Germans Poke Fun at Their New Foreign Minister

[JCR]

At his first press conference, Germany's new foreign minister insisted that he be asked questions in German, not English. The incident led to serious debate about what skills a foreign minister should have. But it has also resulted in a whole lot of jokes at Guido Westerwelle's expense.
He may be minister of foreign affairs of the largest economy in the European Union, but that so far hasn't protected Guido Westerwelle from a bit of mockery from his fellow Germans.


Even before he got the job, Westerwelle, who is the leader of the Free Democrats, Chancellor Angela Merkel's junior coalition partner, managed to generate major headlines with a minor gaffe. At his first, post-election press conference, Westerwelle refused to answer a question posed by a BBC journalist in English remarking that when in Germany, one should speak German. To cap it off, he glibly invited the journalist to come and have a "fabulous tea" with him outside of any press conference, at which they could happily speak English together. The linguistic kerfuffle launched a minor political scandal and dozens of magazine and newspaper columns around Europe. Befitting the German penchant for debate, it also spurred hundreds of online arguments about Westerwelle's reaction.


But it also raised the question as to whether Westerwelle could speak English at all. And it provided yet another opportunity to lampoon a politician who has become accustomed to being portrayed as the Dan Quayle of German politics. Should The German Foreign Minister Be Good At English?
Westerwelle, 48, got his start as an object of irony with his fascinatingly unfunny practice of "fun politics"during the 2002 general election campaign. Westerwelle toured the country in a big yellow bus called the Guido-mobile, played beach volleyball for the cameras, appeared on the German version of the Big Brother reality TV show and painted the number 18 on the soles of his shoes to indicate the percentage of votes he wanted to achieve.
Now, his English ability has become the punchline. Despite footage of earlier speeches on the Web showing that Germany's new foreign minister can speak English ably, cartoonists have been hard at work caricaturing the politician. He even made it onto the cover of Titanic this month, Germany's favorite satirical magazine. There is also a spoof advertisement for an English language school doing the rounds on YouTube.


The latest instance of fun at Westerwelle's expense comes from a Facebook fan page created especially for "Mr Westerwave the Outside Minister." The jibes are of a gratuitous nature, with pranksters taking comments by Westerwelle in German and translating them word-for-word into English -- without making any concessions for word order, syntax, grammar or even real English words. Indeed, "Westerwave" takes its name from a translation of the second half of Westerwelle's name -- "Welle" means "wave" in German. His position is listed as "outside minister," a literal translation of the German "Aussenminister."
The site, which has over 20,000 fans and hundreds of comments on each of Westerwelle's quotes, is littered with nonsensical sentences like: "No one can reach me the water," "Wednesday we got oathed," and "before the success the gods have put the sweat." As well as such Westerwave-ian delights as: "I have to pluck a chicken with my press speaker." For their followers' amusement, the Westerwavers also have a Twitter page.
Germany's business daily Financial Times Deutschland has gotten in on the act as well with an online quiz entitled "English For Beginners -- Like Mr. Westerwave." In the preface to the quiz, they write that "the new foreign minister is on an introductory tour. And everywhere he goes the language of choice is English. So that it doesn't get too embarrassing for Germany, we suggest you try our language quiz for Guido's first round of small talk."
Westerwelle Takes A Break: Was He Having English Lessons?
Writer Roger Boyes, author of a book on the funny side of life in Germany called "My Dear Krauts" and also a regular correspondent for the Times of London, went into detail about what Westerwelle's reaction really meant. "The first week after winning an election is … about setting a tone," Boyes writes on his blog, "Typisch Deutsch" (or "Typically German"). "The correct tonal pitch for a future foreign minister and vice-chancellor is to be modest and sunny and promise the world that they will be dealing with an open and self-confident Germany. It is not about being zickig (uptight) to the first foreign reporter who asks him a public question."
Westerwelle Doing His Best To Put Invitations To Tea Behind Him
As for Westerwelle himself, he is doing his best to put his contrariness and blustery invitations to afternoon tea behind him. At his first meet-and-greet with EU diplomats in Brussels, Westerwelle insisted on making small talk in English, telling everyone it was "my first day here" and thanking folks in French. Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini, who had had a phone conversation with Westerwelle, stuck up for his colleague saying the German politician didn't need any extra help with his English.
Whatever jokes are made, Westerwelle can at least console himself with the fact that he is not being teased as badly as another German politician -- at least, not yet. Heinrich Lübke was president of West Germany between 1959 and 1969 and is remembered for, among other things, not being a very good public speaker and what is known as "Lübke English." It's a sort of English that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Westerwave kind.
One of the most widely reported of Lübke's linguistic bloopers occurred during a visit by the British queen in 1965. Lübke and Queen Elizabeth II were waiting in a castle garden when the German president wanted to let his esteemed lady visitor know that "The Last Post" would soon be played. In German this would be: "Gleich geht es los." And the correct translation would be: "It will start very soon." What Lübke actually said? "Equal goes it loose."
In 2005, a CD called "Equal Goes It Loose: Heinrich Lübke speaks for Germany" was released by the Kunstman publishing. Whether Westerwelle is eventually accorded the same honor remains to be seen.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...659333,00.html

[afreu]

He could have aswered in German and let an interpreter translate for the journalist. Guido's answer sounded arrogant. Seemed like he needed to prove how much importance and power he just gained.

[tluassa]

Who is more arrogant, the one that is working as a foreign correspondent in a foreign country and doesnt change his language or the answering minister that respresents his own country and can hardly possibly learn all 10.000 languages and dialects or maybe even more that exist on this earth.

[Rugal09]

anyone in the mood for some "fabelhafte Tee"?

p.s. not that I'm questioning OP's rationale, but why is this in a military history/tactics forum?

UNLESS.....language itself is considered a weapon! Of course!

[rgjbloke]

I remember the original post on here a few weeks ago. I thought at the time, he was at a press conference in Germany, Why should he speak english if he didn't want to?

Having said that, it would have been an opportunity for him to demonstarte his prowess and suitability for the job if he wanted to, but that's only an afterthought on my part.

[goat89]

Where the f*ck is Macs when you need him. But yeah, I sorta agree with you bloke.

[Razvodnik]

Reminds me on this joke
A Pan Am 727 waiting for start clearance in Munich overheard the following:

Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
Unknown voice from another plane (in a British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war!"

[JCR]

So utterly funny

[tluassa]

Originally Posted by Rugal09

anyone in the mood for some "fabelhafte Tee"?

p.s. not that I'm questioning OP's rationale, but why is this in a military history/tactics forum?

UNLESS.....language itself is considered a weapon! Of course!

I like your sense of logic and fully agree Thumbs up !!!

[Sada]

Originally Posted by JCR

He may be minister of foreign affairs of the largest economy in the European Union, but that so far hasn't protected Guido Westerwelle from a bit of mockery from his fellow Germans.

A member of government shouldn´t be asked a question in a foreign language in his own country NEVER EVER, only if he gives kindly permission previously. Probably this Guido Westerwelle has given before some reasons to his people for mockering of his words, but for the sake of self respect, it´s the foreign journalist the one that must know the language of the place where he´s working on, specially if he pretends to talk with somebody elected in that country, too oftenly the disrespect of some journalists it´s indignant.

[HGRazorR]

Originally Posted by tluassa

Who is more arrogant, the one that is working as a foreign correspondent in a foreign country and doesnt change his language or the answering minister that respresents his own country and can hardly possibly learn all 10.000 languages and dialects or maybe even more that exist on this earth.

Isn't English the International Auxillary Language? I hope then, the foreign minister would know it.

[Fuschimuschi]

Of course he does.

[tluassa]

Originally Posted by HGRazorR

Isn't English the International Auxillary Language? I hope then, the foreign minister would know it.

He certainly does, but he wanted to make a point about principles while just beeing introduced to his new office.
A typical "newbee" "greenhorn" failure if you ask me, as it came in his first day in office.

He is a quite nervous character and needs to gain confidence for some time ... but if he gets his right form he is a really "gifted" rhethorician ... at least in German TV discussion rounds he owns

[Sada]

Originally Posted by HGRazorR

Isn't English the International Auxillary Language? I hope then, the foreign minister would know it.

Nobody gave this certificate to english. Until no more of 20 years ago I think the only obligatory language in the diplomatic career of my country it was the french, and a second or third language required at the preference of the diplomat. But again, it was journalist of BBC, no excuses to such behaviour in a foreign country, he just showed his provincianism.

[Vandervahn]

The foreign minister is responsible for the outward interests of Germany, not directly the foreign relations. That is what embassies are for. Foreign policy is different from diplomacy. As such no foreign minister needs to speak a single word of any other language.

The horrid treatment Mr Westerwelle received for rightfully denying a foreign journalist his disrespectful and frivolous insistence on English just shows how many people do not understand this distinction; the joke is actually on them.

And I dont even like the guy...