Jump to content

Desperate request for those of you who speak English


Jazzmoose

Recommended Posts

I'm currently readint The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill, and while most English English (as oppossed to the American version, you know?) I can figure out, one word here has me stumped. And apparently every online dictionary, both of our dictionaries, and who knows what else.

What the heck is "appell"???? :blink:

(Sentence from book: The next shifts started as soon as appell was over.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Moose, taking note of the book you are reading, Appell would translate as 'roll call'. It's a french word which refers to the roll call which was one of the dreary start of daily routine at WWII prisoners camps (also at concentration camps where the appels was turned into daily ordeals).

No idea why the french word 'appel' was used instead of the german word for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...

No idea why the french word 'appel' was used instead of the german word for it.

because the word Appell is used exactly that way in german language as well. I guess its a heritage from Napoleon and french occupation back than. There are some area's in the "Rheinland" that still uses geman pronounced french wordings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There's another meaning (derived, I assume, from the military one), meaning "appeal" or "plea" (that's the translations on dict.leo.org give, if you enter the german word "Appell").

That's the closest I could find, through 'appellation' (until I came here, the source of all knowledge!), and it just made no sense in context.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...

No idea why the french word 'appel' was used instead of the german word for it.

because the word Appell is used exactly that way in german language as well. I guess its a heritage from Napoleon and french occupation back than. There are some area's in the "Rheinland" that still uses geman pronounced french wordings.

actually, it IS the German word as the french is spelled with only one L at the end. In Dutch it means apple, unless you put an accent-grave on the e, then it's roll call or appeal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...

No idea why the french word 'appel' was used instead of the german word for it.

because the word Appell is used exactly that way in german language as well. I guess its a heritage from Napoleon and french occupation back than. There are some area's in the "Rheinland" that still uses geman pronounced french wordings.

actually, it IS the German word as the french is spelled with only one L at the end. In Dutch it means apple, unless you put an accent-grave on the e, then it's roll call or appeal.

an apfel a day keeps the doctor away :blink:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ich APPELLIERE an Euch alle: Lasst uns ueber eine Loesung fuer Jims Problem mit seiner kleinen Tochter nachdenken, die ihn zur Weissglut treibt, und nicht ueber ein altbackenes Wort, dass mich zur Weissglut treibt. :rolleyes:

er hätte die Kleine mit 8 Monaten (oder so) auf den Topf setzen sollen, nicht erst nach 2 Jahren. Das ist, was mich zu Weissbier treibt. Prost!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...

No idea why the french word 'appel' was used instead of the german word for it.

because the word Appell is used exactly that way in german language as well. I guess its a heritage from Napoleon and french occupation back than. There are some area's in the "Rheinland" that still uses geman pronounced french wordings.

actually, it IS the German word as the french is spelled with only one L at the end. In Dutch it means apple, unless you put an accent-grave on the e, then it's roll call or appeal.

an apfel a day keeps the doctor away :blink:

almost.

Dutch = Crazy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...