Learning the German language
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Learning the German language
Hi,
As a United States resident we only have the option of learning French or Spanish, however I’ve taken an interest into German.
I was hoping that some native or new German speakers would be willing to give me some tips. I am fairly fluent in French if that helps.
Thanks!
As a United States resident we only have the option of learning French or Spanish, however I’ve taken an interest into German.
I was hoping that some native or new German speakers would be willing to give me some tips. I am fairly fluent in French if that helps.
Thanks!
We don’t know what paradise is like, but probably it’s blue magenta, flecked with pink. But even if it’s green and red-checked we should make the most of it. -Boron saying
Re: Learning the German language
My real life atempt to learn German:
- I walk to book store to pick random learning course
- open on random page and read random phrase
- "I do not know these women"
- open again on random page and read random phrase
- "send my regards to your (male) spouse"
- I put book away and walk away
- I walk to book store to pick random learning course
- open on random page and read random phrase
- "I do not know these women"
- open again on random page and read random phrase
- "send my regards to your (male) spouse"
- I put book away and walk away
- X2-Illuminatus
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Re: Learning the German language
First of all: good choice! German is a great language. If you learned French already, then that is certainly helpful, as you learned certain aspects of grammar which are not as distinct in English as they are in German or French. German grammar is still a bit more complicated than French. German also does not share as many words with English, as English does with French. And a lot of words that do look and sound similar may mean something completely different: False friends. So at first, learning German means remembering a lot of irregularities.
On the plus side, German is easier to pronounce than French and has some nice features, such as compound words. Also, once you've got the hang of things like having three genders for nouns, it comes in really handy when having to write texts.
As a native speaker, I don't have any specific advice I can give you for learning German. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
On the plus side, German is easier to pronounce than French and has some nice features, such as compound words. Also, once you've got the hang of things like having three genders for nouns, it comes in really handy when having to write texts.
As a native speaker, I don't have any specific advice I can give you for learning German. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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Re: Learning the German language
I am not as enthusastic as X2 regarding your French skills, because those are two completely distinct languages. Sometimes I wonder how so different cultures and languages could develop along one border
Pro German:
- Everything is pronounced as is it written.
- Many, relatively speaking, words make some sense: Fridge = Kühlschrank -> Kühl-Schrank = Cooling cabinet, which is nice. To some degree we also like to develop our own words by putting other words desciptively together, in every day language
Con German:
- Similar in french [le, la, les -> Der Die Das] prepare yourself to hate them. They don't make any sense. Not even to German native speakers. We are more often then not arguing about them.
According to them a girl is an object, a box is female while cartons are male. Most of the time it is just a feeling of what sounds right.
Which is also my "advice" to get you an idea of where your journey is going.
Pro German:
- Everything is pronounced as is it written.
- Many, relatively speaking, words make some sense: Fridge = Kühlschrank -> Kühl-Schrank = Cooling cabinet, which is nice. To some degree we also like to develop our own words by putting other words desciptively together, in every day language
Con German:
- Similar in french [le, la, les -> Der Die Das] prepare yourself to hate them. They don't make any sense. Not even to German native speakers. We are more often then not arguing about them.
According to them a girl is an object, a box is female while cartons are male. Most of the time it is just a feeling of what sounds right.
Which is also my "advice" to get you an idea of where your journey is going.
Code: Select all
Und wenn ein Forenbösewicht, was Ungezogenes spricht, dann hol' ich meinen Kaktus und der sticht sticht sticht.
/l、
゙(゚、 。 7
l、゙ ~ヽ /
じしf_, )ノ
- X2-Illuminatus
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Re: Learning the German language
German and French are certainly different. No need to argue about that. What I meant with regards to grammar is that comming from a language like English which only uses a neutral gender for nouns and often simple forms of declensions (if at all), it certainly helps when you've been introduced to a more distinct usage of these grammatical concepts. French also has lots of irregularities. Whereby that is probably true for a lot of languages.
My favourite example for that is "der Bus", "die Bahn", "das Auto". Three things (bus, train, car), still three different articles. However, while it requires a lot of time learning these genders - and it's really just that learning - it's super helpful for writing, when you can refer to these things with different (relative) pronouns.
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Re: Learning the German language
Why does 'e' in 'klein' sound more like 'a'?
Goner Pancake Protector X
Insanity included at no extra charge.
There is no Box. I am the sand.
Insanity included at no extra charge.
There is no Box. I am the sand.
Re: Learning the German language
Because it is combined with an i (ei). They build a "doublephone", that is two letters that are pronounced as a single phone, "ai" in this case.
They can be seen as an additional letter and are simple to learn because they are very consistent.
ei = ai - or just an English pronounced i
ie = stretched i
eu/äu = pronounced as "oü"
ch = imagine a cat hissing but very short
sch = equivalent to English shhh
Code: Select all
Und wenn ein Forenbösewicht, was Ungezogenes spricht, dann hol' ich meinen Kaktus und der sticht sticht sticht.
/l、
゙(゚、 。 7
l、゙ ~ヽ /
じしf_, )ノ
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Re: Learning the German language
Thanks Tamina and X2,
Sounds like I have quite a bit to learn. How does plurality work in German? Also, How does past and present tense work?
