Alright, I bite on this one.

The English word "people" is still the closest to the German word "Volk" 
even though they are not exactly the same. The is another word in German 
"Leute" which can also be translated with "people".
"Volk" can mean a nation in its entirety "mein Volk", but it also means 
"common people" different from aristocracy or leaders. This has been used 
by the Nazis as propaganda in terms like "das deutsche Volk" (the German 
people) to signify the will of "the people" or the (assumed) majority 
against another group.
You could not use "Volk" in English sentences like "they are my kind of 
people"; you would then rather use the German word "Leute". The English 
word "folk" or "folks" is also not an equivalent to the German "Volk". the 
use of German nouns are quite specific. Instead of "my folks" you would 
probably say "meine Verwandte" (my relatives) or in a very casual way one 
could say "meine Leute".
The word "Volkswagen" reflects the idea that this is a car for everyone, 
for common people. It means affordable and somewhat lower class. I remember 
a discussion a little more than 20 years ago where the head of VW (I think 
it was Hahn) said that Volkswagen would never build a car with an engine 
larger than 2L and not be in competition with Mercedes Benz or BMW.

Well that was then.

Bj�rn

PS The second part "Wagen" means "car" but it can also be used in other 
combinations where the English word carriage might be more appropriate, 
i.e. "Pferdewagen" (horse carriage). But generally when you would say "mein 
Wagen" you would assume it means "my car". To be more specific you would 
have to use the word "Auto" (car).

PPS If you would use the term "Volksauto" - which is not really used - then 
it would even underline more strongly that this is a vehicle for common 
people. In German you can also use the word "Vehikel" which is a slightly 
derogatory term for a car.

PPPS You asked....

At 12:00 AM 10/19/02 -0400, you wrote:

>David Beierl wrote:
>
> > I'm wondering if anyone here has a good understanding or reference for the
> > term "Volk" as in Volkswagen...I'm reading something (_Himmler_ by Peter
> > Padfield, MJF Books 1990) that reminds me that "People" seems to be an
> > entirely inadequate translation.
> >
> > thanks,
> > david
> >
> > --
> > David Beierl - Providence, RI
> >   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> > '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> > '85 GL "Poor Relation"

Bj�rn Ratjen
Mill Bay, B.C.

1987 Vanagon Syncro est alia (self camperized, TDI )
1978 VW Bulli (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD Wagon (hers)
1970 VW Beetle (now mine, err son's again)
1991 Jetta TD (now son's, err mine again)
1986 Jetta TD (daughter's)
1986 Jetta TD (mine)
1982 Westy Vanagon Diesel (son's)