h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm currently back into reading Jerome K Jerome - or rather listenig to t. This tie, it's 'Three men on the Bummel'. For those who don't know it: JKJ and his friends go on a cycling tour through Germany. It is hiarious.

While talking about it with a friend, he said: it's astonishing that the clichés and stereotypes haven't changed in all this time (the book was first published in 1900). And what do you know: I started proofreading a book over on DP a minute ago, and the very first paragraph I got reads:

THE HOMESTEADERS

OF neighbors, I had many. There was
Miss Carter from old Missouri whose
claim joined mine on the west, and another
Missourian to the north of her; a
loud talking German north of him, and an English
preacher to the east of the German.

So we can deduct that germans are loud.

Anything else you can add?

I can't add anything Bel, but I love Jerome K Jerome - thanks for reminding me to re read!

No stereotype you've ever heard of?

This isn't meant to be serious, I'm really curious.

Lanza, in case you haven't got all copies:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search.html/?default_prefix=author_id&sort_order=downloads&query=173

Thanks Bel! There is, of course, the stereotype of Germans and towels and sunbeds, but I've not seen this firsthand. Living where sunbeds play a major part in life, I can discount this one as a rumour. There are a lot more Germans on the island than English.

There is a commonly held notion that Germans are much more rule bound than the British, who are supposed to be laissez-faire and the Spanish who are live and let live by and large. Do you think this is just a view or is there some truth in it?

Just remembered, German bread and cakes are delicious, this has to be true - the German baker here is always sold out!

I can't speak for the English or Spanish, naturally, but I think there is truth in it - at least as far as the older generations are concerned. the young folk are much more relaxed (but get the same once they are older and have children. It is funny to watch).

There are a few ads on TV which poke fun at the notorious stereotype. Although it is a habit here to put something on a place you want to reserve - a coat, a or similar. It saves you from having to tell everybody that no, that seat isn't free, because it's your friend's (spouse....) seat.

Btw, I think the impression of Englishmen abroad is that they are hooligans.

Unfortunately,that is the impression I would be left with regarding British citizens...namely fans.


Mind you..I know some very nice British folk...

I haven't read any Jerome K Jerome. But Bel sent us a link to a filmed version of 'Three Men in a Boat' last night - and we laughed ourselves silly. I'm afraid that's sort of the way we tend to see the English (just the English, not the rest of the UK). Sort of accident-prone and, well, given to acting like those guys...

Bel, in the US, placing a coat on a chair, say in a restaurant or theatre, is a polite signal that the spot is taken. No one finds this the least offensive. It's expected, in fact.

Do you know Katherine Mansfield's book 'In a German Pension'? I used to give the translation class in Koeln the chapter 'Germans at Meat' to read. It has many stereotypes of both the English and the Germans from the days of the Kaiser. And it's funny.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1472/1472-h/1472-h.htm

You know, I was supposed to read it at uni. I probably did, but don't remember any of it. Yes, I still have the copy. Seems I'll have to reread it.

Welcome to today's episode of "What's in a Name" with Icy North.

This evening we study the meaning of "German", and decide whether or not they are loud.

It was Julius Caesar who first referred to the tribes of northeastern Gaul as 'Germani'. It is believed to be of Gaulish or Celtic origin. There are similarly derived old Irish words garim (to shout) and gair (neighbour). Caesar was therefore referring to them as the noisy neighbours

That is just evil on so many levels, Icy...

I never knew that. So it's Caesar's fault. After all, nomen est omen.

Gnomon est omen?

See - it survives today

Bel, I believe it's 'gar', spear, and 'manna', men.

Spearmen=Germans.

Is that why they all wear those hats with spikes?

I have to admit I like Icy's take on it. I'm sure the old Germannen yelled a lot to frighten Ceasar's companies.

I'll bet they did, too, Bel.

Now, tell Icy what those 'hats' were called, because I always spell them wrong.

See diagram here:

http://www.grenadiere-koenigshoven.de/historie/pickelhaube/index.html

Someone should translate that and put it in the Edited Guide

Yeah. Bel?

Now I'm singing that song again...

But that were the Prussians with the Pickelhauben. And I thought he meant these:

http://home.arcor.de/dennissilke/bagaluten/wikingerhelm.jpg