Besides for the genderization of words, do they have a certain spelling based on the gender they refer to. Like
In English, blond if it’s a guy, blonde if it’s a girl
Sounds like I have quite a bit to learn. How does plurality work in German? Also, How does past and present tense work?
Besides for the genderization of words, do they have a certain spelling based on the gender they refer to. Like
In English, blond if it’s a guy, blonde if it’s a girl
We don’t know what paradise is like, but probably it’s blue magenta, flecked with pink. But even if it’s green and red-checked we should make the most of it. -Boron saying
- X2-Illuminatus
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Re: Learning the German language
No, there isn't.Teladi CEO wrote: ↑Tue, 26. Jan 21, 01:04Besides for the genderization of words, do they have a certain spelling based on the gender they refer to. Like
In English, blond if it’s a guy, blonde if it’s a girl
I thought a bit about it, but I didn't manage to come up with concise rules. There are certain plural endings "-n, -en, -e, -r, -er, -s", which are used based on the singular form and gender of the noun. This website has a nice overview. But there are too many possible combinations, and as mentioned on the website, "there are many exceptions to these rules". (For example: singular "der Baum" (the tree), plural "die Bäume" (the trees)). Therefore, my advice for learning vocabularies is to always learn the singular and plural form at the same time.
That's a bit easier. Verbs usually have an infinitive form, for example "machen" (to make). You remove the infinitive ending "-en" and depending on the tense and personal pronoun you add a new ending:
For present tense that would be
Code: Select all
(I) ich -e -> Ich mache
(you) du -st -> du machst
(he/she/it) er/sie/es -t -> er/sie/es macht
(we) wir -en -> wir machen
(you plural) ihr -t -> ihr macht
(they) sie -en -> sie machen
Code: Select all
(I) ich -te -> Ich machte
(you) du -test -> du machtest
(he/she/it) er/sie/es -te -> er/sie/es machte
(we) wir -ten -> wir machten
(you plural) ihr -tet -> ihr machtet
(they) sie -ten -> sie machten
Again, the website from above has a nice overview and some helpful explanations.
I had to chuckle.
For pronounciation of "eu/äu" I would think that "oi" (or "oy") is closer. (Not sure if many English speaking folks know what "ü" sounds like.)
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Re: Learning the German language
If you have some (phonetic) background in French then "rue" (street) is precisely the sound (without the "r" ofc). Concerning the German phonetics of "ch" it's the same as the Welsh "ll" (double L) as in Llandeilo. Of coure I'm aware that many (if not all) English folks have difficulties to pronounce thatX2-Illuminatus wrote: ↑Tue, 26. Jan 21, 21:01................(Not sure if many English speaking folks know what "ü" sounds like.)
Cheers Euclid
"In any special doctrine of nature there can be only as much proper science as there is mathematics therein.”
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Metaphysical Foundations of the Science of Nature, 4:470, 1786
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Metaphysical Foundations of the Science of Nature, 4:470, 1786
- X2-Illuminatus
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Re: Learning the German language
"rue" is indeed a great example.
But I digress, so how's your German these days, euclid?
That on the other hand is a horrible example. When you listen to someone speaking Welsh, it sounds so nice. And then you see a written text, and it just looks so incomprehensible.
But I digress, so how's your German these days, euclid?
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Re: Learning the German language
Heheh, true. I live here more than 20 years now and still struggle to pronounce some of the Welsh words. Mind you, there are even words without any vocalsX2-Illuminatus wrote: ↑Tue, 26. Jan 21, 22:08"rue" is indeed a great example.
That on the other hand is a horrible example. When you listen to someone speaking Welsh, it sounds so nice. And then you see a written text, and it just looks so incomprehensible.
Spoken is still pretty good as we talk (most of the time) German at home. Written is a different issue. I kind of gave up after the 2nd(?) "Reform" of the German "Rechtschreibung", in particular things like Foto and Delfin, omg!!But I digress, so how's your German these days, euclid?
Cheers Euclid
"In any special doctrine of nature there can be only as much proper science as there is mathematics therein.”
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Metaphysical Foundations of the Science of Nature, 4:470, 1786
- Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), Metaphysical Foundations of the Science of Nature, 4:470, 1786
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Re: Learning the German language
Thanks to everyone for the help, you’ve given me the basics to learn German.
Now I just need to cut a hole in my schedule for time to learn German
Now I just need to cut a hole in my schedule for time to learn German
We don’t know what paradise is like, but probably it’s blue magenta, flecked with pink. But even if it’s green and red-checked we should make the most of it. -Boron saying
- X2-Illuminatus
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Re: Learning the German language
You're welcome.
Then you probably missed the reform of the reform. Nowadays, The Duden distinguishes between a recommended spelling and an alternative spelling. So, in theory both spellings "Delfin" and "Delphin" are okay to use, but the former is the recommended form.
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Re: Learning the German language
First of all, French ist NOT a language, it's an accident!
Second, good choice to learn one of the most fun languages in the world. I appreciate!
Second, good choice to learn one of the most fun languages in the world. I appreciate!
... what is a drop of rain, compared to the storm? ... what is a thought, compared to the mind? ... our unity is full of wonder which your tiny individualism cannot even conceive ... I've heard it all before ... you're saying nothing new ... I thought I saw a rainbow ... but I guess it wasn't true ... you cannot make me listen ... I cannot make you hear ... you find your way to heaven ... I'll meet you when you're there ...