Why Can't Germans Say 'Squirrel'?

[susu.exp]

Zwingend notwendig: Ein Hinweis auf den von Max Goldt geprägten Neologismus "umsquirrelt" (baumbeschreibendes Adjektiv), der entfernt auch an die schon etwas betagtere Wendung "resttropfengetränkte Klofußumpuschelung" erinnert. Ein Besuch auf einer Lesung Anfang des Jahres bestätigte das der Autor durchaus in der Lage war den squirreligen Teil des Wortes korrekt auszusprechen.
In diesem Zusammenhang steht ebenfalls der Hinweis, daß in meinem musikalischen Frühwerk die Libretti mit retrospektiv erstaunlicher Häufigkeit das Wort squirrel enthielten. Ein Grund dafür mag sein das die phonetische Struktur deutsche Spracherwartungen verletzt und mir in meiner Jugend aus diesem Grund besonders Englisch vorkam. Als ich mich texlich wieder muttersprachlich betätigte verschwanden Bezüge zu Eichhörnchen zumindest, selbst in thematisch durchaus eng verbundenen Zusammenhängen wie dem Stück "Kanninchen oder Hühnchen".

[Regina]

Es geht Dir sonst aber gut, oder?

[mindhack]

[quote="cherries";p="1236177"]In an episode of the British TV show "Top Gear," host Jeremy Clarkson jokingly suggested that asking people to pronounce the word would be a surefire way to identify undercover German spies. "No German, no matter how well they speak English, can say 'squirrel,'" Clarkson asserted.[/quote]
The Dutch military used "Scheveningen" for this purpose during their first days of WWII.

[Regina]

[quote="mindhack";p="1243698"][quote="cherries";p="1236177"]In an episode of the British TV show "Top Gear," host Jeremy Clarkson jokingly suggested that asking people to pronounce the word would be a surefire way to identify undercover German spies. "No German, no matter how well they speak English, can say 'squirrel,'" Clarkson asserted.[/quote]
The Dutch military used "Scheveningen" for this purpose during their first days of WWII.[/quote]
Scot already mentioned that, and I have demonstrated that I can say Enschede. And Scheveningen as well, if you insist!

[mindhack]

Ah of course, Scot.

I don't doubt you can, Regina. Has the typical German been developing their foreign language skills perhaps? They used to speak only german here, but now their English skills are flourishing.

[NineBerry]

[quote="cherries";p="1236177"]
In an episode of the British TV show "Top Gear," host Jeremy Clarkson jokingly suggested that asking people to pronounce the word would be a surefire way to identify undercover German spies. "No German, no matter how well they speak English, can say 'squirrel,'" Clarkson asserted.
[/quote]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibboleth

[NineBerry]

[quote="Evolving";p="1236212"]If they're well-advised, they'll respond "Eichkatzerl".[/quote]

[Regina]

[quote="mindhack";p="1243719"]Ah of course, Scot.

I don't doubt you can, Regina. Has the typical German been developing their foreign language skills perhaps? They used to speak only german here, but now their English skills are flourishing.[/quote]
OK, you got me there. I spend a lot of time in Zeeuws Vlaanderen, but I find it extremely difficult to understand people. I sometimes speak English. It's easier in other parts of The Netherlands.

[NineBerry]

[quote="Regina";p="1236279"]Of course it's funny.
It also works the other way round. A friend of mine, who's from Düsseldorf, cannot say Kirche. It's always something like Kirsche. [/quote]

I am guilty of that.

[Scot Dutchy]

[quote="Regina";p="1243728"][quote="mindhack";p="1243719"]Ah of course, Scot.

I don't doubt you can, Regina. Has the typical German been developing their foreign language skills perhaps? They used to speak only german here, but now their English skills are flourishing.[/quote]
OK, you got me there. I spend a lot of time in Zeeuws Vlaanderen, but I find it extremely difficult to understand people. I sometimes speak English. It's easier in other parts of The Netherlands.[/quote]

Only Zeeuwen can understand Zeeuwen.

Btw the pronouncement of the word Zeeuwen is very nice to say.