Random Poll of the Day! (590)

[Kurunouma]

nope^^

[Commi-Ninja]

A lie is a lie is a lie is a lie...

Doesn't matter what way you spin it.

[KangarooGirl]

I did. Oops :x

[aly_angelflight]

I didn't lie yesterday. My brother, on the hand, lied, which caused dad to yell at me for something he did again. >_>

(I mean, seriously. That bowl of soup that was left in the microwave had to have been his. The two of us made soup on Thursday, but my brother made his bowl after me, thus proving that I had in fact removed my bowl from the microwave and ate it as I had stated. Since I haven't had soup since then, and dad definitely didn't make any soup recently, it had to have been my brother.)

[Aokochan]

No

[Callid]

No.
Also, I noticed that choosing "Yes" is always correct

So, English doesn't differentiate between "lie" and "falsehood"? Interesting... :x

[mangaluva]

No.
Also, I noticed that choosing "Yes" is always correct

So, English doesn't differentiate between "lie" and "falsehood"? Interesting... :x

Well... yeah. I mean, that's what a lie is. Something that is not true.

[Edogawa4869]

A 1 and a 2 isn't always the same as a 3 though! If this was golf, and I got a 1 on one hole and a 2 on another, it'd be a lot better than than you getting a 3 on one hole.

Game, set, match. I'll be taking my victorious leave now.

Using a tennis allusion during a golf metaphor.  The validity of your argument has been undermined.

[Callid]

No.
Also, I noticed that choosing "Yes" is always correct

So, English doesn't differentiate between "lie" and "falsehood"? Interesting... :x

Well... yeah. I mean, that's what a lie is. Something that is not true.

It's interesting, cause in German (and Latin), a Lüge (lit.: lie) has to intentional, otherwise it's only a Unwahrheit (lit.: untruth). So, how should you translate Lüge? Deliberate lie?

[mangaluva]

No.
Also, I noticed that choosing "Yes" is always correct

So, English doesn't differentiate between "lie" and "falsehood"? Interesting... :x

Well... yeah. I mean, that's what a lie is. Something that is not true.

It's interesting, cause in German (and Latin), a Lüge (lit.: lie) has to intentional, otherwise it's only a Unwahrheit (lit.: untruth). So, how should you translate Lüge? Deliberate lie?

Well, if it's not intentional it's not a lie, is it? It's just a mistake.

For example, say you're telling your friend that the boy she has a crush on has a girlfriend. If you know that they've broken up but tell her that they're still together for whatever reason, that's a lie. If you didn't know that they'd broken up and thought they were still together, it's just a mistake.

[Akonyl]

Well, if it's not intentional it's not a lie, is it? It's just a mistake.

For example, say you're telling your friend that the boy she has a crush on has a girlfriend. If you know that they've broken up but tell her that they're still together for whatever reason, that's a lie. If you didn't know that they'd broken up and thought they were still together, it's just a mistake.

I think his point of confusion is that when he said "so english doesn't differentiate between a lie and a falsehood?" you said that he was correct, whereas you just said that it wasn't correct earlier (if he was interpreting a 'falsehood' as a 'mistake', as I'd think most people would), along with PT's comment earlier about false statements automatically being lies (intentional or not).

[mangaluva]

Well, if it's not intentional it's not a lie, is it? It's just a mistake.

For example, say you're telling your friend that the boy she has a crush on has a girlfriend. If you know that they've broken up but tell her that they're still together for whatever reason, that's a lie. If you didn't know that they'd broken up and thought they were still together, it's just a mistake.

I think his point of confusion is that when he said "so english doesn't differentiate between a lie and a falsehood?" you said that he was correct, whereas you just said that it wasn't correct earlier (if he was interpreting a 'falsehood' as a 'mistake', as I'd think most people would), along with PT's comment earlier about false statements automatically being lies (intentional or not).

That is a confusing morass of contradiction I suppose it depends on your interpretation. To me, at least, "falsehood" is synonymous with "lie" but not really with "mistake", which to me has different connotations. I feel like "lie" has the implication of being intentional, so I wouldn't call an accidentally false statement a lie. I suppose it varies.

(English is such a fun and reasonable language )

[Callid]

Now you've managed to completely confuse me
What I seem to understand is:
Lüge = lie = falsehood(?)
Unwahrheit = untruth(?) (= falsehood??)
Irrtum (i.e. being wrong about something in general, no matter if it is told or not) = mistake(?) (= error??)

[mangaluva]

I don't think the actual words and concepts translate directly very well.