and wasn't paying too close attention to what I was typing. :P
Quote from: derspiess on September 30, 2009, 02:58:48 PM
Quote from: DisturbedPervert on September 30, 2009, 12:03:34 PM
Yeah, we're not talking about some tribal language in the Congo here. That a major news agency like the BBC would be asking questions in English in an important country like Germany is kinda embarrassing.
Yep. And Guido was right to call the Limey out on it.
I may have found my new Fortuyn :blush:
Why don't you love me, then? I'm European, I'm gay and I hate muslims, too. :P
Quote from: derspiess on September 30, 2009, 03:28:30 PM
Quote from: Zanza on September 30, 2009, 03:25:58 PM
I wonder why Westerwelle even wants to be foreign minister. His political interests so far were usually economic policy as far as I can tell. And foreign minister is not a particularly glamourous job in Germany anyway as Angie takes all the limelight at important events.
Does he have a shot at any higher position?
Well, he is the head of the junior coalition partner. That usually carries an important job, second-after-Angie kind of thing.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 04:05:39 PM
To bad the Jelly Doughnut thing never happened.
Faked like the moon landings? :huh:
I love the fact that when you type "Guido Westerwelle" into google search, it helpfully suggests that the third word of the search should be "schwul". :frusty:
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 04:02:19 PM
Instead, he badgered a foreign national about speaking his country's language, and he snubbed an interpreted question. Reasonable, possibly, but really crappy behavior from a guy who's supposed to be in charge of the nation's diplomacy.
Yeah, like Ribbentrop was all that better. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 04:14:43 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 04:05:39 PM
To bad the Jelly Doughnut thing never happened.
Faked like the moon landings? :huh:
Jesus christ, Yi how much koolaid have you drunk? The Jelly Doughnut thing is myth in the US.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 05:14:40 PM
Jesus christ, Yi how much koolaid have you drunk? The Jelly Doughnut thing is myth in the US.
Absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 05:15:38 PM
Absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
:huh: You brought it up.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 05:15:38 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 05:14:40 PM
Jesus christ, Yi how much koolaid have you drunk? The Jelly Doughnut thing is myth in the US.
Absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
The "jelly doughnut thing" that Raz is referring to is presumably the urban legend concerning John F Kennedy's "Ich Bin ein Berliner" speech.
Quote from: Agelastus on September 30, 2009, 05:33:31 PM
The "jelly doughnut thing" that Raz is referring to is presumably the urban legend concerning John F Kennedy's "Ich Bin ein Berliner" speech.
That's what I figured. I don't get the urban legend/myth part.
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 01:18:20 PM
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 12:57:06 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on September 30, 2009, 12:48:24 PM
I imagine if I were giving a press conference and some tool started asking questions in Swedish I might look askance. But he handled it very poorly. Typical Teutonic behavior. Next come the panzers.
If I spoke Swedish, I would not look askance, I would just answer his question. If I was fluent, I would do so in Swedish, otherwise in English and leave it to the translators.
What is so hard about that?
Eurocommies are sensitive to Anglophone's preponderance in global politics.
Canadians too since I see no big deal.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 03:47:09 PM
The reporter was being a weenie. Go ahead and ask the question directly in English, if Herr Homosexual wants to respond directly he can, in crappy English or in German, or he can wait for the translation. It's not the reporter's place to specify which language he/she wants the response in.
I kind of interpreted the situation as the reporter was just fishing for a soundbite in English to score some kind of scoop & Guido didn't feel like playing along, so he weaseled out of an awkward situation awkwardly. I've got no problem with that. It's not like Guido put the reporter on the first train East or anything...
Quote from: Martinus on September 30, 2009, 04:16:33 PM
I love the fact that when you type "Guido Westerwelle" into google search, it helpfully suggests that the third word of the search should be "schwul". :frusty:
The greens being derogatory, no doubt.
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 05:14:40 PM
Jesus christ, Yi how much koolaid have you drunk? The Jelly Doughnut thing is myth in the US.
