My bestie is a German fan. From German cars to German National Football team. If she were a German, she could be from Alsace/Bavaria maybe Swiss since she speaks French well too. I'm just kidding about the Bavaria Alsace Swiss, but she is indeed a 'Germaphile'. Well, she's not a germaphobe so a Germaphile. Bad pun huh? Sorry. Maybe AleMania sounds better for German loving people. Alemania is Germany in Spanish (coincidentally, she has a Latino beau)
Once her boss said she has OCD because of her meticulous way of sorting things like linens. I comforted her by saying
"That not how OCD manifests. OCD would be very uptight and weary"
I know because I've seen some patients with OCD myself. She too knew somebody with OCD.
"Hey!, that's German efficiency! Next time somebody call you OCD just say that it's German efficiency."
And she smiled. Well, I know her much, I know how to console her
Now, back to how the Germans and Thais see the letter V and W.
German pronounce Volkswagen as like my bestie said, Volks-vagen. Even Anna in Mind Your Language had problems with her enunciation. Went is pronounced as vent and so on. So basically, it's a faux pas, a crime, to pronounce German W as W.
"There's no such thing as W sound in German. It's SchVeinsteiger not Schweinsteiger!" my bestie's comment on the way our sportscaster pronounced the German football player.
Enough with the Germans, now let's see how Thais use W and V.
Basically, the Thais do what the Germans do in reverse. The country gateway. biggest airport (BKK) is pronounced as Sue-Wanna-Poom.
BKK full name is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, replacing Don Mueang as Bangkok main gateway. Literally, it means Golden Land. However, no plane turn to gold upon landing. Just kidding.
Imagine the confusion a German Thai would face. Are there any German Thai? Mario Maurer. I'm just exaggerating.
No comments:
Post a Comment