It doesn't really make me "happy" but I find it funny. On a blog I explained to a woman, about data compression and I wrote
I: "If you convert something to flac you can choose between different levels of comprimation"
She: "I cannot see the reason for such a comprimation (what a lovely French word). I mean it sounds so nicer to say comprimation; compression reminds one of a ... compresseur."
I: "(...) There are programs like irfanview for that and tutorials on youtube how to do it. I'm german btw, we use word for 250 years now too."
She: "@Ihno: Are you sure you are German and not French? I thought the German word for compression was Komprimierung."
I: "Yes, I come from Jirmeny. You can use Kompression or Komprimierung, as you like. I guess it's a matter of taste."
She: "@Ihno. Well, the question is whether "comprimation" itself is a word used by Germans. I mean, I cannot find it in my German dictionary."
I: "Well, since german is my mothertongue I would say your dictionary is a bad one.
http://anonym.to/http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Komprimierung Glaub es mir einfach.
http://anonym.to/http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Kompression And why should I lie about my heritage? Buy a new dictionary."
She: "I do not seem to be able to express myself clearly. I am not talking about the words Kompression and Komprimierung, which are in my dictionary too (Duden, by the way). I am talking about the word COMPRIMATION you used, which is is a lovely French word but you told me this morning "we use word for 250 years now too"; I still cannot find in a German dictionary. As for your heritage I was obviously pulling your crus germani
."
I: "Haha, yes, there is a misunderstanding. I thought you mean the latin root. When I used the word "comprimation" I took the german Komprimierung, changed the K to a C and the ending ierung into ation, like you usually can do with words of latin origin. At least I do it when I'm too lazy for leo.org And so I thought you asked about "Komprimierung". German is not too strict with substantifications. Only in few cases they are important like with Restauration or Restaurierung. You can use "Komprimation" too. You'll be understood even if it's not in the duden."
Third Party: in fact it is a quite common English word in research articles, for eg. see
http://anonym.to/http://www69.zippyshare.com/v/21774713/file.html )
I: See?
The old "avoid dictionary" trick still works.
edit: now she came up with this conversation and takes back that it's a french word.
http://anonym.to/http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/889780