Germany > Contents > Corrections > Updates
Text Corrections
Yes, I admit it! Even authors make mistakes. (Where are those editors when you need them!) The following are the minor and major blunders that readers have pointed out, or that I actually noticed myself.
If you would like to make me feel even worse by adding new corrections, feel free to email your gem of erroneousness to me, the author.
NOTE: The corrections below plus a few other minor changes and updates are incorporated in the current second edition of The German Way.
Corrections listed by topic in the book...
Abbreviations and acronyms (corrections)
BASF (p.1, second paragraph) actually stands for “Badische Anilin und Sodafabrik.” As reader Christian Feldhaus points out, BASF has never been Bavarian (“Bayrisch”). But the large multi-national chemical company has now let me off the hook by officially changing its corporate name to just plain “BASF AG” (BASF, Inc.).
Back to Contents page (“Abbreviations...”)
Business (Wirtschaft) in the German-speaking world (corrections)
Volkswagen AG (p.16) - VW is Europe’s largest car maker. It ranks fourth in the world, not first. The same error appears on p. 38 (Driving). This correction has already been made on the corresponding Web pages and in the second edition of the book. (Business)
Ecology and the environment (corrections)
die Grünen (p.40) - The “Greens,” Germany’s environmentally concerned political party, have merged with the eastern German Bündnis 90 (“Alliance 90”) to form the new Bündnisgrünen ("Alliance/Greens") party. (Also on pp. 65, 66 under The Greens (die Grünen).)
Government and politics (corrections)
Germany (p.63) - Chancellor Helmut Kohl surpassed Konrad Adenauer’s old record for term of office before losing to Gerhard Schröder in September 1998. Before that, Germans under the age of 16 had never known another leader of their country.
Germany (p.64) - The word Abgeordnete is misspelled.
Health and fitness (corrections)
(p.69) The old Krankenschein certificate is now an insurance card (Versicherungskarte). (Health and fitness)
Humor (corrections)
“Das kleine Arschloch” (p.78, second line) is the correct form. This is an embarassing mistake for a former German teacher! The definite article used with the name of this popular cartoon character should be das, not der. The PG translation of the name would be something like “The Little Butthole.” German humor is often rather scatological.
Money, banks, and credit (corrections)
Eurocheques and the Eurocard (p.93) - This item is a matter of detail. To use a Eurocheque, you actually need what is called an “EC Card.” The EC Card is similar to a bank check-guarantee card in the U.S., and it is separate from the Eurocard (Mastercard) credit card. This soon may be quite irrelevant anyway, as the increased use of credit cards and ATMs (Geldautomaten) has drastically reduced the use of Eurocheques. - Which brings up another detail (in the interest of fairness and accuracy): On page 94 it should be made clear that the increasing use of ATMs in Germany makes it unlikely that your U.S. or Canadian credit card (Amex, MC, Visa, etc.) would not be accepted. Just don’t forget your PIN code! (Money, banks, and credit)
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