… 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:
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.
Originally Posted by Spriggs
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.
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” 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.
wooooosh
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.
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.
And for some rather enlightening definitions of “werd” try here. I feel so edjumicated, now.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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]
Originally posted by Eve
Hahahahaha Thank you my dear. You’ve just made my Sunday.
Maybe it’s simply a play on the word “upward”!
leenmi:
Really? I just thought it was cultural bankruptcy.
Spriggs:
Well, “german angst” is schadenfreude. 
Nein, schadenfreude is “german happiness.”
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! 
I think I would translate “what’s up?” with “alle klar?”
Word.