Why is hot dog translated as hot dog? - briefly
The term "hot dog" is a direct translation from American English into Russian, reflecting the popular American food item consisting of a sausage served in a bun. This translation is straightforward and does not involve any cultural or linguistic nuances beyond the direct transfer of the name.
Why is hot dog translated as hot dog? - in detail
The term "hot dog" is an intriguing example of how language and culture intertwine to create unique and often puzzling phrases. The origins of this term are rooted in American history and have evolved through various cultural and linguistic influences. To understand why "hot dog" is translated as such, one must delve into its historical background and the cultural practices that have shaped its meaning.
The exact origins of the term "hot dog" are somewhat debated, but one of the most widely accepted stories dates back to the early 20th century. In 1901, during a Yale University football game, a vendor named Charles Feltman was selling hot sausages in rolls. A group of cheerleaders from Yale, who were particularly fond of these sausages, began to chant, "Get your dachshund sausages while they're red hot!" This chant caught the attention of a cartoonist named Tad Dorgan, who was covering the game for the New York World. Dorgan, who did not know the German word for "dachshund," sketched a cartoon of a dachshund dog in a long roll, with the caption "Get your hot dogs." This cartoon popularized the term "hot dog," and it quickly spread throughout the United States.
Another popular story involves a different vendor, also named Charles Feltman, who claimed to have invented the hot dog in 1871. According to this account, Feltman was selling sausages from a pushcart in Coney Island, New York. He noticed that customers often had difficulty eating the sausages without getting grease on their hands, so he began serving them in rolls. The combination of the sausage and the roll became a hit, and Feltman eventually opened a restaurant to sell his hot dogs. The term "hot dog" gained further popularity during World War I, when American soldiers stationed in Germany encountered sausages that were similar to the ones they knew from home. They began referring to these sausages as "hot dogs," and the term became widely used in the United States.
The term "hot dog" has also been influenced by American slang and popular culture. The word "dog" has been used colloquially to refer to a sausage or a type of food for centuries. For example, in 19th-century America, the term "dog" was used to describe a type of sausage that was made from the leftovers of other meats. This usage likely contributed to the adoption of "hot dog" as a term for a sausage served in a roll. Additionally, the term "hot dog" has been popularized through various forms of media, including movies, television shows, and advertisements, which have helped to solidify its place in the American lexicon.
In summary, the translation of "hot dog" as such is a result of a combination of historical events, cultural practices, and linguistic evolution. The term originated from a specific event involving cheerleaders and a cartoonist, and it was popularized through the efforts of vendors and the influence of American slang. Today, "hot dog" is a well-known and widely used term in the United States and around the world, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and linguistic diversity of American English.