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DFW

(59,994 posts)

68. Kinda sorta

Wed Sep 20, 2017, 03:27 PM

Sep 2017

Parts of Basel say "Grüssach." Mostly Basel, Zürich and Bern say "Grüezi."

Once I was in Zürich and needed some scotch tape. I asked for some "Tesa Film," which was the German term. There were 2 secretaries of the office I was in, and neither one had the slightest idea what I was talking about. I explained, and one of them said that I must have been using a term from Germany (I was), because in Switzerland, it was "Kläberli." The other one, a Zürich native, berated her as a "funny Baslerin," because the proper word in Zürich was "Kchloiberli." I said, if you German-speaking Swiss can't agree among yourselves what something is called, how am I supposed to know what to call it? They both agreed that I had a problem (but they did find me some tape).

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It is really embarrassing to read the xenophobic posts on DU, [View all] Ms. Toad Sep 2017 OP

i'll just ridicule her choices. spanone Sep 2017 #1

Have at it - you'll get no argument from me. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #4

👍🏼 spanone Sep 2017 #11

Me neither, BUT not ALL the douchebags posting here are going to be our own. Hortensis Sep 2017 #63

A fair number of the xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic ones Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #76

Agreed We don't make any friends by mocking others. It just looks childish and petty. JoeOtterbein Sep 2017 #2

Yup. Just look at her husband. nt SusanaMontana41 Sep 2017 #21

I agree Fatemah2774 Sep 2017 #157

Her accent is not the problem, I agree. Solly Mack Sep 2017 #3

She has been here Scarsdale Sep 2017 #53

I have a cousin from Spain who has been in America 40 years and still speaks English Solly Mack Sep 2017 #118

My husband has been here 20 years cannabis_flower Sep 2017 #167

It's very, very difficult for an adult to shake the accent of their native language. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #5

I was in Italy for many years, rarely speaking English, speaking Italian fierywoman Sep 2017 #16

The Guys In Milan That i Knew. . . ProfessorGAC Sep 2017 #30

That's funny! fierywoman Sep 2017 #33

I was gluted to LittleGirl Sep 2017 #40

I got it out of my wonderful library. Have you seen The Young Montalbano? fierywoman Sep 2017 #75

Yes, that's the one I meant LittleGirl Sep 2017 #124

The older one has about 20 episodes. You can also read fierywoman Sep 2017 #126

yeah, he's a looker LittleGirl Sep 2017 #129

There are the same characters at the police station, just older fierywoman Sep 2017 #144

Well, I'll Have To Pass On GWTW ProfessorGAC Sep 2017 #46

My husband is from Calabria JustAnotherGen Sep 2017 #38

Maybe we should have an Italian group here on DU flamingdem Sep 2017 #120

Amazing realization. LittleGirl Sep 2017 #41

Exactly. I grew up in an Irish Catholic family - raven mad Sep 2017 #17

I can understand Norwegian. It's indeed not complicated grammatically DFW Sep 2017 #36

I am learning the version that's taught as the "formal" language, The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #47

Icelandic is a hoot DFW Sep 2017 #49

Icelandic is what Norwegian was a thousand years ago The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #51

Latin is the entry port to declined languages alright DFW Sep 2017 #54

My Dad made me take Latin. The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2017 #56

It was compulsory in the high school I was attending at the time DFW Sep 2017 #65

Indeed! The main goal is to communicate - if her accent doesn't hinder that, KitSileya Sep 2017 #155

I'd rather just ignore the whole spectacle. The_Casual_Observer Sep 2017 #6

I feel like this is a conversation that we've had to have far too often on DU regarding the Trump SaschaHM Sep 2017 #7

Absolutely. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #12

Absolutely tymorial Sep 2017 #13

I agree. K&R. WhiskeyGrinder Sep 2017 #8

Her accent is fine MFM008 Sep 2017 #9

I love people with accents. sprinkleeninow Sep 2017 #10

Certainly how she carries out her role of first lady Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #15

Everyone has an accent ... in some language. HeartachesNhangovers Sep 2017 #66

Completely agree. K & R Pacifist Patriot Sep 2017 #14

I generally avoid her inability to speak English fluently as a point of criticism. BannonsLiver Sep 2017 #18

