5 ms·

It’s funny that the article uses the term “Alt-Berlin” to denote a new Berlin, whereas ’alt-Berlin’ in Deutsch means “old-Berlin”.

domano 6y ago
As a german-speaker this confused me a lot :)
zxcvbn4038 6y ago
Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” - I am pretty sure it’s not proper English, just flows better if your going to have to use the word a lot. I really like how the TV show Fringe named some of the alternate versions of the main characters - Walter and Walternate (short for Alternate Walter), Olivia and Bolivia (short for Olivia-B), etc. though many of the characters didn’t lend themselves to that naming or their alternate counterparts weren’t remarkably different. Then Rick and Morty came along and there were so many alternate universes they just gave them all numbers - and added the twist that you never know which Rick from which universe your watching in any given episode which also conveniently explains away any continuity errors (sorry nit-pickers) and creative license needed for a given storyline.
- thisone 6y ago
  I've always heard it as Faux-livia.
- FlyingSnake 6y ago
  > Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” This is one of the (many) instances where reducing everything to pop-culture English falls flat. Berliners have been using 'Alt-Berlin' for the mitte district since ages, and it doesn't make sense for them.
  - coldtea 6y ago
    How does it "fall flat"? Berliners are not the target audience of this article, or just a tiny fraction of it.
- Mauricebranagh 6y ago
  I thought it was a nod to the fans coming up with alternate names and not a choice of the writers. And Walternate was very different to this earths Walter
- Jedd 6y ago
  > Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” ... I would have said a shortening of alternative, as alternate is a verb (occasionally an adjective) and means to oscillate between two variations / options. Alternative is very much an adjective and refers to one (of presumably many) permutations or possibilities. Common usage seems to be dragging the latter closer to the former, unfortunately, but it's frustrating for people that appreciate the nuances of these two distinctly different words.
chmod775 6y ago
Even more confusing if you live in Berlin, because "Alt-Berlin" is a historically significant neighborhood of Mitte[1]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-Berlin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-Berlin

domano 6y ago

As a german-speaker this confused me a lot :)

zxcvbn4038 6y ago

Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” - I am pretty sure it’s not proper English, just flows better if your going to have to use the word a lot. I really like how the TV show Fringe named some of the alternate versions of the main characters - Walter and Walternate (short for Alternate Walter), Olivia and Bolivia (short for Olivia-B), etc. though many of the characters didn’t lend themselves to that naming or their alternate counterparts weren’t remarkably different. Then Rick and Morty came along and there were so many alternate universes they just gave them all numbers - and added the twist that you never know which Rick from which universe your watching in any given episode which also conveniently explains away any continuity errors (sorry nit-pickers) and creative license needed for a given storyline.

thisone 6y ago
I've always heard it as Faux-livia.
FlyingSnake 6y ago
> Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” This is one of the (many) instances where reducing everything to pop-culture English falls flat. Berliners have been using 'Alt-Berlin' for the mitte district since ages, and it doesn't make sense for them.
- coldtea 6y ago
  How does it "fall flat"? Berliners are not the target audience of this article, or just a tiny fraction of it.
Mauricebranagh 6y ago
I thought it was a nod to the fans coming up with alternate names and not a choice of the writers. And Walternate was very different to this earths Walter
Jedd 6y ago
> Here “alt” is being used as an abbreviation of “alternate” ... I would have said a shortening of alternative, as alternate is a verb (occasionally an adjective) and means to oscillate between two variations / options. Alternative is very much an adjective and refers to one (of presumably many) permutations or possibilities. Common usage seems to be dragging the latter closer to the former, unfortunately, but it's frustrating for people that appreciate the nuances of these two distinctly different words.

chmod775 6y ago

Even more confusing if you live in Berlin, because "Alt-Berlin" is a historically significant neighborhood of Mitte[1]. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-Berlin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alt-Berlin