Actually, they never left, but I've been giving the Euroweenies a rest lately. However Ananova provides a fish in a barrel - Scientists urge people to stop using English terms:
German scientists are telling the public to stop using words derived from English and use French terms instead.D'accord, Armin. That's formidable! But what's the French for "Bite me"?
Armin Burkhardt, who heads the working group on language in politics, calls the project a way of "peaceful linguistic protest".
He is a professor at the German department at Magdeburg University.
In an appeal published by the committee, Burkhardt suggests Germans should buy billets not tickets, go on a rendezvous instead of a date and agree by saying d'accord rather than okay.
He is also calling for "formidable" to replace "cool" and "bonvivant" to replace "playboy".
French expressions have long been part of German, whereas most English expressions only entered the language after World War II.
The group lists about 30 French replacements for English expressions.
Yet, Burkhardt insists the project isn't directed against English-speaking countries.
"But it is meant to show that the political line of the French president and the German chancellor on Iraq have the support of the majority of the public."