Raz, the "Ich bin ein Berliner" thing was 100% bona fide. What happened is the usual rule for saying you're a native of a city in German is to add "-er" to the end: "Ich bin ein Rotenburger," etc. The problem is that Berlin is an exception because of that specific "jelly donut" mixup; in the case of Berlin, he should have said, "Ich bin aus Berlin." It's an urban myth that it was a national embarrassment- only to linguists and German language students; you can see pretty clearly in the
video footage (how much koolaid have YOU been drinking, Raz?) that the crowd still loves the speech anyway.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 07:19:09 PM
Raz, the "Ich bin ein Berliner" thing was 100% bona fide. What happened is the usual rule for saying you're a native of a city in German is to add "-er" to the end: "Ich bin ein Rotenburger," etc. The problem is that Berlin is an exception because of that specific "jelly donut" mixup; in the case of Berlin, he should have said, "Ich bin aus Berlin." It's an urban myth that it was a national embarrassment- only to linguists and German language students; you can see pretty clearly in the video footage (how much koolaid have YOU been drinking, Raz?) that the crowd still loves the speech anyway.
Is that right? I thought the rule in German was no article ever.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 08:12:37 PM
Is that right? I thought the rule in German was no article ever.
Actually, German's pretty article-happy, since nouns are gendered- the article indicates which gender, but the difference in this case is a preposition; it would be between saying "I'm an American" (Ich bin Amerikanner) and "I'm from America" (Ich bin aus Amerika).
Der Vater = the father; masculine
Die Mutter = the mother; feminine
Das Fenster = the window; neuter
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 08:28:55 PM
Actually, German's pretty article-happy, since nouns are gendered- the article indicates which gender, but the difference in this case is a preposition; it would be between saying "I'm an American" (Ich bin Amerikanner) and "I'm from America" (Ich bin aus Amerika).
Der Vater = the father; masculine
Die Mutter = the mother; feminine
Das Fenster = the window; neuter
Nononono. I meant for places of origin. Like I thought it was "Ich bin Deutschlander" and "Ich bin Frankfurter" rather than "Ich bin ein Deutschlander."
Quote from: C.C.R. on September 30, 2009, 06:52:24 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 03:47:09 PM
The reporter was being a weenie. Go ahead and ask the question directly in English, if Herr Homosexual wants to respond directly he can, in crappy English or in German, or he can wait for the translation. It's not the reporter's place to specify which language he/she wants the response in.
I kind of interpreted the situation as the reporter was just fishing for a soundbite in English to score some kind of scoop & Guido didn't feel like playing along, so he weaseled out of an awkward situation awkwardly. I've got no problem with that. It's not like Guido put the reporter on the first train East or anything...
Yeah, if a foreign-language reporter in the US asked Hillary a question in the reporter's language, I wouldn't have a problem with her asking him to speak English. And I wouldn't have a problem with the Uzbek foreign minister wanting to be addressed in Uzbek while in Uzbekistan, either.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 30, 2009, 08:34:27 PM
Nononono. I meant for places of origin. Like I thought it was "Ich bin Deutschlander" and "Ich bin Frankfurter" rather than "Ich bin ein Deutschlander."
That's my understanding, from German 101 in college. The instructor even used the 'jelly doughnut' reference as an example.
Quote from: Martinus on September 30, 2009, 04:11:55 PM
Why don't you love me, then? I'm European, I'm gay and I hate muslims, too. :P
You abandoned true liberalism for leftism years ago. And you have Americans more than muslims :P
Quote from: DontSayBanana on September 30, 2009, 07:19:09 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 05:14:40 PM
Jesus christ, Yi how much koolaid have you drunk? The Jelly Doughnut thing is myth in the US.
