Language Solution

Sixty million Americans have their origins in German-speaking countries. While 47 Million claim German Heritage, being America’s largest ethnic group, yet less than 1.4 million claiming to actually speak the language. The Germans made a significant mark on America’s cultural, business, and public life for centuries until their identity fell victim to feelings of shame and repression during and after two World Wars. But their achievements are still the basis for much of American culture.

While most Germans were economic refugees and the three main ports of entry for them were NYC- Philadelphia and New Orleans. Many would eventually migrate during the 1800s, to areas like Texas, learning to adapt to the harsh surrounding they found themselves in. The grain they brought with them would not grown in this soil, therefore learning from natives how to grow sweet potatoes and corn, eating Tortillas instead of dark Rye Break. Meanwhile, further immigrant trains continually arrived and pushed north, putting pressure on both the existing farms and the native population, notably the proud and warlike Comanches ( Natives).

As the whites began destroying the buffalo herds on which the Natives existence depended on, tensions increased. There were killings on both sides. In May 1847, the governor of Texas (by then the 28th state in the Union) told the Germans settlers,they would have to move elsewhere.

The germans offered the Comanches $3,000 in return for the right to settle the area and live in peace. The two peoples would coexist as brothers, as it was assured.

The treaty allowed settlers to go unharmed into Indian territory and the Indians to go to the white settlements, and promised mutual reports on wrongdoing. It opened more than 3 million acres of land to settlement. To distinguish themselves from the Yankee settlers whom the Native Americans hated and feared, the Germans were told to  rauchen (smoke) pipes while in their fields. That way they were safe from attack.

To this day, the 1847 Meusebach-Comanche Treaty is believed to be the sole pact between whites and Native Americans that has never been broken. But it did not stop there, where- ever Germans went they developed printing press and Zeitung (Newspapers). Benjamin Franklin was no exception, even he printed a German Newspaper, the Philadelphia Zeitung, it printed within a year, though many more newspapers would be more successful. The New York had four German- Language dailies, which was more then the Berlin at the time, the NY staats-Zeitung had over 60.000 readers!!

However when the first world war started, opinions towards Ethnic germans became so bad, Eltern (parents) would forbid their children to speak German outside of the house, anyone with a German Name was subject to harassment, German Language was forbidden in several schools and german Books were burned on the Street, Names would be Anglicized and heritage was suppressed in order to show their Patriotism towards America!

Today, many people seek their heritage, we ask what our great Grandparents came from, what hardship they endured. And how even Germans in the 21 century cope with change.

That no matter what, we will always carry a German Accent, we can’t pronounce certain words that might seem obvious to English Speakers, coming to a different land is not always a magical golden path to the wanderer, learning new languages but also the cultural aspect has a profound effect on a person, both positive and negative.

Relocating to a new environment can be compared to a tropical plant that is suddenly forced to bloom in a empty barren land, though eventually finding the needed water to survive with much endurance and strength.

At first, a Mensch (person) who comes to a new country does not know what food or personal products to  Kaufen (buy), will I be buying hair shampoo or Hair conditioner? 

The cakes and sweets are much sweeter then back home, they usually don’t eat breakfast at the table here?. Coffee is served mostly in paper cups, and oddly much paper and plastic is used in the first place.

Why is everything large, especially the (Häuser)houses and Autos? We can walk, what are the directions? yet locals observe you as if you have become irrational in behavior to walk 5 miles.

There are more Gas stations and fast food chains then anywhere else.

What is the difference between “He” and “she” ?

Many Europeans whom come to america have  Schwierigkeiten (difficulties) in many aspects of the daily life. The habits we are used to auf einmal (suddenly) needs to be changed. If children are involved the situations can be even more complicated, while there are private German Schulen (schools) in the US these days, they  are more costly then regular schools, it is also stressful for the Eltern (parents) to show strength for a child when you yourself struggle with many things of your new Umgebung (surrounding). yet it shapes the Human form and society, we are picking up lost pieces and celebrating our heritage, no matter what it might be! 

What profound effect did relocating to the US have on you?

Did you continue and teach your children of German culture and habits? Have your Grandparents or parents ever told of stories and their experiences? 

rauchen- Smoke

Eltern- Parents

kaufen- Purchace/buy

Häuser- Houses

Schwierigkeiten- Difficulties

Schulen- Schools

Auf einmal- Suddenly

Umgebung- Surrounding

Post from: German Blog

The Bombardment of Dresden took place on Feb 13 to 15 1945, by the royal air force of England and the United states air force during the second world war.

This event went down in history, with new studies that at least 18.000 to at least 25.000 people lost their lives in this short period.

Large parts of the center city and industrial as well as military infrastructure of Dresden were destroyed.

These Air bombings were not the heaviest during the second world war, yet the question still lies by some, whether it was effective or even necessary..

With the anniversary of the bombardment of Dresden memorial coming soon, the concerns lie deep in Dresden for personnel and police forces..

Neo-Nazism and radicals demonstrating, coming to the streets on this particular day. 

The  NPD (The national Democratic Party of Germany) having a large  einfluss (influence) on this and would attempt in causing disorder among peaceful gatherers who would otherwise pay respect on this day-  The NPD being a successor to the German Reich Partei (Party) and often classified as being far right in the political spectrum and having won 9.2% in 2004 in saxony state elections. 

In 2005 during a silence in the Saxon state assembly in Dresden, to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz extermination camp, twelve mitglieder (members) of the NPD walked out in protest, The NPD was upset that a moment of silence was being held for those who died in the Auschwitz Camp and that none was being given for those who died during the bombing of Dresden in WWII, with the anniversary of both events falling relatively close to each other.

Today, we think back and  hopefully have learned lessons from such, yet the Fragen (questions) remain,  Oft (often) germans are still reminded of the past and WWII. Much has changed since then, there are multi-nationalities living in Germany, Germans come in all shapes and colors, but due to the Historical experience of Germany with Nazism , there is a tendency to equate racism with extreme politics..

Does Germany still have a long way to go in regards to Ethnic groups or different cultures? Should people whom reside there and don’t speak German versuchen (attempt )to learn the Language? What about the political spectrum? When you walk the streets of Germany, how often do you see police force that are Asiatic? Or in Staat (Government) body. Compare these questions, with two cities : Berlin and New York City……..

While the world still has a langen weg ( Long Path ) to go, how do we reach out without offending or repeating the same mistakes again? Or does it depend on each person themselves? Can Germans learn from Americans?

Einfluss- Influence.

Partei- Party.

Mitglieder- Members.

Fragen- Questions.

Oft- Often.

Versuchen- Attempt.

Staat- Government.

Langen Weg- Long path.

Post from: German Blog

When I started my first job after years of training in the options and future group at an investment bank in Germany I was confronted with my first phone call right after I was given a little tour and presentation of the department. I think they call it “ins kalte Wasser werfen” (being thrown into cold water). I was of course very nervous after I was asked by somebody whose name I did not understand “Was macht denn der Dollar heute?” (What is the dollar doing today?) Since I had absolutely no idea where the dollar was that day or where to look for it on all the screens in front of me I replied “Der Dollar? Ach, mal rauf und mal runter” (The dollar? Well, sometimes up, sometimes down). I also learned in that situation that investors apparently do not have a lot of humor or patience. I was however the center of all conversations within my new team that day.

Years later and numerous gray hairs later I am still confronted with the question of what the dollar is doing these days, not against the good old Deutschmark anymore but against the Euro that we use since the beginning of the new millennium. The company I work for is also dependent on the Wechselkurs (Exchange rate) even though the hektischen Tage (hectic days) of the banking world are over. When I started going to college in the US in 2001 the Wechselkurs was .90 EUR/USD which meant I got 90 American cents for my hard earned Euro. That of course also made my tuition a lot more expensive than what is would have been today. Since then we have come a long way and after almost hitting 1.70, the Euro in 2008, the Euro is slowly declining and close under 1.37 USD today.

In den Nachrichten (in the news) the reason for the weaker Euro is our good friend Greece who is suffering from another economical crisis these days. The Wirtschaftskrise (economical crisis) shows effects throughout the Europäische Union (European Union). Not everybody is of course too said about a weaker Euro right now, especially the majority of the German industry who is heavily dependant on the export side of the business and has to compete with higher Lohnkosten (labor cost) anyway.

