German Language Blog: Language and Culture of the German Speaking World

Getting from A to B in Germany: part 2 of 2

Jan 21 2012

Briefmarke "100 Jahre Jugendherbergen" 2009-08-13 by Deutsche Post AG (public domain)

In my last post I talked about traveling Germany by train, and I promised to tell you about other ways of getting around. So here we go!

A cheaper alternative to train travel is carpooling. There are several websites dedicated to aranging long-distance carpools, the one with the largest community being mitfahrgelegenheit.de. Usually the person driving from A to B offers the free seats in their car to people who want to go to the same destination. In return they get paid an amount of money that is a bit larger than every passenger’s share of gas costs would be. It’s a great way to reduce travel costs for both driver and passengers. It’s eco, since you reduce emissions, and it’s convenient because the community is so big that it’s no problem to find a car from any major city to another any given day.

Sometimes the goal of your travels is not to get to your destination as fast as possible, but to enjoy the traveling itself. Germany renders itself perfect for biking and hiking. There’s a multitude of well signposted routes throughout the country. Just have a look at this amazing interactive map of bike routes! Or this one for walking / hiking tours!

The establishment of hiking routes, their maintenance, signposting, and the production of hiking maps is in Germany the domain of hiking clubs – in German Wandervereine. They came into existence around the end of the 19th century. Most of the regional hiking clubs are members of the national Deutscher Wanderverband, which was founded in Fulda in 1883. These clubs also put a lot of effort into creating a net of accomodation facilities for hikers and youth groups. This effort led to the establishment of the German youth hostel federation Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH) between 1909 and 1912.

The German cyclists’ federation Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC) is much younger than that. It was founded in 1979 to promote the idea of sustainable transport. Among other things they produce bike maps, give quality ratings to bike routes, and complile a list of cyclist-friendly accomodations.

What is your favourite way of traveling?

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 4 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 4

Jan 20 2012

After we have hashed and rehashed feminine nouns in the last three posts, we finally come to an end of this topic. Remember that all nouns are feminine that refer to:

- female human beings (Mutter-mother; Frau-woman, wife; Tochter-daughter; the only exception is “Mädchen”-girl, which is neuter because of the syllable –chen)

- female occupations (Polizistin-police woman; Köchin-female cook; Lehrerin-female teacher, etc.)

- some names of animal species (Auster-oyster; Schnecke-snail; Fliege-fly; Raupe-caterpillar, etc.)

- many trees, fruits, and flowers (Buche-beech; Eiche-oak tree; Kirsche-cherry; Erdbeere-strawberry; Rose-rose; Tulpe-tulip)

- most bi-syllabic nouns that end with –e (Bitte-request; Lage-situation, location; Rache-revenge; Schule-school; Liebe-love; Tasse-cup; Tüte-bag)

- most names for rivers in Germany (Fulda; Oder; Havel; Donau-Danube; Mosel; Isar, etc.)

- names of ships, airplanes, and motorcycles (Titanic; Gorck Fock; Concorde; Boeing; BMW; Harley Davidson, etc. – Keep in mind that cars are usually masculine, so when you want to refer to car of the brand BMW it is “der BMW” when you talk of a car, and “die BMW” when you talk of a motorcycle.)

Below you find a list with noun endings that usually require the feminine gender. Most of these nouns are loan words from Latin and can also be found in other languages as well.

