Responses To Expect When Traveling In Germany
October 20, 2007 by Admin - LearnGermanLanguage.org · 2 Comments
Learning the German language has many advantages especially if you’re a foreigner taking a walk down German streets. There’s one fact that you need to realize too. Although learning the language could give you numerous praises and benefits, you have to be careful in using it as well.
Our nationalities differ from one country to the next. If there’s anything you’re accustomed to doing in you’re own country, think twice before you attempt in doing it in another nation. If you visit Germany or get into a conversation with a German speaking person, an important point you need to remember is the way how you carry a conversation.
Don’t ever forget that the German language has a distinction between formal and informal conversation. If you’re unsure how to respond to the German speaking person you’re talking to, better stick to the rules of the language. Another thing is that you may find easy to learn and remember the basics of the language (greetings, common phrases) but in any way, do not get confused with the response you’re going to get. You’re not in your own country anymore so expect changes from the people around.
Shopping in Germany can be exciting; what with your skill to talk to the sales person in German. But don’t get offended if German staff just doesn’t warm up to you; it’s not being rude or anything so just move on with your German adventures.
Also, remember that Germans appreciate it more if you can talk to them in their own language. Putting all your efforts and hard work in learning the language wouldn’t be as rewarding as when you start to put it to test with a native German speaker.
But if you think you can’t handle it any longer and you feel the need to express what you want to say in pure English, you can always turn to someone and say “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” (SHPREKH-en zee ENG-lish), which means “Do you speak English?” and you’ll surely get the response you need.
How hard of a language is German to learn?
October 10, 2007 by Admin - LearnGermanLanguage.org · 7 Comments
In the grand scheme of things, how hard is it to learn German? I am fluent in English and have studied 3 1/2 years of French and am wanting to take up a new language. How hard is German to learn? Is it hard to learn German when you are used to a romance language such as French? OR is German a bit easier since it is a teutonic language like English? Thanks in advance!
If you knew Latin it would be much easier to learn the German language.
But even if you knew Latin German is much harder to learn.
The adjective shows three declination-schemes depending on which accompanying word you have to choose (definite article, indefinite article or no article).
P. ex.
the great man
der groß-e Mann
a great man
ein groß-er Mann
great man
groß-er Mann
You have to differentiate and learn four cases:
Nom.: der Mann
Gen.: des Mann-es
Dat.: dem Mann
Akk.: den Mann
Linked with the definite article and an adjective you got:
Nom.: der groß-e Mann
Gen.: des groß-en Mann-es
Dat.: dem groß-en Mann
Akk.: den groß-en Mann
If you have to use the indefinite article you got:
Nom: ein groß-er Mann
Gen.: ein-es groß-en Mann-es
Dat.: ein-em groß-en Mann
Akk.: ein-en groß-en Mann
Without any article you got the same forms without the indefinite article:
Nom: groß-er Mann
Gen.: groß-en Mann-es
Dat.: groß-em Mann
Akk.: groß-en Mann
This is the masculine gender; in German you have also the feminine and the neuter gender:
the man – the woman – the child
der Mann – die Frau – das Kind
Okay, masculine and neuter gender are declinated similarily, except of the Akk. neutr. which is formally identical with the Nominative (as in Latin).
This is much harder than in French where no declination is found.
Somewhat likened these both languages are in their conjugation of the verbs – this conjugation shows a multifarious picture of forms and irregular verbs.
Take the personal endings of a regular verb in present time:
fragen (to ask)
ich frag-e
du frag-st
er/sie/es frag-t
wir frag-en
ihr frag-t
sie frag-en
German is my maternal language and I estimate it – but as we natural speakers of German say:
"Deutsche Sprach', schwere Sprach'." That means:
"German language is a hard language."
But hey, we love it – otherwise there wouldn't so much stuff to discuss and argue.
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