Who said "I am a doughnut"?

MaggieG 5

JFK in Berlin. He said "Ich bin ein Berliner" meaning he was one of them (Berliners, that is) but it translates as "I am a doughnut". Or so the story goes. Feb 12 04, 1:17 PM

sequoianoir

Supposedly JFK with his "Ich bin ein Berliner" but if you use google translation facilty it translates as "I am a citizen of Berlin" "I am a doughnut" becomes "Ich bin ein Krapfen" which is "I am a Krapfen" when changed back again. However translating "I am a donut" becomes "Ich bin ein Schaumgummiring" which is "I am a foam rubber ring" when translated back again. Feb 12 04 1:27 PM] sequoianoir writes: Translating the English phrase "I am a citizen of Berlin" into German is "Ich bin ein Bürger von Berlin" This actually translates correctly in the other direction. Feb 12 04, 1:25 PM

sequoianoir

Most Germans were really impressed by the words, they were spoken during a time where the cold war was feared to become hot, so hearing "I take pride in the words: 'ich bin ein Berliner'." from the leader of a powerful nation meant a lot and certainly made JFK very popular not only in Berlin but in Germany as well. West-Berlin was surrounded by the GDR - a country under soviet influence - and most people were scared more than a lot by the prospect of war. Of course people did notice that double meaning of Berliner, it's a common pun in Germany. But people did know as well how JFK intended the words. Jelly doughnuts are called Berliner everywhere in Germany, except in Berlin, where they are called pancakes (Pfannkuchen). I can speak for myself, I live in Hamburg and I avoid "Ich bin ein Hamburger". (It gives "bite me" a whole new meaning, though.) I guess people from Frankfurt and Vienna (Wien) have similar 'problems' http://www.takeourword.com/TOW155/page4.html Feb 12 04, 2:53 PM

sequoianoir

On the Berliner thing. It hinges on Kennedy's use of the indefinite article, and has its close parallel in American English. In German, speaking of oneself as a resident of a certain place or group, one says, "Ich bin Berliner," "Ich bin Dresdner," "Ich bin Student." or "Ich bin Polizei." While all of those identity-words are in fact singular nouns, they're being used in that case like adjectives, without change of form, and TAKE NO ARTICLE. There is a jelly doughnut called the Berliner, and when using the article, you're speaking of that doughnut, not regional identity. Same with Frankfurt or Thuringia; do you live there, or are you a sausage? If you live there, you don't use the article. If you say, "Ich bin ein Thueringer," or "Ich bin ein Frankfurter," you're a self-declared piece of pig guts stuffed with unnamable meat chunks. "Ich bin Thuringer," or "Ich bin Frankfurter," says you're from that region. http://www.takeourword.com/TOW155/page4.html Feb 12 04, 2:53 PM

Create a Free FunTrivia ID to add to, request more/new answers, or edit this entry

Who said "I am a life-enhancing pessimist"? Who said 'I am quite wise, I understand people.'? In a nursery rhyme who said "What a good boy am I?" Americans should know this one. Who said "I am not a crook!"

1 Who Am I ? Don't scratch too hard thinking on this one! Good luck and have fun. Who is this Celebrity? Difficult 5 Q SPACEDOUT Nov 16 00 2106 plays 2 Who Am I? The clues are not clues to who this is about -- the answers are. The first letter from every answer spells out who this quiz is about. Confused? It should all make sense once you do it (I hope) Good Luck! Who is this Celebrity? Average 10 Q doupse Aug 09 00 4812 plays 3 Who Am I? For each question, there are several selected clues given about the identity of a world footballer, either from the past or the present. Work out who the player is. Footballers Mixed Tough 10 Q Ridgeback Jul 07 01 2892 plays