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Denglisch - Wise Guys
More and more anglicisms find their way into the German language - that's not really anything new. As English is the dominating world language and every German 5/6-year-old starts learning English in 1st grade, it's not surprising that more and more English words are entering the German language now.
Everybody has to decide for themselves if they think it's a good thing or not. For learners of German as a Foreign language, it might come as an advantage but also an a disadvantage. How so? Well, almost every learner of German can already speak English and of course it's easier to learn German if there is a great variety of words that is similar in English. However, if learners of German see that there are so many words similar or even equal to those in English, they might be disappointed. Or not focussing on learning German vocabulary anymore and instead use all anglicisms they can find. Why bother to learn German if you can get around by speaking English? Also you can't just take any English word and make it German. Well, it's a contradictory topic. And in addition to that, there are German words like "Handy" or "Projektor" that sound English but have a completely different meaning being used as a "German" word. I'll be talking about this issue in another blog post.
Let's now move on to the Wise Guys, a German a cappella group, who took the issue of having various anglicisms in German nowadays and came up with their song "Denglisch" (taken from deutsch-englisch). In their song, they criticize the huge amount of anglicisms in German.
Take a look at their video on youtube:
(You'll find the translated lyrics below)
English Translation of “Denglisch”
Wise Guys Lyrics
Oh, Lord, please give me my language back,
I long for Frieden [peace] and a little bit of Glück [happiness].
Let us understand a word in this difficult time,
open our hearts, expand the brain.
on my new Swatch it was already just before "after eight."
I looked for a toilet, but only found a "McClean,"
I still needed "Connection" and a "Ticket" to Berlin.
Outside sat "Kids" and had "Fun" with a "Joint."
I looked for information, but there was only a "Service Point."
My train was gone - "Traveln" I could do without.
Then I wanted to eat "Hähnchen" [chicken], but there was only "McChicken." Oh, Lord, please give me my language back,
I long for Frieden [peace] and a little bit of Glück [happiness].
Let us understand a word in this difficult time,
open our hearts, expand the brain. You try to "update" me, but my "Feedback turned" you off.
You say I really need a "Wellness-Weekend."
You say with "good Vibrations" I'd get back in the "Flow."
You say I need "Energy." And I think: "So you say..."
Instead of "Nachrichten" I get the "Infotainment-Flash."
I'm longing for Bargeld [cash], but they don't even give me "Cash."
When "Communicating," I feel insecure as never before –
a "Bodyguard" is no use. I need "Security"! Oh, "Lord," please give me my "Language" back,
I'm longing for "Peace" and a little bit of Glück [happiness].
Let us understand a word in this difficult time,
open our hearts, expand the brain. For "Coffee-Shop" I want to see "Kaffeehaus" written up there,
or that in an "Auto-Crash" the "Lufttasche" (airbag) goes off,
and it would be nice, if we called "Bodybuilder" "Muskel-Mäster"
and if only "Nordisch Geher" would run across the landscape... "Oh, Lord, please help," because my "Language" causes me "Stress,"
I long for "Peace" and "a bit of Happiness."
Help us, so we "understand" in this difficult time,
"open" our "hearts" and "make" the brain wide. "Oh, Lord, please" give me my "Language back,"
I soon here in "crisis, man, it has" no point.
"Let us" still "a word" understand, "it goes me on the" Geist,*
and let "Microsoft" soon be known as "Kleinweich" [small soft].
*From the German expression jdm auf den Geist gehen, "to get on one's nerves."

