German word exports rising

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...460012,00.html

That particular example highlights an advantage of German over other languages -- its ability to arrive at accurate descriptions by combining words to form a noun.

Zeitgeist, loosely translated as 'spirit of the age' and used by people trying to sound intelligent in English, is another example of this word-combining. So is the well-established Schadenfreude, which describes that intense pleasure one derives from the misfortune of others, a common sentiment for which the world lacked an adequate description until the Germans, with characteristic precision, constructed one.

"Our list reveals the wealth of the German language and its ability to combine words. You can't do that in other languages," said Peter, doing his PR job.
While some English words used in German are superfluous, such as the "Service Point" signs put up at major train stations around Germany, others are useful because they have no adequate German equivalent, such as 'fairness', said Peter.

We have been export world champions for industrial goods since years - we now set course to become world champions in exporting language, too!

"Kaffeepaussi"...? No offense of the Fins meant, but this word sounds funny for German ears, because the ending is a "Verniedlichungsform" (no English translation possible, something like a "playing down in order to make it appear as more cute"). Sounds almost like "Kaffepaussilein"... :rotfl: