Monday, July 13, 2009

We always get our sin

Since I'm working in the IT, where English is the norm for communication, I had the advantage of having a lot of opportunities to learn English. For example, when working for IBM, my direct boss was British, and our manager there was American. A nice situation, where one gets to understand the subtleties between "American English" and "real English".

Unfortunately I had to experience that not everybody is so interested in Shakespeare's language, or perhaps just less gifted. This goes without any doubt for the French, but in equal degree for the Germans and Italians. Especially with the Germans I have some experience, as I've now been working with them for almost 10 years.

In Belgium it is impossible to imagine that you work for an international company, and that you engage somebody that doesn't speak a word of English. Yet, in "some" German companies - and I think this is not just the one I now but a more general issue - this regularly happens. What if this person needs to talk to colleagues in other places? Or, if his or her work needs to be shared by others? Unfortunately, this is reality.

You'd think that this is the worst that can happen. But no, it can still be worse. That is, when you have somebody thinking they speak good English, but instead it is Frenglish (English mutilated by ze French), Denlish (German English) or Dunglish (Dutch English). In all these kinds of English, there are some great examples to be found where people try to speak (or write) good English, but in fact say something completely different. Strangers say the darndest things, if you want to.

The Dutch indeed sometimes are such a people. They like to think they have such a good accent, and that they speak English so well. Well, they, they don't. If you want some great fun, check out the two books from Maarten H. Rijkens, called We always get our sin and We always get our sin too. The title of the book is such a great example of Denglish. "Sin" obviously means "sin", but some people my have it translated (incorrectly) from the dutch "zin", meaning "wat we want". So, the person saying "I always get my sin" thinks he's always getting what he wants, but says something completely stupid instead. Here are some examples from the (2nd) book. Note that you may only understand the original meaning when you speak Dutch.


  • A Dutch minister (1940-1945) after visiting the private quarters of King George VI at Buckingham Palace: May we thank your majesty for showing us your private parts?

  • How do you do and how do you do your wife?

  • I thank you from the bottom of my heart and also from my wife's bottom

  • A Dutch minister a few years ago after a very long meeting: We worked hardly

  • Recently, Guy Verhofstad to a German journalist (yes, Belgians can do this too): What for a question is that now?

  • It was a shot in the rose

  • Do these bottles have station money?

  • Do you have a bread rooster? I'd like some toast.

  • Where is the garden snake?

  • Thank you for your nice brief

  • After a nice dinner: May I see your cock please, I like to thank him for the lovely dinner

  • And finally for smokers: Can I do my ass in here?



There's much more of course, think of Balkestein talking about Europe and its golden showers, or somebody saying "I fock horses" (was it Dehaene?). But for the rest you'll have to check the books.

Check also Wikipedia for more examples, or here.

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posted by Vince | 4:54 PM | 1 reacties