What are you doing about languages? (German language primer)

[Wizhawk]

Everyone in Germany speaks English. Most of them speak it better than us. Nobody should have any trouble communicating.

So you are saying that Germans would know to use "we" instead of "us", right?
:D

[MikeLastort2]

Doesn't look too heavy.

Oddly enough, the German word for heavy is schwer, which is also the German word for difficult or hard.

:D

[JBigjake]

Oddly enough, the German word for heavy is schwer, which is also the German word for difficult or hard.:D
Aren't schwer words banned in this forum?
P.S. I'm trying to find my copy of this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563052946/soccerphile-20/002-3159922-7979242
So far my search has only tunred up my Korean phrasebook!

[REVS FAN 1]

The first translates literally to "I am warm," and the second to "it is warm to me."

The problem I encountered is that "ich bin warm" is an idiom for "I am gay."

But in your case Mike, they BOTH apply:eek:

Not that there's anything wrong with that:D

Kidding aside, you'll be glad to know that all of us up here in New England are Steeler fans for the day!

GO STEELERS!

[AGF Aarhus]

My parents and lots of other relatives of mine can't speak English at all and there are lots more.

Have to agree. This idea that everybody speaks English is completely wrong. My girlfriend speaks perfect English. Her brother and parents barely speak a word. about half of her friends speak English well, while the other half are useless.

I also have a lot of relatives in Germany and only three of the 50 or so I have met speak passable English. By passable I mean able to give simple directions and answer very basic questions. The others, if for instance asked 'Where is the train station?', would respond with a blank stare.

[Shibb]

Aren't schwer words banned in this forum?
P.S. I'm trying to find my copy of this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563052946/soccerphile-20/002-3159922-7979242
So far my search has only tunred up my Korean phrasebook!

Touristenwurst!?! :eek:

[roadkit]

Aren't schwer words banned in this forum?
P.S. I'm trying to find my copy of this: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563052946/soccerphile-20/002-3159922-7979242
So far my search has only tunred up my Korean phrasebook!

Try this link for the German phrasebook: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887299520/104-3267522-7311112?v=glance&n=283155

$7.95 - a bargain at twice the price!

[Shibb]

Try this link for the German phrasebook: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887299520/104-3267522-7311112?v=glance&n=283155

$7.95 - a bargain at twice the price!

I linked that in a previous page. But I think you missed his point. He's linking to a book called "Wicked German", part of the Wicked Travel series. Here's a review from Soccerphile:


Not really a phrasebook more a satire on Germany and the Germans, Wicked German For The Traveler is part of a series of pocket phrase books covering the major languages. Thematically based in seven major sections - entertainment, transport, accommodation etc., this short book is, depending on your mindset regarding the subject matter, either hilariously funny or puerile tripe. I seriously doubt the phrases presented would cut much ice with your average native speaker, mind you. Take your pick from such gems as: "You have an unconscious wish that I eat your sauerkraut," and "The aftertaste is reminiscent of ballbearings" which come with German and phonetic transliteration.

For those of you with a similar bent, here's an important phrase I didn't learn until I lived in Germany (not generally taught in courses): Scheiss egal! And here's usage in a sentence. "What was Hugh Dallas thinking when he didn't call a handball there?!? SCHEISS EGAL!!"

[AGF Aarhus]

'Scheiss egal' means 'I don't give a sh!t' and is both very useful and common. I'm not sure if it really applys to Hugh Dallas, as I imagine I would like to know what he was thinking. My example sentence:

'Do you prefer blonds or brunettes?'

'Scheiss egal, so lange die grosse titten haben!'

[Shibb]

'Scheiss egal' means 'I don't give a sh!t' and is both very useful and common. I'm not sure if it really applys to Hugh Dallas, as I imagine I would like to know what he was thinking. My example sentence:

'Do you prefer blonds or brunettes?'

'Scheiss egal, so lange die grosse titten haben!'

I've heard it used as "it doesn't matter" and in the sense of "screw that" or even where I'd use "motherf&cker!" It's all in the context. It's literally more "It's all ********", isn't it?

[AGF Aarhus]

I haven't heard it in that context. I'll defer to a native speaker.

It's literally 'It's sh!t to me' (Es ist mir scheiss egal), which of course makes no sense in English.

