Shadowrun and its ridiculous names, Didn't want to hijack the other thread Options

[hermit]

It just doesn't sound like a strange compound in english, since foxhound & bird dog - and even by extension foxbat, which I suppose is a nickname for fruit bats - are real things, and such are also real-world NATO code names for various aircraft. Of course "Fishbed" is one that DOES sound odd, and was used for the MiG-21, because it's like, "What is a fishbed, anyway?" It's probably based in the fact that English doesn't use linking words to form compounds.

I know, English loves it's new words by composites, but German doesn't, it's a far mroe rigid language. You can't just go crazy on it like you guys love to (which is a good part of what makes English a fun language). German also has rules for composites, and finally, composites are usually abreviated (Dachshund is a very, very uncommonly used word for the dachshund; we use Dackel). Now, granted, this is a bit much to ask from a freelancer who is paid Chinese minimum wage to know, but ... well, there's worse turds in there than Vogelhund, which sounds like "some English native tried to do German names". Wasserträger, Glucke (Glucke could be a nickname, but never the official name. Germans aren't funny like that.). Keller.

[Adarael]

It's pretty hard for people who aren't German to figure out what compounds are good and which aren't. I mean, it's still "Schweinehund", not literally "dog that is a pig/pig that is a dog", so my assumption would be that naming an artillery piece the "Rhinemetall 280 Höllenhund" would be okay. And you still name other vehicles things like Gepard, or Fuchs, right?

[Stahlseele]

"Rhinemetall 280 Höllenhund"

That would be PERFECTLY FINE.
Well, aside, of course, from the fact that a german would not use the english wa of writing Rheinmetall *grins* ^^

[Adarael]

Okay, awesome. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I've been making a gear update for S-K and their subsidiaries, and I was suddenly concerned I had named everything wrong.

[Stahlseele]

No no, as long as it is thematically fitting and at least a bit martial in style and fitting for the world, then most names will be accepted.
Glucke, for example, is NOT such a name in ANY of those cases.

[hermit]

It's pretty hard for people who aren't German to figure out what compounds are good and which aren't. I mean, it's still "Schweinehund", not literally "dog that is a pig/pig that is a dog", so my assumption would be that naming an artillery piece the "Rhinemetall 280 Höllenhund" would be okay. And you still name other vehicles things like Gepard, or Fuchs, right?

With compounds, you also need to keep in mind cases. Hell hound would not be Hoelleund, but Hoellenhund. It's irregular and a royal pain to learn.

Also, 'Schweinehund' doesn't mean pig dog, but 'son of a bitch'. Just wanted top point that out. I think Kid Chameleon is just as funny as Aaron.

And you still name other vehicles things like Gepard, or Fuchs, right?

Yes (it's currently an AA tank and an ABC scout vehicle). Rule of thumb: a predator or robust animal that lives in the woods is a good name for a land vehicle. A state, city or country is a good name for a ship (that, or a serial number, Typ 223). A weather phenomenon is a good name for an aurplane (birds are also possible, but not in use right now). You can also use a name double - odds are it has already been used - just mark it with a number. Leopard, Leopard II, ect. Naming an artillery piece after a paracritter is okay, so long as it'S not the Novopossum or the Jauchekaefer.

[Adarael]

See, we named the F-111 the Aardvark. I guess a lot of our hardware has names that don't sound all that threatening.

As for schweinehund, I know it's like "son of a bitch", but it does literally mean pig-dog, yeah? If you just look at the words?

[hermit]

As for schweinehund, I know it's like "son of a bitch", but it does literally mean pig-dog, yeah? If you just look at the words?

It does, yes.

And yeah, your planes have weird names. A-10 Warthog is not the first name that'd come to my mind when thinking of a huge-ass gun with wings and substantial bomb payload that is able to return to base with half a wing and one engine that's on fire. I can only imagine that's either weird humor at Skunk works (given that name ...) or nicknames given to the planes by test pilots that stuck.

[Adarael]

It's a nickname because warthogs are ugly, heavy, and hard to kill, just like the plane. The actual designation is Thunderbolt II, to differentiate it from the P-47D Thunderbolt of world war 2, also produced by Republic Aviation. The P-47 was also ugly, heavy, and hard to kill.

[Doc Byte]

Also, 'Schweinehund' doesn't mean pig dog, but 'son of a bitch'.

Not really. "Son of a bitch" would be "Hurensohn". "Schweinehund" is tricky because it's more often used as a part of the metaphor "Innerer Schweinehund" than as an actual curse word.


.oO(What a nice German lesson. The loveliest vocabulary u will always find at DS...) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[Stahlseele]

German is straight up therw with russian for sounding perfect for bitching other people out and cursing like a man possessed . .

[sabs]

I prefer French for cursing
it's like wiping your ass with silk.

[Stahlseele]

"nda ow ow ow! . . i broke a nail! . ." *sucks on finger like a little girl* "merde"

[Doc Byte]

Ever heard an angy Italian?

[Stahlseele]

Ever heard an angy Italian?

Now i have

[hermit]

Not really. "Son of a bitch" would be "Hurensohn". "Schweinehund" is tricky because it's more often used as a part of the metaphor "Innerer Schweinehund" than as an actual curse word.

It's the same from impact. Generally, shit-associated swear words weigh far mroe heavily in German than in English (and German is curiously short on sex-themed swearwords compared to other western languages). that's what I meand. Hurensohn is a good way to get yourself severely beaten up or killed when you're in an immigrant-heavy part of town, though.

I prefer French for cursing
it's like wiping your ass with silk.

Putain!

Even the President does it.

[Mesh]

Americans tend not to think in anything but American perspectives.

When you grow up constantly being told you're the most powerful important people on the planet, whether or not it's true, you tend to be that way.

-k

When you're #1, all other perspectives are #2 or lower.

Mesh
*starts chant of we're #1, we're #1*

[Brazilian_Shinob...]

German is straight up therw with russian for sounding perfect for bitching other people out and cursing like a man possessed . .

That's what me and my non-german speaker friends always talk about german. You could see a man telling how much he loves a woman, and you would think she is scolding her (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Sengir]

I know, English loves it's new words by composites, but German doesn't, it's a far mroe rigid language. You can't just go crazy on it like you guys love to (which is a good part of what makes English a fun language).

The Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän (captain of the Danube steam shipping association) would like to have a word with you, he thinks he has spotted a violation of the Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz (act for delegation of beef labeling surveillance tasks) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

@Shinobi: At least when dealing with Americans, the problem also is that we are far less...vocal with expressions of kindness. So Americans will often feel put down by a German's genuinely friendly reaction to a present, and vice versa a German will be like "are you kidding me?" because the typical American reaction looks almost comically overdone to us (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Kid Chameleon]

I think Kid Chameleon is just as funny as Aaron.

Funnier. But not nearly as sexy.

Besides, Germans like it when I name things. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Whipstitch]

@Shinobi: At least when dealing with Americans, the problem also is that we are far less...vocal with expressions of kindness. So Americans will often feel put down by a German's genuinely friendly reaction to a present, and vice versa a German will be like "are you kidding me?" because the typical American reaction looks almost comically overdone to us (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The funny part about this is that a lot of the enthusiasm is just seen as a matter of being polite. We may end up exchanging the gift for store credit but that won't stop us from feeling obligated to send a thank you card afterwards.

[KarmaInferno]

I remember when McDonalds first started opening up restaurants in Russia. They were having difficulties getting the local employees they hired to smile and be cheery to customers.





-k

[Whipstitch]

I had a professor from France who had either developed or had at least heard an interesting li'l pet theory about that kind of thing. He thinks it's less about Americans being generally gregarious and more about us being the ones to take this whole assembly line approach to selling food to its current extreme. Basically, other countries have less chain restaurants and more establishments that grew up by happenstance and are locally owned. He said that when you go to a French corner restaurant and expect to have your ass kissed US style, you're more likely to be talking to someone who actually owns the place and whose establishment may have only developed because his great uncle started selling sandwiches to construction workers in order to both be nice and to make a li'l petty cash on the side. In other words, it's almost like they're doing you a favor, not vice versa, whereas in the US we're weaned on "The customer is always right," and we know full well that the guy behind the counter doesn't want to hear from his manager. Hence why we think French waiters are snooty and why they think we're presumptuous blowhards who wield menus like some kind of royal scepter.

Anyway, it's just a pop psychology theory and probably more than a li'l full of crap, but I thought it was an interesting notion. It also hits me as a bit plausible whenever I think of my time in Philadelphia ordering cheesesteaks from local vendors. The sandwiches may have been good, but nobody felt obligated to smile at you and they sure as hell weren't about to take any crap from someone just to make eight bucks.

[CanRay]

"The customer is always right"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

*Curls up in corner, rocking back and forth, sobbing uncontrollably*

[MYST1C]

I remember when McDonalds first started opening up restaurants in Russia. They were having difficulties getting the local employees they hired to smile and be cheery to customers.

When Wal-Mart entered the German market they tried to establish their US-style of making the employees be ultra-friendly, greeting the customers, offering help, presenting the daily/weekly special offers...
They failed miserably. German customers are not used to this kind of behavior and don't want it. Basically, we expect store employees to be invisible and inaudible until we ask them for (specific) help. Some total stranger who greets you like a friend and starts blaring special offers, follows you around with a wide (and obviously fake) smile doesn't make us feel welcomed but hassled and watched.