Even if you don’t understand a single word of German, you’ll be able to probably scan and understand the following German text. Did you recognize that English and German descended from the same language? (Proto-Germanic) Many words in both languages are the identical or similar.

A link to the current story’s translation will be provided at the end of this article.

* GERMAN STORY *

Guten Tag! Mein Name ist Monika. Ich bin Autorin. Ich habe einen Bruder namens Bob. Bob ist auch Autor. Ich bin Bobs Literaturagentin. Er schreibt interessante Artikel und Bücher. Er schreibt im Moment ein neues Buch. Der Titel ist: «Das Telefon klingelt für Dich.» Letztes Jahr hatte er 2 Bücher auf der Bestsellerliste.

Bob lebt in Kanada – in Montreal. Er ist 30 Jahre alt, mit blondem Haar und blauen Augen. Er hat ein altes Auto. Freitags fährt er mit dem Auto zum Supermarkt.

Im Supermarkt findet er Kaffee, Tee, Mineralwasser, Milch, Zucker, Butter usw. für Mutter. Er findet auch Frucht wie Bananen, Äpfel, Orangen usw. Dann geht er zur Bank und wartet eine Weile auf Mutter. Er fährt danach mit Mutter nach Hause und parkt sein Auto.

Das Haus ist weiß und blau. Es hat einen Garten mit wundervollen Blumen und luxuriösem grünem Gras.

Im Haus sitzt Bob auf dem Sofa und trinkt oft ein Glas Bier oder Wein und hört Radio (laut). Mutter sagt: «Bob! Das Radio ist zu laut!» Bob lacht und geht in den Garten.

Im Sommer, wenn die Sonne scheint, sitzt Bob im Garten. Wenn Mutter can, mäht Bob das Gras.

Im Winter schaufelt er den Schnee oder sitzt im Haus beim Feuer.

Meine Mutter hat eine Katze namens Löwe. Löwe ist braun, grau und orange. Sie miaut, wenn sie Bob sieht, springt auf Bobs Knie und schnurrt laut. Mutter hat auch einen Hund – namens Bär. Bär ist ein Dachshund.

Ach! es ist spät – Mitternacht. Ich muss zu Bett gehen. Gute Nacht! Ich schreibe mehr morgen früh.

* MORE EXAMPLES *

Winter kommt im November.

Sommer kommt im Juni.

Die Toilette ist beige.

Das Papier ist weiß.

Meine Hand hat zehn Finger.

Mein Arm ist gebrochen.

Wir haben eine Party!

Bring den Salat hier!

Der Mann tanzt und singt.

Der Wind ist eisig.

Die Tomate ist reif.

Das kostet 5 Dollar.

Komm hier!

Er hat Hunger und Durst.

Der Film beginnt um 8.

Sie fotografiert die Familie.

* HOW DID IT GO? *

Maybe you didn’t understand the German text completely. Browse it a second – and then a third time.

If you’re observant, you will notice a few details:

*German sometimes uses a ‘K’ instead of a arduous ‘C’: Canada=Kanada, Monica=Monika.

*The English ‘ph’ typically becomes ‘f’: telephone=Telefon.

*Nouns are capitalized: fruit=Frucht, milk=Milch, butter=Butter, sugar=Zucker.

*Possessives are not formed with an apostrophe + s: brother’s=Bruders.

*The English ’sh’ becomes ’sch’: shines=scheint, shovels=schaufelt.

*Many words are specifically the same: Winter, November, Finger, Party, Wind, Hunger, Film.

Currently that you have got some hints, you can probably scan the German text again and perceive even more. Assume of the words in context, and allow your mind to fill within the blanks.

Related words, like those above, with common ancestral roots are referred to as ‘cognates’. There are a number of, many a lot of than those presented here.

Over the years, but, many words that used to mean the identical factor in both languages have evolved and have acquired different connotations. For instance, the old German word for ‘wife’ – ‘Weib’ is these days typically applied in a very deprecating manner. It might be utilized in a phrase meaning ‘you crazy girl!’ or in instances where an English person would say ‘broad’ or ‘dame’.

The German word ‘Gift’ will not mean ‘gift’ – it suggests that ‘poison’.

The purpose that is being made here, however, is that you must actively search for similarities. Over time you may discover the exceptions. You will feel comfortable with the similarities and kind a foundation on that you’ll build. The learning task then becomes less daunting – and even enjoyable.

Over the centuries the planet has become a melting pot of cultures and languages. Several words and phrases have crossed borders. Globalization – spurred by newspapers, radio, TV, the web, and jet travel – has accelerated the process. We have a tendency to usually use foreign-derived words while not even realizing – angst, soup du jour, restaurant au lait, poltergeist, bona fide, carte blanche, nom de plume, savoir-faire . . .

Every time you come to a replacement text passage, scan it to search out what you already understand (or will guess) for a general sense of what it means. Then tackle the unknown parts.

Your learning can progress more quickly as a result.

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Recently, a trend has developed in high faculties and communities round the United States. Several folks need to or are now learning the Chinese language. This could be a sensible turn of events, but it can conjointly be problematic. This can be particularly thus for people who know nothing concerning Chinese culture, history and therefore the state of affairs in China today.

In mainland China they no longer use the ancient Chinese characters that go hand in hand with Chinese history. For some reason, the Chinese Communist Party decided to change the Chinese language and thereby modification the vehicle for written communication.

Traditional Chinese characters evolved naturally over a amount of time from pictographs or little drawings. By contrast the simplified Chinese created by the Chinese Communist Party has watered several of the ancient characters down to the purpose that they now not are rooted in additional ancient traditions.

Here is an example. The traditional Chinese character for the word ‘love’ contains a picture of a heart in it. This makes sense as a result of love is closely associated to the heart. Not thus in simplified Chinese. There is no heart in the word ‘love’ in simplified Chinese. One may ponder how you can love without a heart.

Simply as this instance shows, in several ways the Chinese Communist Party has removed the guts of the entire language, distorting and altering it into a water downed version of its former self. In Taiwan, however, they still use ancient characters.

So if your community or kids’s school is planning to show Chinese, you’ll would like to confirm that you’re getting the traditional variety. It a lot of totally encompasses the wealthy history of China and also the Chinese people. By distinction, people who teach our children simplified Chinese are from mainland China and sadly, they can also be passing on the values and ideas of the Chinese Communist Party. Whether or not they do thus on purpose or automatically as a results of growing up in that setting, the top result is the same. Solely you’ll decide if you would like the influence of the Chinese Communist Party imparted to your children.

Be positive to insist that our kids are taught ancient Chinese and not the simplified version. This method the richness of ancient Chinese culture will be more totally enjoyed and appreciated. There will be a additional solid foundation to understand the a lot of ancient Chinese traditions.

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