-a:	die Aula – assembly halldie Kamera – camera die Hazienda – hacienda
-ade:	die Ballade – balladdie Fassade – storefront; façade die Schokolade – chocolate die Marmelade – jam die Olympiade – Olympics; Olympiad
-age:	die Etage – floordie Garage – garage die Montage – assembling; fitting; installation; montage die Courage – courage
-anz:	die Allianz – alliancedie Arroganz – arrogance die Toleranz – tolerance die Ignoranz – ignorance die Bilanz – balance
-elle:	die Bagatelle – trifle; bagatelledie Frikadelle – meatball die Zitadelle – bastille; citadel die Schattenmorelle – morello cherry
-enz:	die Audienz – audience (with the Pope)die Existent – existence die Frequenz – frequency die Konseqenz – consequence die Lizenz – license die Prominenz – notables; VIPs; celebrity die Intelligenz – intelligence
-ie:	die Akademie – academydie Biologie – biology die Chemie – chemistry die Garantie – guarantee die Geografie – geography die Kalorie – calorie die Kolonie – colony; settlement die Lotterie – lottery die Magie – magic die Melodie – melody die Orthografie – orthography die Philosophie – philosophy die Folie – foil; transparency die Fuchsie – fuchsia die Historie – history die Kastanie – chestnut doe Komödie – comedy die Materie – (subject) matter
-ik:	die Botanik – botanydie Klassik – classicism; classical (period/literature/music/age) die Mathematik – mathematics die Technik – engineering; technology; technique die Musik – music die Politik – politics die Physik – physics
-ine:	die Blondine – blondedie Margarine – margarine die Maschine – machine die Goldmine – gold mine
-ion:	die Explosion – explosion; blastdie Eskalation – escalation die Kalkulation – calculation die Nation – nation die Präposition – preposition die Qualifikation – qualification
-isse:	die Hornisse – hornetdie Narzisse – narcissus die Prämisse – premise die Kulisse – backdrop; setting; scenery die Diakonisse – deaconess die Abszisse – abscissa; x-coordinate
-itis:	die Arthritis – arthritisdie Bronchitis – bronchitis die Rachitis – rickets; rachitis
-sive:	die Defensive – defensedie Offensive – offensive
-tive:	die Alternative – choice; option; alternativedie Direktive – directive die Exekutive – executive (branch) die Initiative – initiative die Judikative – judiciary die Legislative – legislative
-ose:	die Dextrose – dextrosedie Neurose – neurosis die Psychose – psychosis die Sklerose – sclerosis die Tuberkulose – tuberculosis
-tät:	die Identität – identitydie Banalität – triteness; banality die Fakultät – faculty die Kapazität – capacity die Loyalität – loyality die Mobilität – mobility die Pietät – piety die Qualität – quality die Quantität – quantity die Rarität – rarity; curiosity die Realität – reality die Universität – university
-thek:	die Bibliothek – librarydie Diskothek – discotheque die Videothek – video (rental) store;
-sur:	die Klausur – written examdie Zensur – grade; censorship die Mensur – students’ duel
-tur:	die Fraktur – fracturedie Kultur – culture die Literatur – literature die Manufaktur – manufacture die Natur – nature die Temperatur – temperature die Tortur – torture
-üre:	die Broschüre – brochure; leafletdie Bordüre – border; trim die Pediküre – pedicure die Maniküre – manicure die Lektüre – reading (matter)
-ei:	die Bücherei – library; also: book storedie Bäckerei – bakery die Fleischerei – butchery die Lauferei – legwork; walking; running die Malerei – painting die Metzgerei – butchery
-heit:	die Entschlossenheit – determinationdie Freiheit – freedom die Gelegenheit – opportunity; chance die Kindheit – childhood die Krankheit – disease die Feigheit – cowardice
-in:	die Mandantin – client (fem)die Kundin – customer (fem)die Patientin – patient (fem)
-keit:	die Tapferkeit – fortitude; braverydie Heiterkeit – mirth; cheerfulness; joviality die Feuchtigkeit – moisture; humidity die Dankbarkeit – gratitude; appreciation; gratefulness; thankfulness die Freundlichkeit – kindness die Fähigkeit – ability
-schaft:	die Freundschaft – friendshipdie Gesellschaft – society; company (in Gesellschaft = in company) die Kundschaft – clientele; customers die Nachbarschaft – neighborhood
-ung:	die Achtung – attentiondie Bildung – education; formation die Heizung – heating die Kündigung – dismissal; termination; notice die Lösung – solution; resolution; answer die Reinigung – purification; cleansing; dry cleaner die Richtung – direction

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 3 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 3

Posted by Sandra Rösner No Comments

Jan 18 2012

Why are some nouns in German masculine, others feminine, and still others neuter? I am probably not the only one who is asking this question. And to make things worse: there isn’t any logical explanation for that. I pondered over that question quite a long time to give you, at least, a more or less satisfactory answer.

