Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

If we are going to be pedantic, then „Führer” means someone who leads, whereas „Leiter” is more close to the English term ‘leader’. ‘Leader’ and „Leiter” share the same etymology, „Führer” does not. The same difference is present in Danish as well: »leder« vs »fører«.

Essentially, „ein Führer” is more than just a leader.



Never mind old Adolf -- the bit of pedancy I really admire in your post is that you consistently and correctly use different typographical quoting conventions for German, English and Danish.


This is a trait I adopted a year ago for own filthy pleasure. I felt it was wrong to quote sentences and/or words in other languages with quotation marks meant for another language.

I am confident other people have different views on this. Fortunately for most people, I don't get to write much on languages. Strangely, while my dyslexia is somewhat preventing this, it is also the same disorder that is causing me to become more obsessive about my writing, including the quotation marks.

Edit: To ensure it, I have reconfigured my keymap to have all the symbols ready as keys.


I did this when quoting English and German language works in an essay recently. It felt wrong, though.


>‘Leader’ and „Leiter” share the same etymology, „Führer” does not.

You're not being pedantic, you're introducing an unnecessary element. The etymology of a word isn't relevant in determining its current meaning. Führer is usually translated as leader and there is nothing wrong with that translation.


Perhaps, but „Führer” is far more affectionate in a way than „Leiter” is. I do not disagree with the translation, but its association with Hitler in English is not entirely inaccurate.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: