Friday, November 6, 2009

Sprachlos

Sprachlos is one German word I use instead of the English "speechless".



In fact Speechless implies "less speech".


When in fact Sprachlos is the absence of speech.


No speech.


That slack jawed look when your chin drops and you breathe faster and your chest heaves up and down in agonizing sighs.


Your eyes fall to the floor, your posture slacks.


You are beaten down. You cannot even talk.


You are Sprachlos.


You do not believe what you just heard.


When you stop speaking it is in the spirit of denial.


Ego protective.


This couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn’t have happened.


Preposterous, outrageous, outlandish, sickening,


The feeling in the pit of your stomach.


Is sprachlos physical? Psychological?


Can more than one person be affected?


Does anyone react when they see the signs?


What do you say when you begin to speak again?






German proverb: Be Silent. Or say something better than silence.


I am sprachlos.






Mary Gerdt

2 comments:

  1. alternate author ending:
    Ich bin Sprachlos

    have a great day in your corner of the world.mary

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Mary,
    Good post, totally agree about sprachlos, it says it all.
    I find that often a Dutch word or a German word sums it up better than an English word.
    Trouble is not everyone understands all three languages.
    Hav#e a good weekend.
    Love,
    Herrad

    ReplyDelete

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