I think you can only understand the right to exist of different gendered nouns when you see the German language in a greater context. Remember that the German language modifies nouns according to grammar cases (nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative). These modifications predominately manifest in the parts of speech (articles, pronouns, etc.) that precede nouns rather than in any particular case ending of the noun itself (except for the genitive case of masculine and neuter nouns). These cases endings are consistent and are to be found in all parts of speech. For example, nominative “die Frau” (woman) has the genitive case ending –r: der Frau (of the woman), meiner Frau (of my wife), etc. What I want to say is that these case endings are nothing else than a kind of simplification of the speech flow. It is indeed more strenuous to utter, for example, ‘des Fraus’ or ‘meines Fraus’. That is, every language has underlying rules that determine how sounds have to be combined to form words and phrases. Consequently, all German case endings are simply the outcome of language use or applied speech, so to speak. Anyway, let’s start with today’s lesson on feminine nouns and how you can detect them.

a) Names of rivers

Most nouns that denote rivers are feminine in German.

die Alster – Alster

die Donau – Danube

die Elbe – Elbe

die Ems – Ems

die Fulda – Fulda

die Havel – Havel

die Isar – Isar

die Mosel – Mosel

die Neiße – Neisse

die Oder – Oder

die Weser – Weser

die Wolga – Volga

b) Names of ships, airplanes, and motorcycles

die MS Bremen (Wikipedia)

die Titanic (Wikipedia)

die Gorch Fock (WIkipedia)

die Bismarck (German Federal Archive; WIkipedia)

die Cessna (patcloud dancer; Wikipedia)

die Concorde (Wikipedia)

die Dornier (Jürgen Lehle; Wikipedia)

die Boeing (Wikipedia)

die Harley Davidson (©-Achim-Raschka-Wikimedia-Commons-CC-BY-SA-3.0)

die Kawasaki (Wikipedia)

die Honda (Rich Niewiroski Jr.; Wikipedia)

die BMW (Lothar Spurzem; Wikipedia)

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 2 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 2

Posted by Sandra Rösner No Comments

Jan 16 2012

Last time is was said that all those nouns are feminine, which refer to female humans (die Mutter-mother; die Tante-aunt), female animals (die Stute-mare; die Sau-sow), and female occupations (die Ärztin-phyisician; die Friseurin-haidresser). Let’s have a look now, which nouns are also commonly feminine in German.

a) Some names of animal species

die Auster – oysterdie Larve – larva

die Muschel – shell

die Schnecke – snail

die Fliege – flydie Made – maggot

die Raupe – caterpillar

die Ziege – goat

b) Names of trees, fruits, and flowers

A lot of tree names, fruit names, and flower names are feminine in German

die Buche – beechdie Eiche – oak tree

die Eibe – yew

die Fichte – spruce

die Kastanie – chestnut

die Kiefer* – pine tree

die Lärche – larch

die Linde – lime tree

die Palme – palm tree

die Tanne – fir

die Ulme – elm

die Ananas – pineapple

die Birne – peardie Kirsche – cherry

die Erdbeere – strawberry

die Banane – banana

die Kiwi – kiwi fruit

die Orange – orange

die Rose – rose

die Aster – aster

die Dahlie – dahlia

die Orchidee – orchid

die Nelke – carnation

die Narzisse – narcissus

* This is a so called homonym. That is, this word denoted two completely different things. When you use “Kiefer” with the article “die” you talk about a pine tree, but when you use “Kiefer” with the article “der” you talk about a jawbone.

