|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear email,
|
|
|
The concept of national stereotypes is a tricky one. When the topic comes up over dinner or at work, people like to groan and say something like, “that old cliché” or “no one should take that stuff seriously”. To me it’s more complicated. As a half-Brit-half-German, I can definitely see that there are differences in national behaviour and have experienced first-hand how ignoring this can get a person into hot water. If you’d like to know what makes British communication different from German communication, or rather how Brits use subtle language signals to send messages, then take a look at “What is said – and what is meant” below.
A job that requires a carefully honed understanding of messages – both verbal and non-verbal – is that of a butler. Find out more about Gary Williams and why he loves his job in “A very modern butler.”
Next time, Judith Gilbert, editor-in-chief of Business Spotlight, will be back with more interesting topics from around the English-speaking world.
|
|
|
|
Inez Sharp
|
|
Editor-in-chief, Spotlight
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
tricky: verzwickt | groan: stöhnen | stuff: Kram, Zeug | hot water: get sb. into ∼: jmdn. in Teufels Küche bringen | subtle: unterschwellig | hone sth.: etw. verfeinern | editor-in-chief: Chefredakteur(in)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Word of the Week
|
|
|
|
fricy
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know...? If you combine “fruity” and “spicy”, you get “fricy”, a new word used to describe one of this summer’s hottest food trends. Look up “fricy” on social media and you’ll find drinks and dishes made with fruits such as mango and watermelon combined with spicy ingredients such as chilli and hot sauce. Although the idea may be new to many in the West, fricy foods have long been part of many food cultures, from Latin America to Southeast Asia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
spicy: würzig; scharf
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Illustration: Georg Lechner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Anzeige
|
|
|
|
Do you puzzle?
|
|
|
|
|
Discover a brand-new selection of English word and logic challenges from Küng Rätsel. Choose from three different magazines featuring crosswords, word searches, and a mix of puzzles, with new issues published every two months. Whether you’re already comfortable with the English language and culture or simply looking to improve your skills while having fun, these magazines are the perfect choice.
Available at all good magazine and puzzle retailers, or by subscription.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: Keesing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Language
|
|
|
|
What is said – and what is meant
|
|
|
|
|
The English language can be a minefield! Here are some classic passive-aggressive phrases – complete with a guide to their (not so) secret hidden meanings:
▪ For future reference, … = Don’t make the same silly mistake again!
▪ As I stated in my last e-mail, … = You either didn’t read or didn’t understand my last email
▪ A gentle reminder that… = You never stick to your deadlines!
▪ Don’t worry about me! = You should soooo worry – I need your undivided attention right now!
▪ I guess I’ll just do it myself. = You’re not going to do it anyway – or not well enough. In fact, you never help me!
▪ I have nothing better to do with my time. = I’m incredibly busy, as usual, but no one cares, as usual.
▪ I felt a bit silly. = I was made to feel a complete idiot because of you! You’d better apologize – and a bunch of flowers won’t be enough!
▪ It’s not your fault, really! = Of course it’s your fault! Who else’s fault would it be?
▪ My mistake entirely! = You got it wrong! How could you possibly make such a dumb mistake?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bunch of flowers: Blumenstrauß | dumb: dumm, blöd
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: Javier Díez / Stocksy United
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Language
|
|
|
|
“He was part of the theme music of my mornings”
|
|
|
|
|
It wasn’t until we chose the milk float as our iconic product in the latest issue of Spotlight that we realized just how many childhood memories we had of both the iconic vehicle and the milkmen who drove it.
The stories came pouring out, and they were all so sweetly nostalgic. The milkman and his milk float represent simpler times – or perhaps we are all simply too sentimental. Either way, here you can listen to two of our favourite milkman memories from the Spotlight team.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
theme music: Titelmusik | milk float (UK): Milchwagen | pour out: hier: hervorsprudeln
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: mauritius-images / alamy
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listening Exercise
|
|
|
|
A very modern butler
|
|
|
|
|
|
“The dog only drinks Evian water!” Spotlight spoke to Gary Williams about his job, catering to the needs and whims of the super rich – and why he’s found fulfilment as a butler.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
cater to: hier: sich kümmern um | whim: Laune, Marotte | fulfilment: Erfüllung
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: private
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marketing
|
|
|
|
Creative collaborations
|
|
|
|
|
Business sometimes makes strange bedfellows. In July 2026, the football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced a brand partnership with the Texas coffee chain La La Land. While the connection between the two may seem unlikely, the deal was far less controversial than an earlier PSG collaboration with the drinks brand Pernod Ricard, which was cancelled after a fan backlash – the company has deep ties to Marseille, PSG’s biggest rival.
As this example shows, brand collaborations can be tricky, but many unexpected partnerships have been very successful. In 2019, for example, the California-based footwear brand Vans, famous for skateboarding shoes, teamed up with Harry Potter to create a collection of trainers that became a surprising hit. Today, pairs can sell for as much as €700.
Film and TV collaborations can be especially lucrative. Squid Game, a big Netflix hit, has been involved in several partnerships. McDonald’s created a Squid Game meal, with Korean BBQ sauce, Puma released the tracksuit worn by characters in the series, Crocs made a Squid Game shoe and the whisky brand Johnnie Walker began selling limited-edition Squid Game bottles – with 456 bottles, reflecting the number of players on the show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
make strange bedfellows: ein merkwürdiges Gespann bilden | controversial: umstritten, kontrovers | backlash: (heftige) Gegenreaktion | deep ties: enge Verbindungen | tricky: knifflig, schwierig | footwear: Schuhe | team up with sb.: sich mit jmdm. zusammentun | trainer (UK): hier: Turnschuh | release sth.: hier: etw. herausbringen | tracksuit: Trainingsanzug | reflect sth.: hier: etw. entsprechen
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: dr
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Die aktuellen Hefte
|
|
|
|
Discover the latest Spotlight and Business Spotlight
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight: English decoded | Business Spotlight: Betting on everything
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Quiz
|
|
|
|
Back to Hogwarts
|
|
|
|
|
|
On 1 September, the train to Harry Potter’s magical boarding school leaves from platform 9¾! Prepare for the upcoming school year with our Harry Potter quiz.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
boarding school: Internat | platform: Gleis
|
|
|
|
|
|
© Image: Aditya Vyas / Unsplash.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Podcast
|
|
|
|
The weather
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunny days aren’t what they used to be, are they? Let’s talk about the weather – in the latest episode of our podcast English, please!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mitarbeit: Dennis Draber, Judith Gilbert, Susanne Krause, Mae McCreary, Richard Mote, Rachel Preece, Inez Sharp, Lorraine Turner Akcakaya
Sie haben diesen Newsletter zurzeit an die Adresse subs@emailshot.io bestellt. Eine Abmeldung ist jederzeit über Newsletter-Abmeldung möglich. Bitte antworten Sie nicht auf diese E-Mail. Bitte wenden Sie sich an abo@zeit-sprachen.de.
ZEIT SPRACHEN GmbH
Kistlerhofstraße 172
81379 München
Deutschland
Telefon: +49 (0)89/121 407 10
E-Mail: abo@zeit-sprachen.de
Geschäftsführer: Ulrich Sommer
Registergericht München
HRB 179611
USt-IdNr.: DE -265 -973 -410 Datenschutz | AGB | Impressum | Kontakt © ZEIT SPRACHEN GmbH 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