She is irrelevant thbobby Sep 2017 #19

Right on! HeartachesNhangovers Sep 2017 #39

She speaks English much better than I can speak a second spooky3 Sep 2017 #20

Agreed. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #25

Everyone has an accent except me Orrex Sep 2017 #22

No. That would be me. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #34

I agree LiberalLovinLug Sep 2017 #23

I have no aspirations to be like the people you corrrectly suspect Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #26

I never talk about Melania leftynyc Sep 2017 #24

Agreed Lotusflower70 Sep 2017 #27

No excuse for that get the red out Sep 2017 #28

I love her accent. report those posts, they should be deleted. Sunlei Sep 2017 #29

Well, I couldn't understand what she said. procon Sep 2017 #31

That sounds like your problem not her accent. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #32

Don't be so defensive. The woman is a tool. Don't feel sorry for her, procon Sep 2017 #55

I think it's adorable how you rationalize simplistic petulance as someone else being defensive. LanternWaste Sep 2017 #57

Republicans use the term "adorable", is that an example of "simplistic petulance"? nt procon Sep 2017 #69

The things I learn here. Weekend Warrior Sep 2017 #81

You still up what time zone snooper2 Sep 2017 #149

I'm not feeling sorry for her. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #73

So you say. procon Sep 2017 #77

This has NOTHING to do with picking on Melania, or having sympathy for her Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #82

Maybe you have a different meaning of the term "xenophobia"? procon Sep 2017 #117

ridiculing how she pronounces words, Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #139

Whoa, has anyone demanded that she should, "Speak English"? procon Sep 2017 #145

My current theory is that she exaggerates the accent just so she doesn't have to talk to Donald Pope George Ringo II Sep 2017 #35

An foreign accent is no big deal. It's the content that matters. DFW Sep 2017 #37

Yep, after living in LittleGirl Sep 2017 #44

Schwyzer German is VERY special DFW Sep 2017 #52

LOL LittleGirl Sep 2017 #67

Kinda sorta DFW Sep 2017 #68

Indeed, it's gruezi LittleGirl Sep 2017 #125

If you have a laptop or desktop, there is a whole table of "foreign" symbols DFW Sep 2017 #156

yes, there is LittleGirl Sep 2017 #158

I did my duty DFW Sep 2017 #160

I agree. It's childish and classless and reflects much worse on the mocker than the mockee. WillowTree Sep 2017 #42

Lighten up, Frances! I DON'T think Melania is an "odious human being" (you think THAT is WinkyDink Sep 2017 #43

Many people do indeed, believe mocking an accent is humorous. LanternWaste Sep 2017 #59

*many robots do indeed bathroommonkey76 Sep 2017 #62

You seem too young to remember the late, great comedian Bill Dana. Pity. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #100

Oooh, so we are NOT really above name-calling! Heal thyself. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #101

YES LittleGirl Sep 2017 #45

I don't mind people mocking her accent bathroommonkey76 Sep 2017 #48

Isn't this couched in the fact that Trump degrades immigrants and Melania R B Garr Sep 2017 #50

Yes leftstreet Sep 2017 #60

Exactly, he called an entire country rapists, murderers, bad people R B Garr Sep 2017 #95

And it wasn't just one country, he actually smeared entire continents right after saying that ecstatic Sep 2017 #107

Ugh, he was basically saying anyone with brown skin... R B Garr Sep 2017 #128

So call her on that - that is a legitimate issue. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #136

This is the response I expected. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #72

It's always amazing how just commenting on a thread R B Garr Sep 2017 #98

Agree about making fun of her accent. lark Sep 2017 #58

Yeah, let's all get back to how fat her husband is. johnp3907 Sep 2017 #61

who? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #64

There are two threads about her speech. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #88

Well she is a rascist PIG... stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #92

The fact that she jumped on the birth certificate bandwagon Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #93

I see "deporable" type comments on DU more and more. cwydro Sep 2017 #70

Perhaps she doesn't want to assimilate. I work with a dozen M&F former Soviet bloc coworkers. TheBlackAdder Sep 2017 #71

I.e. You've been here long enough. Learn to speak 'murican. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #74

I don't mock her language, I am just pointing out the double standard. TheBlackAdder Sep 2017 #79

I don't give a shit about Melania AT ALL..... onecent Sep 2017 #78

This isn't about Melania. It is about using xenophobia as a weapon. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #83

O,FGS. I for one, a traveller to all of Europe, Morocco, Canada, and Mexico, am not a xenophobe. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #102

Are you OK with me calling her a rascist POS ? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #80

+1, and I haven't noticed too many of those accent post on DU uponit7771 Sep 2017 #84

There were two threads today. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #87

Is this OK with you ? stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #132

It's #fakenews. stonecutter357 Sep 2017 #90

I haven't noticed them either. If she's mocked, I've seen it as a cynical contrast R B Garr Sep 2017 #94

Hmm...let me think. Do I care if racists are hurt if you use them as a weapon? Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #86

"Rascist" Dreamer Tatum Sep 2017 #104

I make fun of foreign accents sometimes. Dont think its xenophobic. nt LexVegas Sep 2017 #85

Really? melman Sep 2017 #89

You must stay offended. nt LexVegas Sep 2017 #96

So you can't answer melman Sep 2017 #97

I dont answer to you. Sorry... LexVegas Sep 2017 #99

Agreed melman Sep 2017 #91

OMG. Do you use Sunscreen #5000? Because you seem extremely sensitive. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #103

Extremely sensitive? melman Sep 2017 #106

What is that, a mink coat? moriah Sep 2017 #153

I'm old enough to remember Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #111

And "I'd rather be dead than Red".... moriah Sep 2017 #154

I haven't chimed in, but I think she's fair game ecstatic Sep 2017 #105

This has NOTHING to do with whether SHE is fair game Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #109

I don't agree that that's what's happening ("using foreignness as an insult") ecstatic Sep 2017 #114

So it's OK to use the N-word as an insult, as long as you aren't using it Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #135

There's plenty of that as well as fat shaming, ageism, law enforcement apologists... EarthFirst Sep 2017 #108

Agreed, all around. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #110

Agreed. This isn't the DU of yesteryear. I remember, probably 10 years ago or more when Purveyor Sep 2017 #112

My disgust with her has nothing to with where she was born. If arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #113

Precisely! Right on the money. VOX Sep 2017 #116

As long as you're not ridiculing her by making fun of her accident Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #133

I do view her as a horrible accident like her husband, a horrible arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #143

Not inclined to be charitable to someone who supported 45's birther crap... VOX Sep 2017 #115

Her bullying BS is the height of hypocrisy given how arthritisR_US Sep 2017 #119

One of the biggest lessons learned as a black woman in America... Quayblue Sep 2017 #121

Recommended and agreed. guillaumeb Sep 2017 #122

There are many xenophobic posts on DU, but the ones talking about Melania Ninsianna Sep 2017 #123

Mentioning or noticing an accent is different from ridiculing it, or someone because of it. n/t Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #131

Depends on how they're mentioning or noticing it. I think this is a bit hyperreactive Ninsianna Sep 2017 #134

"of which a great deal is easily found" melman Sep 2017 #137

Then open your eyes and take a look my friend, it's not exactly hidden. Ninsianna Sep 2017 #138

Nice of you to judge that what I - and the majorityof people in this thread - Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #140

Well, accusing people of xenophobia by projecting a very odd definition of it Ninsianna Sep 2017 #142

As I have expressly stated several times Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #161

Yes, and while we're at it, can we please stop making odious comments about people's weight and InAbLuEsTaTe Sep 2017 #127

+1000 Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #130

Even Trump's hair? Haha. WinkyDink Sep 2017 #150

I have an accent and I will make fun of her as well mshasta Sep 2017 #141

Message auto-removed Name removed Sep 2017 #146

The next swimsuit edition comes out in February snooper2 Sep 2017 #147

Children of politicians should never be discussed and spouses rarely unless they make a political stevenleser Sep 2017 #148

I hate it when people pick on someone that claimed Obama was Kenyan. tenderfoot Sep 2017 #151

I never even hinted that criticizing her generally was xenophobic. Ms. Toad Sep 2017 #162

Post removed Post removed Sep 2017 #152

absolutely. drray23 Sep 2017 #159

Your post made me think of this... NurseJackie Sep 2017 #164

Were I to hear your (or any) French accent, I'd be thrilled! I would ask you your hometown, tell WinkyDink Sep 2017 #166

For what it's worth TeapotInATempest Sep 2017 #163

Thank-you for this post. Chemisse Sep 2017 #165