The German Language -- Die Deutsche Sprach

I have not become virtually conversationally fluent in German. I can understand almost everything conversationally, but not necessarily in school as this requires knowledge of lots of technical terms. Although with reading I am still struggling as well with speaking. I have found that more than gaining alot of German vocabulary I am forgetting English. Students frequently ask me questions about grammar, spelling, word usage and/or translations and I am completely at a loss. But I thought that now that I am getting a better grip on German I should compose a blog concerning the German language and its unique properties and how difficult it is to translate German concepts into English.

The German language leads to a completely new way of thinking. In their hearts, Germans believe no foreigner can speak the language properly. In fact, they believe only those of their region speak German properly. Having been learning the Berliner dialect, I can say that there is nothing more barbarous than the Bavarian version of the language and I am sure the feelings are well reciprocated. Each bundesstadt in Germany has its own dialect.

German is a remarkably felxible language. New words are easily and frequently made up. You simply take two, three, or any number of existing words and stick them alltogetherlikethis. This does not just create a new word, but a whole new concept, explaining why the German psyche is so complicated and well atuned for philosophy and psychology. For example, in a park the notice "Astbruchgefahr" informs you in one swift glance that you are within "branch-dropping-off-danger."

A slight and complicated alternative is to create a long string of words and then omit all of the sounds you don't like and smash it all back together. This is especially popular with words dealing with the government. For example "Staatssicherheitsdienst" is the State Security service of the GDR).

Many are startled at first glance when viewing a page of German text. The words are so long! It is common for a newspaper article to consist of just four or five words but take up two small columns. The same is true in German books. I am currently reading a book my Thomas Mann, a famous German author who managed to write a one thousand paged book which is divided into half a dozen paragraphs.

But the beautiful thing about the construction of the German language is that it has given rise to many new and innovative notions and ideas contained in a single word unmatchable in expression by other languages. As Mark Twain once said, "Some German words are so long that they have a perspective." For example:

Realpolitik: The pursuit of political advantage or survival. So it is like when someone of superior standing drops something heavy on your foot and you say, "No really, it doesn't hurt."

Schadenfreude: This is the emotion you feel when you find satisfaction upon hearing of another's downfall. Other languages are very coy about honouring such a feeling with a whole word of its own so consequently, everyone else uses the German one.

Weltschmerz: So you woke up late, missed the bus, spilt coffee on your shirt, recieved a speeding ticket, got caught in the rain, and came home to find your dog has barfed all over the new carpet. This feeling is weltschmerz.

Froemmelei: This is the saccharine-coated pity expressed by annoying televangelists who tell you their God urgently wants you to send them money, and who are subsequently found in bed with three people all named Tammy only two of whom are female. In relation to culture, it describes people who have never read Shakespeare, but reverently refer to him as "the Bard".

Zeitgeist: This is an invaluable word when discussion German literature or cinima. This word litteraly translates to "the spirit of the age". This is a cue for sighing and lookign world-weary. It basically refers to a rather realist nature.

Vergangenheitsbewaeltigung: The sum total of difficulties a nation encounters in struggling to come to terms with a troubled past. This word perfectly encompasses the feeling one gets and the culture one experiences in Germany.

The classic longest word in German is "donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskaptiaen," although many German words can boast to be over 80 characters long. There is really no such thing as the longest German word... "die laengeste deutsch Wort?" Most of the "longest" German words are simply creations rarely used in common speech but mainly dealing with government offices or numbers. Even a German Scrabble board like the English, has room for only 15 letters.