# a very simple question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221 "2004-10-14T16:59:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crandolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Crandolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crandolph)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/21 "2004-10-14T21:42:49Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Black English Vernacular drops the “s” on possessives; … to stave off the inevitable post that “what’s” isn’t a possessive, that’s correct. Although the “s” is dropped in those cases. In this case “s” is dropped because “is” doesn’t appear as the 3rd person singular form of BEV. I would also submit that the average American, judging by our seemingly random use of the apostrophe, isn’t even too clear on what is possessive and what isn’t. Heck, I just misposted about it! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/22 "2004-10-15T01:10:47Z")
> [@Spriggs](#): > > What does the outside world think about Germany? Not only in terms of its nazi-history (the 2 latest elections are a bloody shame), but also on things like economy, the german attitude and so on and so forth. > Is it true that there’s a phrase called ‘german angst’? What does is exactly mean? In my very limited and generalized opinion. My perceptions of germans is Oktoberfest. As you can see I am quite ignorant. I do see Germans as being somewhat more reserved and distant. Polite but to the point of it being robotic. I do associate Nazi with Germany, but more along the lines of it being a point in history rather than the definition of a German. Germans make THE best cars in the world in my opinion. I drool whenever I see a sharp BMW M3. Seriously. I’ve never heard the phrase ‘German Angst’ before. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/23 "2004-10-15T04:04:37Z")
Originally Posted by **Spriggs** > [@](#): > > - > > What does the outside world think about Germany? Not only in terms of its nazi-history (the 2 latest elections are a bloody shame), but also on things like economy, the german attitude and so on and so forth. > Is it true that there’s a phrase called ‘german angst’? What does is exactly mean? \* I’m your neighbor, so I dunno if I count as ‘outside world’ 🙂 But I like Germans, even when I know my grand-parents would foam at the mouth if they’d be alive and saw me writing this. 😉 Your economy is about the same as ours, I believe. Slowly getting out of the rut. _Your_ latest elections were a shame? Tell me about it. grrrrrrr. And no, I haven’t heard of the phrase ‘German angst’ either. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/24 "2004-10-15T04:31:02Z")
Answer 1: re: “What up”/“Word” People seem to have missed one of the major possibilities, which was probably that it was two particularly “white”/nerdy characters - say, Bender and Frye - using “black” slang. I think it’s more likely that it was something that simple, rather than some complicated “ebonics spread throughout the galaxy” postulation. Answer 2: What does the US think of germany? Judging from our pop culture, we view Germany/Germans as a mix of Kraftwerk and the [“Sprockets”](http://www.ms.uky.edu/~sills/sprockets.html) sketch from Saturday Night Live. That is, we imagine Germans to be futuristic, listening to futuristic electronic music while driving tiny, electric cars on the Autobahn. We also imagine them to have a very industrial/militant aesthetic sensibiliity, being sort of humorless and militant, dressing in black leather and uncontrollably lapsing into shouted german speech. Of course, this just seems to be the general stereotypical view. ---
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/25 "2004-10-15T04:33:49Z")
> [@leenmi](#): > > Futurama was just trying to be hip when they wrote the dialogue. They used “word” out of context. The exchange doesn’t make any sense. > > It’s a long standing tradition, though, for white America to steal bits and pieces of African American styles. It’s an homage. :rolleyes: _wooooosh_ ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/26 "2004-10-15T04:46:34Z")
Actually, those “Deiter” quotes in the above link speak volumes about the general impression that americans have of germans. And by “humorless,” I really meant melodramatic in the Werner Herzog/Nietzche sense. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/27 "2004-10-15T05:10:39Z")
Probably just ruminating on some of the strange ways we colloquially use the word “word” would help. “Word up” has been mentioned. Another good one is “What’s the word?” as in “Anything new?”. In Net Speak we might say “w3rd” or alternatively “werd” as in “werd dawg”. Just to make sure I myself correctly understand the full contextual scope of this poor martyr of the english language I have gathered a few definitions from around the net. > [@Online Slang Dictionary](#): > > word exclamation 1. an affirmation of agreement. (Question: “I’m going to the movies tonight, dawg - you want to go?” Response: “Word!”) Submitted by Slink, FL, USA, 02-04-1998. 2. When used as a question, equivalent to “Are you serious?” ("Statement: “I met Michael Jackson!” Response: “Word?” Submitted by Jasmine, Washington Twp., NJ, USA, 06-12-2002. > [@Urban Dictionary](#): > > 1. well said 2)said in a agreement 3) can be used as a greeting, hey whats up 1…and 2…Yo u goin to that rocks tanite…word 3) word up > [@College Slang Research Project](#): > > **say word** (phr): Are you serious? Malik got shot last night. Say word ! > **that’s word** (word being pronounced with a long uh at the end) (phr) The final word in the context of what you are speaking. That’s word ; I’m leaving. [Brevard Community College, Cocoa, FL] > \*\*word ( werd) (int) 1. What’s up? How are you? word , g, where you been? 2. I agree. Someone says, “That was an amazing concert!” You say, " word !" > **word** (int.) 1. Yes; I agree; that’s true. Com 327 is a fun class. word! 2. A greeting. I haven’t seen you for awhile. word? > **word is bond** (noun) The latest information or news. He is really committed to crime. My word is bond! > **word up** (phr) > 1. What’s going on? 2. How are you? 3. Give the vital information on a certain person, place, thing or event. Hey, give me the word up on how Joe is doing? And for some rather enlightening definitions of “werd” [try here](http://dicshunary.com/word_options.php?word_text=werd). I feel so edjumicated, now. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/28 "2004-10-16T19:45:51Z")
