Just be glad you dont speak German.

[FelixDeCat]

So the other day I was youtubbing around and decided I must learn German. Immediately.

So I thought I would start trying to read it as part of the immersion process. Along the way I wondered why certain paragraghs contained a lot of capitalized words. Surely they couldnt be referring to proper names, places or things that frequently!

Therefore I endeavored to find the answer. Apparently Germans capitalize all nouns in a sentence. They also DO NOT capitalize "I" when referring to oneself but DO capitalize the word you (formal -Sie) but not the familiar version of you (du).

Even worse, starting in 1998 they tried to reform spelling rules that were last updated in 1901. Schools were teaching it and media was adopting it. Then Der Spiegal revolted and went back to the old ways. Others followed in popular resistance to the new rules. Germans in other countries never adopted the reforms.

http://german.about.com/od/grammar/a/rechtschrb2004.htm

So good luck figuring out what is what over there. :|


In the meantime, heres some:

well spoken German - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD0pjVNN-v0

and some

"Gerbonic" gibberish - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jk4IyJouP8

 

[TheVrolok]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6mndRtsS88

 

[FelixDeCat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6mndRtsS88

ha ha, love it :biggrin:

 

[Kirby]

Meh, I took 3 classes in college and didn't have a problem with the caps. The gender of nouns were the worst part.

 

[GTaudiophile]

German is fabulous because you can combine nouns to form new words on the fly.

Like this one:

Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

(There should be no spaces in the above word.)

When traslated into English, this single word becomes a phrase:

"Association for subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services"

 

[FelixDeCat]

German is fabulous because you can combine nouns to form new words on the fly.

Like this one:

Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

(There should be no spaces in the above word.)

I like the sound of the language and have tried to learn it before when I was supposed to be stationed there in 1990. The only thing I picked up was "mein frau". :biggrin:

 

[GTaudiophile]

Meine Frau

 

[eLiu]

What? German is like the easiest European language. Compared to say French, English, or Spanish, its grammar and spelling rules are by far the simplest and most consistent.

I'm glad I learned some German in HS. I basically never use it now though, except when I run across some German amateur porn. It's hot to know what those chicks are saying

 

[FelixDeCat]

Meine Frau

Oops.

What? German is like the easiest European language. Compared to say French, English, or Spanish, its grammar and spelling rules are by far the simplest and most consistent.

I'm glad I learned some German in HS. I basically never use it now though, except when I run across some German amateur porn. It's hot to know what those chicks are saying

Germans and Japanese are supposedly world renowned travelers. Both times I went to the Grand Canyon many were speaking German, some English and some speaking Japanese (I think).

 

[GTaudiophile]

I have been learning German in one form or fashion since 1988. Formally, since 1994 in high school. It is the official language of my office, so a decent percentage of my in-office conversations and e-mails are in German. Despite all this and despite peers who would argue that I am fluent, I tend to feel I am still at the tip of the iceberg.

 

[ElFenix]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6mndRtsS88

holy chit steve carell!

 

[PlasmaBomb]

German is fabulous because you can combine nouns to form new words on the fly.

Like this one:

Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

(There should be no spaces in the above word.)

When traslated into English, this single word becomes a phrase:

"Association for subordinate officials of the head office management of the Danube steamboat electrical services"

Lol... so VB is just putting a space in

 

[FelixDeCat]

I have been learning German in one form or fashion since 1988. Formally, since 1994 in high school. It is the official language of my office, so a decent percentage of my in-office conversations and e-mails are in German. Despite all this and despite peers who would argue that I am fluent, I tend to feel I am still at the tip of the iceberg.

So are you working in Europe right now? Also, did the 1998 spelling rules and later rebellion impact you at all? Which one do you use?

 

[schneiderguy]

Sturmgewehr! Nein!!

 

[rudder]

Das ist verrückt!!!!!

 

[Blackjack200]

I refuse to learn German since they bombed Pearl Harbor.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

The beauty of German is that it doesn't really matter what you say. The phrases "My, what a cute little kitten" and "yo, jackass, get out of my way" both sound exactly like "We will conquer Europe!!!"

 

[rudeguy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6mndRtsS88

oh man I miss SNL being funny.

 

[Tweak155]

The statue of liberty is kaput.

 

[Broheim]

@title: I do speak German...

German isn't as bad as people make it out to be, Spanish is worse.

 

[Evadman]

The gender of nouns were the worst part.

This.

One of my favorite phrases: du bist einem arsch mit ohren.

 

[edro]

I refuse to learn German since they bombed Pearl Harbor.

I still can't believe they dropped nukes on us.

 

[thecrecarc]

I still can't believe they dropped nukes on us.

And burned Washington DC to the ground

 

[FelixDeCat]

@title: I do speak German...

German isn't as bad as people make it out to be, Spanish is worse.

I envy those that have mastered it, considering that it seems somewhat daunting at this time. But then, everything is daunting. When I was six, tying my own shoelaces was......eh nevermind.

This.

One of my favorite phrases: du bist einem arsch mit ohren.

My fly is open? :biggrin:

 

[Evadman]

My fly is open? :biggrin:

wat? Translate 4 U.