General Discussion

bobbieinok

(12,858 posts) Mon Jul 23, 2018, 10:37 AM Jul 2018

'Die Luft der Freiheit weht' 1styr student translated:'the air of freedom hurts'

Stanford's motto is the German phrase for 'the wind of freedom is blowing.'

Wehen is infinitive for 'to blow/wave' -- weh is German for 'hurt/pain', as in es tut weh for 'it hurts'

This PAINFUL mistranslation was made in a 1st yr German class at Stanford in the early 60s.

2 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

'Die Luft der Freiheit weht' 1styr student translated:'the air of freedom hurts' (Original Post) bobbieinok Jul 2018 OP

Funny. Cracklin Charlie Jul 2018 #1

translation was on a quiz-tut weh had been learned in previous months bobbieinok Jul 2018 #2

Cracklin Charlie

(12,904 posts)

1. Funny.

Reply to bobbieinok (Original post)

Mon Jul 23, 2018, 11:15 AM

Jul 2018

When first reading, I thought maybe the student was making a pun of the motto, because of the school ‘s rigorous academic standards.

bobbieinok

(12,858 posts)

2. translation was on a quiz-tut weh had been learned in previous months

Reply to Cracklin Charlie (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 23, 2018, 02:50 PM

Jul 2018

I think TA thought that since they were learning German they should know what the school motto said.

It was a period when there was a lot going on in the area south of SF. I think it was about the time of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, but I'm not sure.

The translation gave all the German classes' TAs some welcome relief.

Reply to this discussion