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From: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Is there over there?
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Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997 21:07:06 GMT
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In article <AF571331966813271C@max1-37.hk.super.net>,
Desmond Sin <dcmsin@hk.super.net> wrote:
>I have been pretty shy about asking this question since it seems rather
>trivial. But since I am still bugged by it, maybe someone can help me
>resolve the problem once and for all.
>
>What is the difference between "there" and "over there"?

[snip]
>My question is not limited to the English usage of "there" and "being
>there". I have just begun learning German. And I learn that "over there" is
>"dort druben". A look at the dictionary tells me "dort" means "there". So
>what is the difference between "dort" and "dort druben"?

'dort' means simply "there".  'dr"uben' (note the umlaut!) means "on the
other side", esp. "over the border" or "across the ocean".  Therefore,
'dort dr"uben' sometimes corresponds to English "over there".  For
example, say we were standing on a scenic overlook in Breisach.  I might
point across the Rhine to a cluster of building-tops and say to you
"Dort dr"uben liegt Strassburg", much as I would say in English
"Strassburg is over there".  However, if I couldn't point, I'd probably
leave off the 'dort'.  For instance, if I were giving you directions from
Freiburg (a town east of Breisach), I might say "Denn kommst Du nach
Breisach, am Rhein.  Dr"uben liegt Strassburg."  In English, that would be
"Then you'll get to Breisach, on the Rhine.  Across it [or "On the other 
side"] is Strasbourg."


-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
