Hi Andrew,
Thank you for getting back to us. 👍
It is interesting that you contemplate the true nature of the word "Wohngemeinschaft"
at the time. Germany has so many local dialects and it may be different in other parts
of the country, but where I come from the kind of commune you are referring to is
actually called "Kommune". ("Mein Freund lebt in einer Kommune.") This word is probably
a combination of living together and "communism"? Wohngemeinschaft is a more neutral
expression, that can be used anywhere in Germany and is also accurate without the political innuendo.
As for "außer Kraft setzen", yes you are right: it is a standing expression and if you check
the dictionary, it will come up as "to suspend". 😉
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Comments
HideWhat are your parents or grandparents telling about the time around 1968?
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your prompt reply.
A "co-op" or "housing cooperative", the way I understand it, is a whole different thing.
"Wohngemeinschaft" is to be taken quite literal: Wir leben/wohnen zusammen in einer Gemeinschaft.
= We live together in a communion. These people usually are or become friends and often do things together.
A housing cooperative is a legal entity that provides affordable housing. 😉
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Ok thanks Reinhard. Could it be that "co-op", as in "housing cooperative", is closer to the idea of Wohngemeinschaft?
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for getting back to us. 👍
It is interesting that you contemplate the true nature of the word "Wohngemeinschaft"
at the time. Germany has so many local dialects and it may be different in other parts
of the country, but where I come from the kind of commune you are referring to is
actually called "Kommune". ("Mein Freund lebt in einer Kommune.") This word is probably
a combination of living together and "communism"? Wohngemeinschaft is a more neutral
expression, that can be used anywhere in Germany and is also accurate without the political innuendo.
As for "außer Kraft setzen", yes you are right: it is a standing expression and if you check
the dictionary, it will come up as "to suspend". 😉
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards,
Reinhard
Team GermanPod101.com
Hello German Pod 101 - I wonder if "die Wohngemeinschaft" might be better translated as "commune". Maybe this reflects a somewhat different structure to the hippie movement in North America vs Europe: eg in the USA and Canada, there was a back to the land movement, whereas in Germany/Europe maybe the same goal was sought in urban settings?
Also, I am interested by the phrase "außer Kraft gesetzt". It seems like you have to translate it as a phrase ie "suspended" and not try to break it down into its component words "out of" "strength/power" "sober" which would make no sense. Have I got this correct?
Cheers,
Andrew
Hallo robert groulx,
You are very welcome. 😇
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Good luck with your language studies.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Levente
Team GermanPod101.com
thanks for the lesson
my favoite phrase is Am 2. Juni 1967 wurde bei einer Demonstration gegen den Staatsbesuch des iranischen Schahs Reza Pahlevi der Student
robert
Ob Sonne oder Regen, Hauptsache dagegen!
Es gibt Menschen, die am liebsten das Licht ausblasen wollen, weil es einen Schatten wirft. Solche Menschen sind nicht fähig politisch, geschweige denn historisch zu denken. Sie beurteilen die politische Großwetterlage vom Horizont des Tomateneinkäufers. Und dabei geht es ihnen gar nicht darum, ob die Tomaten frisch oder faul sind, sondern es geht ihnen darum, die ältere Generation zu verärgern. Sie üben ihre Kritik auch nicht um etwas zu verbessern, nein, sie kritisieren nur um der Kritik willen. Es sind Menschen die sich nicht selbst leiden mögen, wie können sie die ältere Generation leiden?
Horst Mahler war wahrscheinlich der einzige aktive Achtundsechziger, der sich später als lernfähig erwies, der die Lage später erkannt hat und der sich weiterzuentwickeln wusste.
It could be added that the policeman Kurras who shot Ohnesorg was also on the payroll of the east german GDR (German "Democratic" Republic) as an agent. The german historian Götz Ali wrote a very insightful and demystifying book about this topic. Its title is "Unser Kampf 1968 - ein irritierter Blick zurück".
:cool: It's "beliefs" not "believes" for the plural noun.