I'll give you some examples of his statements (he also makes the common mistake of literal translation from Dutch to English).
- That's another cook. (It should be 'a whole new ball game' but he uses the Dutch expression: 'Dat is andere koek')
- It's a question of time before ... (I think he meant 'Time will tell')
- We are running after the facts. (Dutch expression: 'Achter de feiten aan lopen')
- It's again the same song. (Dutch: 'Het is altijd hetzelfde liedje')
I think many English reporters would have frowned upon the statements this football coach made. But us Dutch and the Dutch TV think it is hilarious.
Wrong, but I think it is cute.
The term Dunglish or Coal English goes back to the early twentieth century when Dutch port workers used a rudimentary form of English to communicate with the personnel of the English coal ships.
Errors occur in pronunciation, word order and the meaning of words. Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt once said 'I can stand my little man' (Dutch meaning: 'Ik kan mijn mannetje staan' but he was supposed to use 'I can stand up for myself'). Best one ever is politician Frits Bolkenstein who referred to economic prospects as 'golden showers', unaware that the term has sexual connotation.
Where would they put the leash?
Some other forms of incorrect meaning of words:
- The Dutch verb solliciteren means to apply for a job, which can lead to an embarrassing situation if someone claims they have come to solicit.
- During the Second World War, Churchill said to former prime-minister Gerbrandy while the two were standing on a balcony: 'Spring is in the air'. Gerbrandy's response was: 'Why should I?' Gerbrandy thought Churchill told him: 'Spring 'ns in de lucht', which translates into English as 'jump into the air'.
End tenk joe toe!
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