The notion that German contains no new words is incorrect. In particular, English words are being introduced into German---as they are into French and Italian---at a very rapid rate.
Sometimes what results is an unholy mixture: both Penthouse and Penthaus are in current use. More often words of ultimately Greek and Latin origin are only naturalized: pessimism becomes Pessimismus. Colloquial terms are not even naturalized: junkie is Junkie. Often, the need being addressed is not urgent. German made do with Eskimo Hund for a very long time; now Husky has all but pushed it out. These changes are particularly obtrusive for foreigners. I have occasion to speak German often here in the United States, but if I return to Germany after an absence of only six months I often find that yet another anglicism has entered the language, displacing a perfectly serviceable German word. Some of this may be happening because many Germans now speak English well. This is the explanation most frequently advanced, but I am doubtful. -- John Gilmore, Ashland, MA 01721 - USA t. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