I’ve rarely if ever heard “German angst”, mostly simply “angst”. I understand that in German, “angst” simply means “fear”. When “angst” is used in English (at least in America) it usually means “worrying about lack of meaning or purpose”, and as others have mentioned it’s apparently a reference to Nietzsche, who in turn was referenced by some rather dark existentialist type writers in America. I have no idea if native German speakers are aware of these connotations for the word “angst” or not. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/29 "2004-10-17T00:43:13Z")
> [@Spriggs](#): > > Redsland is right, it’s “Wie geht’s?” in german. > > Well, I think that topic can be considered as done. > So, I was wondering where you’re all from? And what’s even more interesting: What does the outside world think about Germany? Not only in terms of its nazi-history (the 2 latest elections are a bloody shame), but also on things like economy, the german attitude and so on and so forth. > Is it true that there’s a phrase called ‘german angst’? What does is exactly mean? Well, this is a hijack, but I guess it’s the OP’s so that’s ok. This question probably should have been posted somewhere else, though - in a new thread in IMHO, perhaps. Anyway, my basic impression of Germany is that it’s an oddly efficient country with people who have exacting standards but who also like beer. A lot. This may be influenced by my German friend Frank, who likes beer. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/30 "2004-10-17T02:38:12Z")
In English, angst is usually the feeling pretentious artistic people get when they look at everything around them and see only meaninglessness in an irreversible rush to the grave. Then they smoke thin cigarettes and drink espresso and make incomprehensible movies. Or they kill themselves. Whatever. In other words, it isn’t a word that usually comes up in conversation without heavy elements of irony and sarcasm. As for the Germans, well, I’ve been to Germany and Austria twice in my life (err, mostly Austria). My main impressions of the Germans are that they pay to use the bathrooms a lot more often than the Americans do (but a US nickel looks remarkably like a (defunct) German coin of higher value), they buy sodas by the glass (and every glass is carefully marked as to volume), and they drive extremely fast on the Autobahn (which is immaculate and pool-table smooth). In other words, I guess my mental image is of a bunch of people who try not to make trouble in a more structured society than the one I grew up in. Plus, the Germans make damned good machinery and electronics. You do have Siemens, BASF, and BMW, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/31 "2004-10-17T02:41:21Z")
> [@leenmi](#): > > It’s a long standing tradition, though, for white America to steal bits and pieces of African American styles. It’s an homage. :rolleyes: I stole rap? And pants hanging down to the knees? Dahling, it was quite unintentional, I assure you. _Please_, here, take them back, and I promise I’ll never steal anything again. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/32 "2004-10-17T03:02:11Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > Answer 1: re: “What up”/“Word” > > People seem to have missed one of the major possibilities, which was probably that it was two particularly “white”/nerdy characters - say, Bender and Frye - using “black” slang. I think it’s more likely that it was something that simple, rather than some complicated “ebonics spread throughout the galaxy” postulation. In this case, the situation in question is when they go into the Little Neptune area of New New York. Fry says “What up?” to this green, kinda slug-like alien (if I remember correctly) in a replica basketball jersey. The alien’s response is “Word.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/33 "2004-10-17T05:13:52Z")
Um, I thought the funny part was that “word” is already dead slang? I mean, nobody says “word” anymore, right? Not the cool black kids, certainly. (Perhaps “wizzled”.) Who says “word”? Do you have to do the 80’s rap arm fold thing when you say that, or is that only with “word to ya motha”? Seriously. _Word_? [shakes head] ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/34 "2004-10-17T08:59:34Z")
Originally posted by **Eve** > [@](#): > > _I stole rap? And pants hanging down to the knees? Dahling, it was quite unintentional, I assure you. Please, here, take them back, and I promise I’ll never steal anything again._ Hahahahaha 🙂 Thank you my dear. You’ve just made my Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/35 "2004-10-19T02:45:09Z")
Maybe it’s simply a play on the word “upward”! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/36 "2004-10-19T03:17:51Z")
**leenmi:** > [@](#): > > It’s a long standing tradition, though, for white America to steal bits and pieces of African American styles. It’s an homage. :rolleyes: Really? I just thought it was cultural bankruptcy. **Spriggs:** > [@](#): > > Is it true that there’s a phrase called ‘german angst’? What does is exactly mean? Well, “german angst” is **schadenfreude.** 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/37 "2004-10-19T04:34:23Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > “german angst” is **schadenfreude.** Nein, **schadenfreude** is “german happiness.” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/38 "2004-10-19T06:01:41Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I stole rap? And pants hanging down to the knees? Dahling, it was quite unintentional, I assure you. _Please_, here, take them back, and I promise I’ll never steal anything again. The visual image of **Eve** dressed in low-rider pants and rapping – with lorgnette – is alone sufficient justification for this thread, beyond the actual GQ asked and answered and discussed at length in it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/39 "2004-10-19T09:23:53Z")
I think I would translate “what’s up?” with “alle klar?” ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221/40 "2004-10-19T11:21:49Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > The visual image of **Eve** dressed in low-rider pants and rapping – with lorgnette – is alone sufficient justification for this thread, beyond the actual GQ asked and answered and discussed at length in it! 😃 Word. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-simple-question/269221.md?page=1)