If a Zwirnblader eats a lot of Kracherl, he will also grow a fried chicken fry quite pomali. However, if he’s not a Bamschabl, he may be able to counteract this development by barbaring hard, for example by scooping out a Kinetn. But if you pour too many belly balls into it, there is a risk of a blow followed by a brain bang. The meaning of these statements is explained in Peter Ahorner’s book “Forgotten Words”.
In fact, the very own Austrian language – which is of course often enriched with loan words from neighboring Eastern European countries or from French – is gradually taking a back seat. Reason enough for Ahorner, who initially worked as a freelance copywriter and author of satirical columns, but then also turned to music (e.g. appearances with the Viennese duo “Die Strottern”) and cabaret, to dig up numerous forgotten terms and like in a dictionary to be explained in alphabetical order. Some words are self-explanatory, such as “Gnackwatschn” – which is elegantly translated as “punch in the neck”. But what about a “Ramanaster” is, you can only know or not know.
A married man, who often visits a riding school, could pull his Gespons’ Henkl, which may even manifest itself in a kick in the Kujoni – to be equated with the Gogerln. In the worst case, the unfaithful husband is also threatened with Gogosh as a consequence of the Gschturi caused by him.
The bandwidth of the expressions explained here ranges from many romantic terms and terms describing love affairs, such as Amur, to a great deal of coarse and faecal language, but the culinary aspect is not neglected either. Curious? Then please take Gerschtl in your hand and buy the book published by ueberreuter-Verlag!
(SERVICE – Peter Ahorner: “Forgotten Words – Austria”, ueberreuter, 123 pages, 16.00 euros)