author: Ben Schott
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2014/01/11
date added: 2014/01/11
shelves:
review:
A portmanteau (besides being a large suitcase) is a word that is created by combining or mashing together 2 or more words. Words like chortle, affluenza and bootylicious are all examples of words that are portmanteaus.
The book Schottenfreude by Ben Schott takes a series of difficult to explain occurrences (like new car smell or kicking through autumn leaves) and shows how one word in German can be used to precisely explain the situation (in this case Kraftfahrzeugsinnenausstattungsneugeruchsgeuuss & Herbstlaubtrittverguugen are the answers. Along with the words, literal English breakdowns are given (like automobile-interior-furnishing-new-aroma-pleasure & Autumn-foliage-strike-fun). There is a word origin (if there is one) and a pronunciation guide.
The humor of it all works because it's all presented so earnestly and seriously. The definitions delve into literary situations, and German words can seem quite long to English speakers, so cramming a bunch of German words together to form new ones (ala portmanteaus) seems somewhat logical. Rather than make the language more accessible the process makes the language even more of a mouthful. Clever and fun.
I was given a review copy of this book by Penguin Group Blue Rider Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.
via Wayne's bookshelf: read http://ift.tt/1c7qW3B
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