German continues to be a source of inspiration in many ways. The fact that it is still a cryptic language for many is not a novelty. Learning German is for many an impossible task due to, amongst other things, the many consonants placed close to each other and the rigid pronunciation of words. The structure […]
Today we would like to talk about a very special book, How to be German (in 50 easy steps). It is an unpretentious manual whose intention is to transform the reader in a perfect teutonic mutant, with all the merits, tribulations and idiosyncrasies that derive from it. Supported by ironic illustrations for each step it […]
For many foreigners coming to Germany without any knowledge of the language, it is quite reassuring to know that worst comes to worst they can rely on English. It won’t take long to realize that a lot of Germans speak it very well considering that it is their second language (better than Italians, to pick […]
Do you want to read books in German without paying or risking of spending money on texts that you can’t fully understand because the language is too complicated?? Amazon allows you to download for free a list of books written or translated in German for Kindle (eBook). From “Ein Koffer voller Vorurteile” by Loki Miller […]
It’s called Found in Translation and it is a very interesting graphic project realized by Anjana Iyer, presented in occasion of the initiative 100 days Project (The repeating of a creative task for 100 consecutive days and recording of each days efforts). At the heart of the illustrations of this graphic designer from New Zealand are words that have a […]
It’s not enough that it is a language with thousands of inflexible grammatical rules, with words that have a difficult meaning to perceive and sounds at times almost impossible to pronounce. German, despite its reputation of being a rational language, at times presents cases when these rules are not rationally justified and lead to absurd […]
It’s true, actresses, actors and singers have a talent when it comes to the recognition and reproduction of sound. German however remains a language that few people, at least in the past generations, decided to learn unless it was for work reasons. What follows is a list (partly inspired from the one made by Smosh) […]
When deciding to learn a new language, the first thing that comes to mind is to find an adequate language course that can ideally fit in our everyday schedule. But what about a good TV series? Lessons are undoubtedly a fundamental point for departure when learning a language, but at times it might not be […]
Linguists call it Kurzdeutsch (abbreviated German) or Kiezdeutsch (German from the neighborhood, a less common denomination) when referring to the variations of the spoken language as opposed to the standardized version found on books and practiced in language classes. Anyone approaching the study of German might have a hard time with the declination of articles, […]
If it is true that in order to understand the culture of a place you have to know the language, it is essential to understand the dialect spoken in our beloved city: the Berlinerisch. This folkloristic dialect, known for its sarcastic and often rude tones, is loved by many in Germany. Adored by the […]