Painted A Tiny Grackle!

Wings 2022

oil on canvas

Hello~! I absolutely ADORE the dynamic between the red and blue characters you portray! Its so fun to see!

I do have a question though. What dialects Do you think that Herbert and Friedrich have, if you are familiar with German dialects of course? And do they just speak standard german with eachother or do they gl full into dialect/slang talk? I love how languages work, specifically dialects and accents and i would LOVE to know!

Excellent question!

I have actually given this some thought.

So, unfortunately I am not fluent in German and don’t know anything about what kind of dialects they have. BUT! If it’s anything like where I’m from, which I imagine it is, they have tons of different regional dialects so Herbert would have whatever dialect they have in Stuttgart where he is from, and Friedrich would have whatever dialect they have in Kiel, where he is from.

As for their speaking patterns, I think Herbert speaks “correctly” with little to no slang, although he does swear a lot. When he speaks English he has an accent (the one we hear in game) and uses German words here and there, but he does actually have a very strong grasp on the language and only makes a full switch when he is upset. I think he made a point to master English as much as possible before working for RED to minimise misunderstandings. He wouldn’t have grown up learning English in school, because it was seen as “beneath” the noble German to learn a non-germanic language during the third reich. However, Herbert always found forbidden knowledge the most interesting so he studied it in secret among other topics.

Friedrich is almost 10 years younger than Herbert and speaks more casually with both slang and cuss words. When he speaks English he has a thicker accent and slips in more German words, not by choice but because he doesn’t have as strong a grasp on it as Herbert. He grew up believing what he was told about English being inferior and still thinks it’s an ugly language. He only started studying after he came to America, and there is still much he doesn’t understand, but Dennis (BLU engie) helps him a lot with words and phrases he doesn’t understand and takes time to explain metaphors and sayings so Fritz doesn’t feel left out.

Together the medics speak exclusively in german which makes it a lot easier to talk shit. Friedrich writes down things he doesn’t understand and Dennis can’t help him with so Herbert can translate when they meet up.

Day 8, swallow-tailed kite

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Medical dividers/ free to use (credit is appreciated)

he/she chase can be so beautiful.........