How do the Dutch say \'double Dutch\'? Or the Russians \'Russian Roulette\'? More...

Jack Doughty wrote:

The subject of why turkeys are called what they are in various languages has come up earlier in this topic.

An article by Mark Steyn in the 'Sunday Telegraph' today has this to say on the subject:

The bird was introduced to Europe early in the 16th century by one of Sebastian Cabot's men who brought it from the New World. The turkey came from Mexico, but was generally assumed to be "a bird of India" (French dinde) everywhere except Britain, where it was named after Turkey because it was similar to a pre-existing bird introduced from Turkey but actually from Guinea, and subsequently re-named the guinea fowl, which was thought to be less confusing than renaming the new turkey the mexico, though in America there is a sub-species of turkey called the mexicana.


[Edited at 2003-12-21 16:38]

Harry Bornemann wrote:

In the middle and north of West-Germany it is called \"Berliner\", in Berlin it is called \"Pfannkuchen\" (pancake) which is quite another thing in West-Germany, (I still have not found out how they call West-German Pfannkuchen in Berlin) but they all taste very good



In the provided link

http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/jfkberl.htm

the underlying grammar is thoroughly discussed (in English)



In short, it makes a big difference whether \"Ich bin ein Berliner\" is said by the President of the United States or by the President of a Comedian Club

[ This Message was edited by: Harry_B on 2003-03-26 09:27]