So I would like to ask you for your opinion:  Is the dollar stronger or is the Euro weaker? Are you personally affected by the exchange rate in any way and was macht eigentlich der Dollar heute?

ins kalte Wasser werfen – to be thrown into cold water

Was macht denn der Dollar heute? – What is the dollar doing today?

Ach, mal rauf und mal runter – Well, sometimes up, sometimes down

hektisch – hectic

Der Tag – the day

Der Wechselkurs – the exchange rate

Die Nachrichten – the news

Die Wirtschaft – the economy

Die Krise – the crisis

Die Wirtschaftskrise – the economical crisis

Die Europäische Union – the European Union (EU)

Die Lohnkosten – the labor cost

eigentlich – actually

Post from: German Blog

One of the best experiences I had in Germany was at the Hamburger Fischmarkt (fish market) along the Elbe River in the Bezirk (borough) of Altona. The Fishmarkt, founded in 1703, is an exciting flea market. Every Sunday morning the market opens at 5:00 a.m. with what seems like a fanfare. The band plays Schlager Musik in the main hall, while outside vendors showcase exotic fruits, antiques, flowers, traditional Räucherfisch (smoked fish) and a myriad of other items. Like most people who first visit the Fischmarkt, I went after a night of

feiern auf der Reeperbahn:Mandy, a friend of mine, and I went to the Grosse Freiheit 36–a famous street intersecting the Reeperbahn, and home to disco techs, night clubs, brothels, adult shows, bars, restaurants and museums. We had tickets to see the band Ween. I remember how excited Mandy was to be seeing Ween for the first time in Germany and on the same street The Beatles played and lived for a few years in the early sixties. After the concert we exited the venue; I remember the Grosse Freiheit lit up with hundreds of lights, billboards fifty meters high and flashy advertisements. It was so bright I thought the sun was still out. Shortly, we met up with a few of our other friends who zufällig (coincidental) were in the city. Later that morning, I recalled how the colors and vendors of the Fischmarkt complemented the lights and mayhem of the Reeperbahn.

As the sun rose so did vendors’ voices with their auctioneering–the object is to get the costumer’s attention as they simultaneously pile goods up and shout out bargains. The experience resembled more like a competitive sports game rather than simple flea market haggling.

Every city has two sides and the Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg is no different. Its Einzigartgkeit (uniqueness) comes from its maritim (maritime) roots and city state mentality. Die Stadt (the city) has the third largest Seehafen (seaport) next to New York City and London . Built between the Alster See and the North Elbe , the second largest Fluss (river) in Deutschland, the city has enjoyed a prosperous seafaring history and culture.

To celebrate Hamburg ’s prosperity, every year Landungsbrücken takes place in recognition of the May 7th, 1189 deceleration by Fredrick Barbaross allowing Merchants to trade freely, and which also lead to many merchants’ guilds and foreign trading houses.

Hamburg , though uniquely rich in many aspects, has a more provocative and raw side to it–the Kiez, better known as the red light district.

Prostitution is one of the oldest professions. In most countries it is illegal or regulated by the government. However, it still continues to have a cultural influence. Many cities throughout Germany and Europe have a red light district–usually in a far corner of town, near the old city wall, where the trees hang lower and the atmosphere is a bit darker, one can find the low glow and murk of the red light lurking.

Hamburg ’s Kiez is by far the most popular in Germany and widely known by tourists. If you make it to Hamburg and decide to visit the red light district, look for the Reeperbahn, a street with lewd signs, adult shops and shows, bodegas, Doner Kebob, traffic and hundreds of people on the streets having a great time.

Die Stadt- the City
Der Bezirk – the Borough
Der Fischmarkt
Der Kiez -the red light district, or neighborhood
Gross – great
Die Freiheit – the Freedom
Feiern – celebration, to celebrate
auf der Reeperbahn – on the Reeperbahn, Dative
Die Reeperbahn – a street in the red light district

Grosse Freiheit – a street in the red light district
auf-Preposition
Frei – free
Die Hansestadt – the Hanseatic City
Der Seehafen – the Seaport
Der Fluss – the River
Die Eigenartigkeit – the Uniqueness
zufaellig – chance
Schlage Musik – Folk Music, oldies
Maritim – maritime

Der Räucherfish- smoked fish

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Post from: German Blog

The love parade is a mega techno music even in Germany event that started about 20 years ago. That also shows me how old I got in the meantime. Since then it attracts every year, with some interruptions here and there, up to 1.6 million people from all over the world who have the largest techno party in the world. The event has moved from the Ku’damm in Berlin to the Ruhrgebiet to cities like Essen in 2007, Dortmund in 2008 and now Duisburg in 2009.