What I usually hear in the situation you described is 'blöde Scheisse!' or 'verdammted Scheisse!', but again I'll defer to a native speaker. As you say, these terms don't normally popup in classes or guidebooks, so the fact that I haven't heard it used in your context certainly doesn't mean that it's wrong.

In place of a term to describe copulation with ones mother (god I hate trying to find ways to describe profane language here), I've found the standard is 'Kinderficker'.

[billreeves]

OK, here's another post in the ongoing series of German language primers.

The German alphabet.

Most of the letters sound the same as they do in English. Some of the exceptions:

German W sounds like English V. In the list of who/what/where/when/why given back in post #38, the German equivalents are "wer/was/wo/wann/warum" but each of those words starts with a V sound, so they sound like "verr / vass / voh / vahn / varoom". For the most part, whenever you see a W, just pretend to be Colonel Klink from Hogan's Heroes "Ve have vays of makingk you talk!" and you'll be fine.

German V sounds like English F. The term "wieviele" means "how much" -- for example, if you're in a store and you point at something and say "wieviele" the shopkeeper will tell you how much it costs. It's pronounced "vee feela."

German J sounds like English Y. "Ja" (yes) is pronounced like "Ya". Again, think Colonel Klink.

German does not have a "th" sound. That's why many of the Germans you know, when they speak English, will say "zis" or "dis" instead of "this" -- they're just not used to the "th" sound. If you see "th" in a word it usually just sounds like a "t", but it's not that common, except in words imported from English (like "Theater", prounounced "tayater").

German Z sounds like English "ts" -- "Zimmer" (room) is pronounced "tsimmer" but they will probably understand you if you use the regular English Z sound.

Here (http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/pronounce/) is a site that I found which has some examples of all of the different letters with pronunciation. Enjoy!

[Shibb]

German Z sounds like English "ts" -- "Zimmer" (room) is pronounced "tsimmer" but they will probably understand you if you use the regular English Z sound.



An easy way to handle this is to pronounce it like the "zz" in pizza.

[DCU]

An easy way to handle this is to pronounce it like the "zz" in pizza.
Please don't follow this advice. I teach German. Go with the "ts".

[MikeLastort2]

Please don't follow this advice. I teach German. Go with the "ts".

I don't know about you, but I pronounce the word "pizza" as "peatsah."

:)

[Wizhawk]

Please don't follow this advice. I teach German. Go with the "ts".

How do you say pizza?

[Shibb]

Please don't follow this advice. I teach German. Go with the "ts".

For people with odd pronounciations of pizza, you can go with the "ts" sound in tse-tse fly.


:D

[Alex_K]

Here (http://www.ex.ac.uk/german/abinitio/pronounce/) is a site that I found which has some examples of all of the different letters with pronunciation. Enjoy!

If we're talking pronounciations, this needs to be repeated (copied from the site linked above) - seriously, I don't know how often I have seen the pronounciation described wrong on Bigsoccer alone :D:

"Ch" is a German sound which causes English speakers severe problems as it does not occur naturally in the English language, and varies in sound depending on its position in the word and the sound which precedes it.

1. "Ch" following the sounds "a", "o", "u", or the diphthong "au"
The Scots are at a distinct advantage here however, as the sound required is the one heard in "Loch Ness". Or imagine the rasping guttural sound made in the back of your throat before you spit!

2. "Ch" following "e", "i", "ä", "ö", "ü", the diphthongs "eu" or "äu" and the consonants "l", "n" or "r".
Whereas "ch" in the previous instance was a sound formed in the back of the mouth, this is one formed in the front of the mouth. Imagine saying the English words "humour" or "humane", but breathe with the tip of the tongue touching the back of the lower front teeth.

5. The sound "chs"
The German "chs" is pronounced like the English words "oxen" and "vixen" as a clear "ks" sound

6. The sound "ck"
The German sound "ck" behaves just like the English consonant "k". The vowel preceding it is always short and stressed.

[FCBblaze]

Ich finde Deutsch sehr einfach. Es ist so wie Englisch. Alle sollen Deutsch lernen. Unfortunately, German wasn't the most practical language to take in the US. Oops. Ich liebe Deutsch und ich glaube dass es eine schöne Sprache ist.

Spater!

[Alex_K]

If you see "th" in a word it usually just sounds like a "t", but it's not that common, except in words imported from English (like "Theater", prounounced "tayater").

Not that I want to take anything away from the English language, but I would guess that the origins of those words (like Theater) are in almost all cases Greek or Latin ;).