[Milsurplus] Language Experts?

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

> Can anyone tell me what language these words are,
> and how they translate to english:
> 
>   telefoon
>   zendwyze

Dutch

telefoon = telephone
zendwyse = send way (or to put it into literal English, method of sending, 
it would correspond to our word MODE as applied to a switch)

Most Germanic based languages don't have neat words that combine 
meanings like English does. They have to put two or more words together 
to get a meaning which English often expresses with one word. Kinda 
clumsy in my opinion, but works for them. A good example is 
Panzerkampfwagen, shortened to Panzer for tank. In LITERAL English, 
it means Armored-war-wagon. Another is unterseeboot for under the sea 
boat, or U boat. Some Germanic words get really long and clumsy when 
describing mechanical or scientific devices with specific uses.

Ken W7EKB, who is NOT a language expert by any means.

Ken W7EKB