Raz, the "Ich bin ein Berliner" thing was 100% bona fide. What happened is the usual rule for saying you're a native of a city in German is to add "-er" to the end: "Ich bin ein Rotenburger," etc. The problem is that Berlin is an exception because of that specific "jelly donut" mixup; in the case of Berlin, he should have said, "Ich bin aus Berlin." It's an urban myth that it was a national embarrassment- only to linguists and German language students; you can see pretty clearly in the video footage (how much koolaid have YOU been drinking, Raz?) that the crowd still loves the speech anyway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner#Jelly_doughnut_urban_legend
Quote from: Razgovory on September 30, 2009, 11:05:03 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner#Jelly_doughnut_urban_legend
Raz, ein paar von uns haben Deutsch gelernt, und ein paar mehr sprechen es am ersten. Bitte sag uns nicht über Deutsch mit Angeboten von Wiki.
Adding the "ein" does not make the sentence wrong. German has a lot of rules, but there is some flexibility. ;) Every German will have understood perfectly fine what Kennedy wanted to say. The jelly donut thing is just an urban myth.
Quote from: Berkut on September 30, 2009, 01:58:28 PM
So even if hardly anyone speaks your language, it is better for the government to be unable to communicate with the world, rather than simply speaking in a common language?
Well this is why we have journalists. I'd expect a journalist from the world posted to Tashkent to be able to speak the lingo or they can't do their job.
QuoteBecause the actual problem here is that someone asked the poor German official to speak in English - a language he could, in fact, speak.
Which I think would be fine if he were giving a press conference at NATO or in London - on a visit. Though I think a reporters misunderstanding the situation if they think they dictate the terms of a press conference. But this is Berlin and the journalists there are German or there to cover Germany. They should offer basic courtesy and speak German.
The Jelly Doughnut thing reminds me of the recommendation I was given once: avoid saying
Ich bin ein Pariser :D
Even though I am from Paris
Would make such a cheesy icebreaker...
"Willst du einen Pariser für den nacht? :lol:
This puts a new twist on the "if not for us you'd be speaking German" shtick emminating from the far side of the atlantic.
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 01, 2009, 03:50:39 AM
The Jelly Doughnut thing reminds me of the recommendation I was given once: avoid saying
Ich bin ein Pariser :D
Even though I am from Paris
Would make such a cheesy icebreaker...
"Willst du einen Pariser für den nacht? :lol:
If she answers that she doesn't want a Pariser, that could be good or bad. ;)
Quote from: Zanza on October 01, 2009, 12:50:03 AM
Adding the "ein" does not make the sentence wrong. German has a lot of rules, but there is some flexibility. ;) Every German will have understood perfectly fine what Kennedy wanted to say. The jelly donut thing is just an urban myth.
Well, that's a relief! It was a great speech by Kennedy.
Quote from: Zanza on October 01, 2009, 12:50:03 AM
Adding the "ein" does not make the sentence wrong. German has a lot of rules, but there is some flexibility. ;) Every German will have understood perfectly fine what Kennedy wanted to say. The jelly donut thing is just an urban myth.
I never took the story to mean that Germans didn't understand what he was trying to say-- obviously they would hear it & make an allowance for the fact that JFK wasn't a native Krautspeaker. I thought it was just meant to be an amusing story about a double-entendre of sorts.
Quote from: derspiess on October 01, 2009, 11:31:21 AM
Quote from: Zanza on October 01, 2009, 12:50:03 AM
Adding the "ein" does not make the sentence wrong. German has a lot of rules, but there is some flexibility. ;) Every German will have understood perfectly fine what Kennedy wanted to say. The jelly donut thing is just an urban myth.
I never took the story to mean that Germans didn't understand what he was trying to say-- obviously they would hear it & make an allowance for the fact that JFK wasn't a native Krautspeaker. I thought it was just meant to be an amusing story about a double-entendre of sorts.
Yeah, that's what I had wondered also, if there was double meaning. But it was obvious that the crowd was pretty enthusiastic about the whole thing no matter what.
Quote from: derspiess on October 01, 2009, 11:31:21 AM
I never took the story to mean that Germans didn't understand what he was trying to say-- obviously they would hear it & make an allowance for the fact that JFK wasn't a native Krautspeaker. I thought it was just meant to be an amusing story about a double-entendre of sorts.
When I visited Berlin I asked about this and it seems that it was even gramatically correct the way Kennedy said it. Additionally it would never have even occured to a German living in Berlin that he meant anything else because they do not even call said jelly donuts 'Berliners' in Berlin itself.
Another humorous historical anecdote slain by facts. :(
So where did the jelly donut thing come from? Rush Limbaugh's dad or something?
Quote from: Caliga on October 01, 2009, 11:54:33 AM
So where did the jelly donut thing come from? Rush Limbaugh's dad or something?
Probably some liberal commie.
I see old men & women on the bus like that all the time yelling at Chinese people(or anyone vaguely foreign) talking Chinese and having a private conversation... Speak English you're in Canada... If the Oldster gets really annoying I'll yell up at them and tell them to stop screaming retarded things that I can understand. And then just to piss them off further I go on a big Trudeau-esque diatribe about Multi-culturalism. :P
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on October 01, 2009, 12:01:38 PM
Speak English you're in Canada
It would be funny if they then changed to speaking French.
Quote from: Caliga on October 01, 2009, 11:54:33 AM
So where did the jelly donut thing come from? Rush Limbaugh's dad or something?
I was curious so I clicked on Raz's link and it seems the myth was started in the early 80s sometime and clearly if he had actually made a funny mistake people would have been talking about it at the time.
Quote from: Valmy on October 01, 2009, 12:07:18 PM
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on October 01, 2009, 12:01:38 PM
Speak English you're in Canada
It would be funny if they then changed to speaking French.
If I wasn't so lazy I'd become bilingual just to do that.
Quote from: Valmy on October 01, 2009, 11:43:07 AMAdditionally it would never have even occured to a German living in Berlin that he meant anything else because they do not even call said jelly donuts 'Berliners' in Berlin itself.
Indeed they call them "Pfannkuchen", or pancakes. Stupid Berliners. :rolleyes:
Quote from: Syt on October 01, 2009, 12:13:36 PM
Indeed they call them "Pfannkuchen", or pancakes. Stupid Berliners. :rolleyes:
It was sort of a killjoy because one of the things I really wanted to do when I was in Berlin was eat a 'Berliner' in Kennedy's honor so it was kinda sucky to find out that story was not true.
I had to be content with seeing the remodeled Reich..er...Bundestag and the Pergamon Museum.
I avoid communicating in foreign languages if at all possible.
Quote from: Valmy on October 01, 2009, 12:20:23 PMI had to be content with seeing the remodeled Reich..er...Bundestag and the Pergamon Museum.
Reichstag is actually the official name for the building.
Quote from: BuddhaRhubarb on October 01, 2009, 12:01:38 PM
I see old men & women on the bus like that all the time yelling at Chinese people(or anyone vaguely foreign) talking Chinese and having a private conversation... Speak English you're in Canada... If the Oldster gets really annoying I'll yell up at them and tell them to stop screaming retarded things that I can understand. And then just to piss them off further I go on a big Trudeau-esque diatribe about Multi-culturalism. :P
The old people have a point though: If we're going to live in a society that is inclusive, our ancestors should never have come down from the trees.
Contempt for order is unforgivable.
Quote from: Zanza on October 01, 2009, 10:16:02 AM
Quote from: Duque de Bragança on October 01, 2009, 03:50:39 AM
The Jelly Doughnut thing reminds me of the recommendation I was given once: avoid saying
Ich bin ein Pariser :D
Even though I am from Paris...
Would make such a cheesy icebreaker...
"Willst du einen Pariser für den nacht? :lol:
If she answers that she doesn't want a Pariser, that could be good or bad. ;)
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, as always.
Quote from: Syt on October 01, 2009, 12:13:36 PM
Quote from: Valmy on October 01, 2009, 11:43:07 AMAdditionally it would never have even occured to a German living in Berlin that he meant anything else because they do not even call said jelly donuts 'Berliners' in Berlin itself.
Indeed they call them "Pfannkuchen", or pancakes. Stupid Berliners. :rolleyes:
I get mad when real Germans correct my Pennsylvania Dutch pronunciation of spaetzle (i.e. "schpeitzel"). I'm all "Do you want me to go all Operation Cobra on your ass BITCH!?"