Before every love parade there is a traditional Kampf (struggle) between the organizers of the event and the potential city venues. Nobody wants to take over the Kosten (the cost) of the more than necessary clean up after the event. The parade has turned more into a techno related “sehen und gesehen werden” (to see and to be seen) with people trying to out do them in craziness and creativity depending on your own personal view.

The Love Parade has turned into a very commercial oriented music event after it was being used by only a few people 20 years ago when techno was less than popular and was mostly laughed due to the lack of musical understanding and technical limits of the people who produced the techno songs. Comparable to the second Woodstock we have seen in New York years ago the development goes more into a mainstream happening proven by the growing numbers of participants every year. The initiators “DJ Westbam” and “Dr. Motte” are ready for a well deserved retirement but can still be found at the love parade when it takes place.

Because of the trance like atmosphere at the love parade the mostly younger crowd is also know as the “Techno Jünger” (Techno disciple/follower) who cheer their favorite DJs on while they drive very slowly through the crowded streets on their converted trailer which function as individual party stages. If you are ready for a lot of unusual fun, watch out for the love parade in Duisburg in the summer of 2010.

Ruhrgebiet – Ruhr area

Der Kampf – the struggle, the fight

Die Kosten – the cost

Sehen und gesehen werden – to see and to be seen

Der Jünger – the disciple / follower

Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen – peace, joy and pancakes (German saying for everybody     being happy and in agreement)

Post from: German Blog

Purchased an additional domain for our travel business. Not entirely convinced that it will drive more trafic to our website, but since it is freed up recently, and it costs peanuts to buy, why not Bought the domain from godaddy.com, because I have seen them everywhere, and they sell domains a fraction cheaper [...]

For all soccer fans November 10^th 2009 was a horrible day that shocked Germany and the rest of many soccer interested countries. Robert Enke, national goalkeeper and captain of his Mannschaft (team) Hannover 96 committed suicide due to depressions that he was suffering from for many years.

He kept his Krankheit (disease) hidden from the public and only his Ehefrau (wife)  Theresa and closest friends knew, which is why everybody was devastated by the sad news. Robert Enke was nowhere near as glamorous or controversial as other soccer players like David Beckham, Oliver Kahn or Eric Cantona. His lifestyle was einfach (simple) and instead of having a penthouse in the most expensive part of Hannover he lived on his little Bauernhof (farm) where he and his wife took care of abandoned animals.

The German Bundesliga and its fans experienced a lot of grieve but also came together in honoring and remembering this down to earth guy who was simply sick but too embarrassed to actually consider the right Behandlung (treatment) which would have put his soccer career in jeopardy which he feared.

Since his death his team Hannover 96 has lost eight games and tied one. The team is playing against the Abstieg (relegation) and will most likely lost that fight. Robert Enke will always be remembered in Germany as the good Kumpel (pal) who you just wanted to be your friend and who did not care about any kind of self glorification. Depressions took a great person from us all.   

Die Mannschaft – the team

Die Krankheit – the disease

Die Ehefrau – the wife

Einfach – simple

Der Bauernhof – the farm

Die Bundesliga – First German soccer division

Die Behandlung – the treatment

Der Abstieg – relegation

Der Kumpel – good friend, pal

Die Tochter – the daughter

Post from: German Blog

Anybody who has an interest in German culture and history remembers the pictures on TV about the wall coming down. I myself was one of the lucky ones who were able to go to Berlin in the winter of 1989 and collect a piece of the Berliner Mauer (the Berlin Wall). We saw the East German Trabants and Wartburgs drive across the border among the enthusiastic cheering of the newly united German people. After a significant boost for the West German economy under chancellor Helmut Kohl whose promise of the blooming territories (blühende Landschaften) is still used today in various political discussions.

