Barack Obama Gaffe - Austrian Language

This is #2 in an ongoing series of Obama gaffes. It was funny when the libs did it to Bush, and consequently, it's still funny on a Democrat President. Obama references the Austrian language when there is no Austrian language.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Andrea Schleicher]

He was probably just trying to avoid insinuating that Germans and Austrians speak identical languages.

[2camp4U]

"He said Austrians are German hillbillies!"

Head 'em off at the pass...

[2camp4U]

It looks like Obama was wisecracking. In the Ozarks, we talk about people who speak Hillbilly.

But then, you really do need translators for that sometimes.

I am really concerned about allegations that a bright, educated guy who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard may not know that Germany and Austria are generally very similar. It makes me lose sleep. I have asked my doctor if treatment is available for partisan idiots who put up this mindless waste of their self-respect. ;)

[Myrtone]

There is an Austrian language edition of wikipedia barDOTwikipediaDOTorg

[2camp4U]

Lose.

Austrian German is distinct from German German. Some words do not translate.

"When Austria became a member of the EU, the Austrian variety of the German language was 'protected' in Protocol No 10, regarding the use of specific Austrian terms of the German language in the framework of the European Union, which forms part of the Austrian EU accession treaty.

The phrase "Wheeling and dealing" can have a unique, un-German translation in Austrian legalese Österreichische Kanzleisprache.

[RossoBianco1895]

I'm not so sure your criticism is justified in this case. in german dialects are named like a language. e.g. a german from bavaria speaks bavarian. noone would say he speaks bavarian german. someone from saxony speaks saxon, etc. and someone from austria speaks austrian. i know it sounds a bit weird, but this is how it is. maybe obama was referring to it in that way.