Learning German

[shaunbhoy]

The problem with taking the trouble to learn to speak German properly is that they will then expect you to understand their replies as well.

Doubles the workload. Much easier to just default back to English having at least made the effort, for form's sake.

[VectraMan]

On Wednesday with my wife and children I travel to the airport not.

Verb has to be in second place. Apparently all Germanic languages do that too, except English.

On Wednesday travel I with my wife and children to the airport not.

or

With my wife and children travel I on Wednesday to the airport not.

or

To the airport travel I on Wednesday with my wife and children not.

or even

I travel on Wednesday with my wife and children to the airport not.

[squarepeg]

It could be worse. If Poland was the place to go for a decent IT job you'd have to learn Polish... ouch!

[scooterscot]

Verb has to be in second place. Apparently all Germanic languages do that too, except English.

Don't find verb placement such an issue anymore. You become used to it. But recognising accusative and dative drives my bonkers. Die, Das, Dem. Endings with en es oder em ARGH

[NotAllThere]

It's a lot easier to speak German in Switzerland. They're so used to speaking dialect that their Hochdeutsch is rarely perfect, so they tend to use simpler expressions.

Swiss high German differs from German high German, so that can cause confusion - especially to Germans whose linguistic mindsets are not very flexible. E.g. "To park". GhG -> Parken. ShG -> Parkieren.

[VectraMan]

Don't find verb placement such an issue anymore. You become used to it. But recognising accusative and dative drives my bonkers. Die, Das, Dem. Endings with en es oder em ARGH

Yes the v2 bit I found quite easy too. Putting the verb at the end still causes me problems, especially when there's more than one: "worden können lassen" - WTF?

But on the occasions when I know what gender a noun is I usually get the cases (even the adjectives) right now.

Generally I can write reasonably well with few mistakes, but when I try to speak I get flustered and forget everything and make a complete mess of what I'm trying to say and feel like I want to throw myself under the nearest bus.

But getting there... a few more years and maybe I'll be good at it. It's only 8 years since I first started trying to learn some German.

[shaunbhoy]

It could be worse. If Poland was the place to go for a decent IT job you'd have to learn Polish... ouch!

No you wouldn't. Worked in Poland and everyone that mattered spoke good English.

HTH

[darmstadt]

Don't find verb placement such an issue anymore. You become used to it. But recognising accusative and dative drives my bonkers. Die, Das, Dem. Endings with en es oder em ARGH

Nah, just need imbissbuden Deutsch, that's what I use

Imbiss-Deutsch – Stupidedia
https://www.swr3.de/comedy/comedy-ar...ffl/index.html

[scooterscot]

Nah, just need imbissbuden Deutsch, that's what I use

Imbiss-Deutsch – Stupidedia
https://www.swr3.de/comedy/comedy-ar...ffl/index.html

Danke dir