A close-up and personal look at Switzerland
English is everywhere. It’s on signs, advertising, names of stores and in the spoken language, too. But English isn’t always really English. Sometimes more like Germish or maybe we have just moved to the next level, into English 2.0. I… Read moreSpeaking English 2.0
Normally you have no control over what name your parents give you, sometimes you have a little control over nicknames. Sometimes. Actually, shortening names is done everywhere. I know of someone in America whose name is Charles William, his long… Read moreWhat are you called? Nicknames
Ah, first names. Most people don’t normally have any say in choosing their names. Your parents choose it for you. Some people do choose their own names but that is the exception to the rule. There are some Swiss restrictions… Read moreFirst Names – What’s acceptable
There is so much joy in seeing a sparkle in someone’s eyes and knowing that you have given them memories to cherish. That childlike feeling of not knowing what you want to do next, everything looks like fun – let’s do it… Read moreA Joy Shared is a Joy Doubled
Mistakes happen. Two of my many language mistakes happened while playing cards with friends. I wanted to say cut the cards! what I said translates into get out of here! or Get lost! (for the people out there who know… Read moreThe Wrong Words
Formal or informal? That is the question. There are two ways to say ‘you’ in German: ‘Sie’ and ‘du’, formal and informal. Of all the tricky things there are in learning a language I found this to be a difficult… Read moreYou can say you to me
I live in the Geman speaking part of Switzerland. Not that they speak German here, no, Germans speak German, Swiss speak Swiss-German; quite a difference. Stick with me here, I’ll have you speaking Swiss-German in no time. Repeat after me: do-dee… Read moreGruessech!
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