Communicate with a German
It was going around for a while, how to decode what an English man actually means when he says something. A Harvard Business Review article attributes the insights to Nannette Ripmeester's research and insights. What I was missing in all those tables is the reverse translation. So here it goes:
As usual: YMMV
| What a German says | What the British should hear | What the German meant |
|---|---|---|
| Bad idea! | Please think about that some more | Bad idea! But I will still drink beer with you |
| This won't work | Interesting approach, quite innovative | This won't work, but I will still drink beer with you |
| I like it | That's not bad | I like it and I want to drink beer with you |
| What a crap | That is interesting | What a crap, but I will still drink beer with you |
| Du bist ein Idiot (You are an idiot - informal addressing) |
With respect... | You are not thinking straight today, but I will still drink beer with you |
| Sie sind ein Idiot (You are an idiot - formal addressing) |
With the greatest respect | You are an idiot, go away! |
| You are insane | That is a very brave proposal | You are insane, but I will still drink beer with you |
| This is nonsense | Very interesting | This is nonsense, but I will still drink beer with you |
| Shut up and go away! | I hear what you say | Stop talking, you can't convince me, let's drink beer instead |
Posted by Stephan H Wissel on 01 April 2014 | Comments (0) | categories: After hours