Exceptions are: der Ahorn – maple / der Apfel – apple / der Pfirsich – peach / der Mohn – poppy / der Flieder – lilac / das Vergissmeinnicht – forget-me-not / das Maiglöckchen – lily of the valley / das Veilchen – violet / das Stiefmütterchen – pansy

Remember that words, which end with –el and –ich, like in “Apfel” and “Pfirsich”, are masculine in German.

c) Most bi-syllabic nouns that end with –e

Most words that have two syllables and end with an –e are usually feminine in German.

die Bitte – requestdie Lage – location, position, situation

die Mappe – portfolio, briefcase

die Schule – school

die Tonne – barrel

die Blume – flower

die Lampe – lamp

die Masche – ploy, stitch

die Sense – scythe

die Treppe – stairs

die Nase – nose

die Sprache – language

die Tüte – bag

die Leine – leash, corddie Rache – revenge

die Straße – street

die Stufe – step

die Gasse – alley

die Liebe – love

die Rede – speech

die Tasche – bag

die Wanne – tub

die Grenze – border

die Liege – lounger

die Säge – saw

die Tasse – cup

Exceptions are: der Junge – boy (because it refers to a male person); der Löwe – lion (because most animal species have a masculine form); das Auge – eye; das Ende – end.

Suggestion: I think it could be very supportive when you internalize the rules above in connection with learning all nouns that are new to you, regardless whether you will use them because you would remember the rules easier when you have some examples at hand.

To be continued…

German characters: Wilhelm Busch

Posted by jan No Comments

Jan 15 2012

self-portrait 1894 (source: Wikipedia)

Today I want to introduce another German character to you. This one is for sure not as bekannt (famous) as Albert Einstein for example. But anyway he made his contribution to German poetry, humor and language.

Heinrich Christian Wilhelm Busch was born on April 15th 1832 in Widensahl. He was one of the most influentual humorous Dichter (poets) and Zeichner (drawers) in Germany. His first picture story was released in 1859. Already in the 1870´s he was one of the most famous characters in Germany. At the time of his death, he was seen as a „Classic of German humor“ who reached a great popularity with his satiric Bildergeschichten (picture stories).

Today he is also seen as a Pionier (pioneer) in comic strips. Some of his most famous Werke (creations) are:

- Max und Moritz
- Die fromme Helene
- Plisch und Plum
- Hans Huckebein, der Unglücksrabe
- Die Knopp-Trilogie

Many of his two-liners like „Vater werden ist nicht schwer, Vater sein dagegen sehr“ (To become father is very easy, but to be a father is not easy at all) or „Dieses war der erste Streich, doch der zweite folgt sogleich“ (This was the first coup, but the second one will follow immediately) became figures of speech in German Sprachgebrauch (linguistic usage). His satires mock attributes of certain people or groupings. So he often offends the self-satisfaction and doubtable moral opinions of Spießbürger (philistines) and the bigotry of civil and clerical persons with his picture stories.

Busch was an earnest and close-mouthed man who lived many years in provincial Zurückgezogenheit (reclusiveness). He didn´t cherish his own picture stories. For him they were just a way to earn some money to advance his financial situation after unfinished studies of arts and a long lasting financial Abhängigkeit (dependency) on his parents.

Max & Moritz, the most famous characters of Wilhelm Busch

His attempt to become a serious painter failed with his own demands on quality. So he destroyed most of his paintings. That things that were left couldn´t be related to a special style. His lyrical compositions and Prosa (prose) unfortunately were not accepted by the audience because the people clearly associated Wilhelm Busch with his picture sories.

The failure of becoming a serious artist was something that bothered him until his death in Mechtshausen on January 9th 1908. He stopped working long before that, because based on using eyeglasses and having a shaky hand, he was feeling old.

Some vocabulary to this post:
bekannt – famous
der Dichter – poet
der Zeichner – drawer
die Bildergeschichte – picture story
der Pinoier – pioneer
das Werk – creation
der Sprachgebrauch – linguistic usage
der Spießbürger – philistine
die Zurückgezogenheit - reclusiveness
die Abhängigkeit – dependency
die Prosa – prose

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Getting from A to B in Germany: part 2 of 2

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 4 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 4

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 3 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 3

Weibliche Substantive im Deutschen erkennen: Teil 2 – Detecting German feminine nouns: part 2

German characters: Wilhelm Busch