| Why do Germans use "fatherland". | |
|---|---|
| Post #1 Sep 25 2005, 14:50 | |
Neowinian Senior  Group: Registered Posts: 3,539 Joined: 17-November 03 From: Toronto, Canada Member No.: 40,659 
|
I noticed that only Germans refer to their country as "fatherland", almost all other cultures refer to their country of origin as "motherland", any ideas why?
|
   |
 
 
|
|
Log In or Register · Advertise on Neowin |
|
| Post #2 Sep 25 2005, 14:55 | |
totally wAcKed  Group: Registered Posts: 31,105 Joined: 5-October 03 From: Odder Space Member No.: 37,120
|
 Probably goes back to Nazi Germany and Hitler. Hitler was the male leader, males being 'strong'. It has stuck since then.
|
|
|
|
| Post #3 Sep 25 2005, 14:55 | |
Resident Elite  Group: Registered Posts: 1,263 Joined: 16-January 05 From: The United Kingdom Member No.: 91,127
|
I think it's just a communist thing. Like with Russia and with (what was) East Germany.
Either way, it's just a difference in culture between the two countries. |
|
|
|
| Post #4 Sep 25 2005, 15:01 | |
Neowinian Wise One  Group: Registered Posts: 4,669 Joined: 10-July 03 Member No.: 32,471
|
Don't blame it on communists you stereo-typical American blaming communism for everything.
|
|
|
|
| Post #5 Sep 25 2005, 15:02 | |
when i'm older i want to be a robot  Group: Registered Posts: 330 Joined: 3-May 04 Member No.: 54,507
|
I don't know, I would like to know though, I have noticed that German is a very strong language and that might have something to do with masculinity?
|
|
|
|
| Post #6 Sep 25 2005, 15:02 | |
Resident Fanatic  Group: Registered Posts: 947 Joined: 25-June 04 From: UK: The land of ninjas, lasers and gold Member No.: 60,327
|
My kneejerk response would be that Germany is refered to the fatherland cause in German, Germany is masculine the same way that France in French is female
But it turns out that Germany isn't masculine in German. In fact Germany seems to refer to most countries as neuter So in that case I'm rather confuzzled [edit] Woot, 500 posts  ... only took 1.5 years 
|
|
|
|
| Post #7 Sep 25 2005, 15:04 | |
|
Neowinian Senior Group: Registered Posts: 3,539 Joined: 17-November 03 From: Toronto, Canada Member No.: 40,659
|
QUOTE(matocaster @ Sep 25 2005, 15:02) I don't know, I would like to know though, I have noticed that German is a very strong language and that might have something to do with masculinity? [right][snapback]586577027[/snapback][/right] Yeah, German sounds pretty harsh. |
|
|
|
| Post #8 Sep 25 2005, 15:04 | |
local know-it-all idiot  Group: Registered Posts: 25,341 Joined: 22-March 02 From: Kanzem, Germany Member No.: 10,955
|
german wikipedia entry for you naziflamers
 http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=en&la.../wiki/Vaterland |
|
|
|
| Post #9 Sep 25 2005, 15:21 | |
Resident Elite  Group: +SubscriberČ Posts: 1,180 Joined: 8-January 03 From: Germany, EU Member No.: 21,406
|
QUOTE(insanekiwi @ Sep 25 2005, 17:04) german wikipedia entry for you naziflamers http://216.239.39.104/translate_c?hl=en&la.../wiki/Vaterland [right][snapback]586577029[/snapback][/right] Thank you! That seems to be necessary... 
|
|
|
|
| Post #10 Sep 25 2005, 15:23 | |
ɹosıʌɹǝdns uıʍoǝu   Group: Supervisor Posts: 38,311 Joined: 30-December 02 From: ɐpɐuɐɔ 'oʇuoɹoʇ Member No.: 21,031
|
In English we would say "the land of our forefathers". It is functionally the same.
|
|
|
|
| Post #11 Sep 25 2005, 16:00 | |
|
Disposable Hero Group: Registered Posts: 1,677 Joined: 8-June 04 From: Manchester, UK Member No.: 58,333
|
German isn't that strong a language. But I guess it is compared to English and French etc.
It may just be tradition. |
|
|
|
| Post #12 Sep 25 2005, 16:06 | |
Group: Registered Posts: 3,333 Joined: 26-January 05 From: St Austell Member No.: 93,078
|
I always thought it was Mother Russia.
Some call Britain the Mother Country, although Nelson is standing on top of a phallus. I guess that's what the Washington Monument is as well.
|
|
|
|
| Post #13 Sep 25 2005, 16:10 | |
Resident Fanatic Group: Registered Posts: 504 Joined: 27-January 03 From: United Kingdom Member No.: 22,157
|
QUOTE(ollie_webbuk @ Sep 25 2005, 14:55) I think it's just a communist thing. Like with Russia and with (what was) East Germany. Either way, it's just a difference in culture between the two countries. [right][snapback]586576993[/snapback][/right] They were calling it the Fatherland long before Germany became split into East and West. Besides which, capeche is right, it is "Mother Russia". |
|
|
|
| Post #14 Sep 25 2005, 16:13 | |
|
Resident Fanatic Group: Registered Posts: 907 Joined: 25-November 03 Member No.: 41,226
|
|
|
|
|
| Post #15 Sep 25 2005, 16:16 | |
Neowinian ULTRAKILL  Group: Registered Posts: 13,449 Joined: 30-September 01 From: Ottawa, On Member No.: 1,419
|
QUOTE(Veiva @ Sep 25 2005, 09:13) Fatherland is the nation of one's "fathers" or "forefathers." It can be viewed as a nationalist concept, insofar as it relates to nations. (Compare to motherland and homeland.) [right][snapback]586577274[/snapback][/right] thanx 
|
|
|
|
| « Older · General Discussion · Newer » | |
3 Pages 
[1] 2 3 ... Next
|
|
