Is There a Word?

[forsyth]

There's some things that feel like they should have words, but English doesn't seem to have them. Like something that makes perfect sense on one level, but on another level is completely ridiculous. For example, a multinational giant corporation like Barnes and Noble stocking Adbusters the magazine. It makes perfect sense on the "sell more stuff" and "get more exposure" levels for each, but it's also utterly ridiculous. Though on another level, I guess it makes sense too, if you believe a bookstore actually stands behind ideals about free speech and stuff (which, working at said giant multinational corporation, I find kinda unlikely).

But still, there oughta be a word. I bet German has one. German has awesome words for everything. And no, I don't think irony is quite the word I'm looking for, though it's part of the concept.

Comments

[surlyben.livejournal.com]

Sounds like textbook irony to me...

Irony: incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

The best kind of irony also makes sense when viewed straight.

You are right that german probably has a word, but I'll bet it's just a mash-up of a two or more words that note the extra layers... Doublesecretirony or whatever but in german.

Corporations don't have beliefs because they aren't people (legal fictions notwithstanding), but often they can be forced to act like they do. For example, if you are in the book business, there is a lot of pressure to adhere to book business ethical standards and practices, especially when you are not a giant evil corporation. And if you should later become a giant evil corporation, it would not be surprising to discover that those ethical standards stick around, enshrined in the three ring binder of corporate policy...

Wikipedia has a useful page of german words and phrases (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_German_origin) for when you wonder if there is a german word for something...

What I wonder is whether there is a word (preferably of german origin) for the feeling that there is probably a word in german that means exactly whatever difficult to express idea you are trying to express

[forsythferret.livejournal.com]

You are right that german probably has a word, but I'll bet it's just a mash-up of a two or more words that note the extra layers... Doublesecretirony or whatever but in german.

That's one of the things I like about German. At least in the abstract, since I don't actually know German.

And like I said, irony's part of it, but it feels like something more. Doublesecretirony, maybe. Or maybe it's just that it's something that actually happened without being set up (unless it was) with the intention of being ironic, "natural" irony as opposed to "artificial" irony.