After the first years of euphoria and happiness a rising unemployment rate throughout the newly united Germany with extremely high numbers in the five new states in the East reality changed into skepticism and nostalgia among the formerly divided countries.

The peaceful revolution started in cities like Leipzig and Dresden with huge crowds chanting “Wir sind das Volk” (We are the people). Without the will power of the East German population and the economical state the “DDR” (GDR) was in, the unification would still be a fiction today.

I would like to start a discussion with our readers concerning their thoughts about the unification and especially what you think of the current situation Germany is in after the opening of the borders to the former “Warschauer Pakt” (Warsaw Pact). What do you consider advantages and disadvantages of the new situation almost ten years later? Were you affected by the political changes personally and what is your opinion about the development?

Vocabulary:

die Mauer – The wall

müssen – to must, to have to

weg – away

der Weg – the way

blühen – to bloom

die Landschaft – the countryside, the territory

wir sind – we are

das Vok – the people

DDR (deutsche demokratische Republik) – GDR (German democratic republic)

Warschau – Warsaw

Post from: German Blog

As everyone is waiting for spring in the northern hemisphere and winter becoming dreadful for some, there is one tradition that originated in Germany and has been passed down to America. It is celebrated every year around or on February the 2nd.

Having similarities to the “Mittelalter” traditional catholic holiday Candlemas, it also carries some resemblance to the pagan Festival “Imbolc” of the Celts.

Groundhog Day was first celebrated in the US as a Pennsylvania German custom around the 17th and 18th century.

But this tradition goes even further back into the roman time, when the roman legions tried conquering the north and brought this tradition to the  “Teutons ” or Germans.

Back in Germany though, the Hedgehog was often used for this tradition as a “Wetter” prediction, if he sees his shadow the saying goes, six more weeks of bad weather, yet if the day is cloudy and shadow less, this little “Tier” takes it as a sign of spring is nearing. Similar customs are for instance June 27, the  “Siebenschläfertag” or Seven Sleepers Day. The interesting part to this event in modern days is that no one is allowed to speak in English. Anyone who does so needs to pay a penalty, which is often a nickel or dime in a pot, positioned at the middle of the table. The Pennsylvania German dialect, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, is the only language spoken at this event. However, most people might assume that this dialect is related to Dutch, but it is “Switzerdeutch”, a German dialect spoken in Switzerland, and used by the Amish. 

Although that is not quite the case….

Historically, the majority of these palatine German – derived speakers were not Amish, but rather connected to the Lutheran and German Reformed Congregations. 

The Amish are the only last speakers of this language, often giving the impression they were the only ones speaking this “dialekt”  though most active Pennsylvania Dutch speakers today are members of conservative Anabaptist communities, they maintain reading knowledge of the high german of the bible and other religious texts used in church or their homes, yet very few are able to speak or understand the modern standard German “Sprache”.

So when traveling to this region it was interesting to note, that in fact as a standard german speaker , it was possible to understand a few “wörter”, however difficult to follow. So have you ever traveled to the Amish county? spoken with them? or sampled their Homemade food? 

“

Mittel-alter: { Middle-ages}

Tier: {Animal}

Wetter: { Weather}

Sprache: { Language}

Dialekt : { Dialect}

Wörter: {Words}

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Post from: German Blog

Hi everybody,

my name is Jan and I´m one of the new bloggers for transparent language. As a blog contributor I´ll provide you with frequently blog posts and hope to wake your interest about German language and culture! So I would be pleased to read some feedback of you…

Some words to my person: Well, meanwhile I´m 33 years old and I live with my family in Stuttgart which is situated in the south of Germany. I think I am the only one (of the bloggers) still living here, so you´ll get some information directly from Germany.
In “real life”, I work as a Project Manager for a company that creates websites and other stuff that´s related to digital and interactive media. I first got in touch with transparent while I used to live in France and some of them contacted me due to some videos that I posted via vimeo.  And as things happen, I created some video content for transparent language. By the way, I hope I could use my camera as well to create some posts! We´ll see.

So I´m looking forward to blog, to read and to meet people (at least in a digital way)…stay tuned!

Viele Grüße aus Stuttgart!
(Greets from Stuttgart)

Jan

Post from: German Blog