Ich bin ein Berliner - "I am a jelly doughnut"

[Paragon]

If your are a resident of Berlin, that's what that phrase means. (A "Berliner" is a type of jelly doughnut made in Berlin.)

If you're not a resident of Berlin, then "Ich bin ein Berliner" is gramatically correct.

Those kooky Germans. Link:

http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/jfk_berliner.htm

[herthaner]

1. ...

Schwachsinn! :)

greetings from Berlin

[GOPisEvil]

2. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Kellanved]

3. Hi

Nun zwei Berliner - Willkommen :hi:

[Paragon]

5. BabelFished...

"Now two citizens of Berlin - welcomes"

[Paragon]

4. OK, I "BabelFished" that one

"BabelFished" -- any noun can be be turned into a verb or adjective these days.

"Schwachsinn!" is BabelFished into "Imbecility!"

Unless something was lost in translation, I believe herthaner is calling me an imbecile. In which case, of course, he'd be right. :silly:

[spinbaby]

7. A more accurate translation, maybe...

...would be "weak in the mind".

[Kellanved]

8. no - it's more a harsh form of "nonsense"

The translation is harsher than it's use in German.

[spinbaby]

10. Hi!

Meine Mutter ist von Berlin!

:hi:

[herthaner]

12. Thanks

Thanks all for the welcome!!

@Kellanved: Danke. Aber rechne nicht mit allzuviel Unterstützung von mir. Für die richtigen Diskussionen reicht mein English nicht aus. :/

[Kellanved]

6. untrue

This is a common misconception - an urban legend.

1. The pastry "Berliner" is called "Pfannkuchen" ("Pancake") in Berlin. It has different names in the various German dialects (for example: "Kreppel"; "Krapfen"; "Berliner"; "Berliner Pfannkuchen"; "Pfannkuchen"...)
2. "Ich bin ein Berliner" is grammatically correct. It may sound strange for some German-speakers ("Ich bin Berliner" being the alternative), but is correct nonetheless. It is close to the local Berlin dialect; so it's an especially correct thing to say in Berlin.
3. Kennedy had the Phrase written up in several languages for his speech. All were translated by people knowing their respective languages - do you think a President's staff would produce such a blunder with a large number of speakers (native and non-native) nearby?
4. Don't mess with us Berliners on that Topic: Kennedy worship is alive and well in Berlin.

:hi:

[Paragon]

9. Uh, yeah - I know

That was sort of my point. Read more than just the headline next time.

[Kellanved]

11. I did

However I wanted to make the point clear, as I've read (And tried to debunk) that particular myth on DU several times already.

The about article is one of the better on that matter - thanks for posting it.

Sometimes I wonder why people want myths about JFK blunders to be true so badly? :shrug:

:toast:

[LuLu550]

13. welcome!

:donut:
:bounce:
:donut:
:bounce: