Introduction to german language....

German is a West Germanic language, thus related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. It is one of the world's major languages and the most widely spoken first language in the European Union. Globally, German is spoken by approximately 120 million native speakers and also by about 80 million non-native speakers. Standard German is widely taught in schools, universities and Goethe Institutes worldwide....



Origins

The history of the language begins with the High German consonant shift during the migration period, separating Old High German dialects fromOld Saxon. The earliest testimonies of Old High German are from scattered Elder Futhark inscriptions, especially in Alemannic, from the 6th century AD; the earliest glosses (Abrogans) date to the 8th; and the oldest coherent texts (the Hildebrandslied, the Muspilli and the Merseburg Incantations) to the 9th century. Old Saxon at this time belongs to the North Sea Germanic cultural sphere, and Low Saxon should fall under German rather than Anglo-Frisian influence during the Holy Roman Empire.

As Germany was divided into many different states, the only force working for a unification or standardization of German during a period of several hundred years was the general preference of writers trying to write in a way that could be understood in the largest possible area.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Help & Directions in German   

I'm Lost     =Ich habe mich verlaufen!

Can I Help You?   =Kann ich dir/ Ihnen helfen?

Can You Help Me?           =Kannst du/ Können Sie mir helfen?

Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)?        =Wo ist (das Badezimmer/ die Apotheke?)

Go Straight! Then Turn Left/ Right!        =Gehen Sie geradeaus! Dann links / rechts abbiegen!

I'm Looking For John.      =Ich suche John.

One Moment Please!         =Einen Augenblick, bitte!

Hold On Please! (phone)  =Bleiben Sie dran, bitte!

How Much Is This?          =Was kostet das?/ Wie teuer ist das?

Excuse Me ...! ( to ask for something)      =Entschuldigen Sie bitte...!

Excuse Me! ( to pass by)   =Darf ich mal vorbei?

Come With Me!    =Kommen Sie mit!

Personal Info in German           

Do You Speak (English/ German)?          =Sprechen Sie (Englisch/ Deutsch)?

Just a Little.          =Nur ein bißchen.

What's Your Name?          =Wie heißen Sie?

My Name Is ….    =Ich heiße... / Mein Name ist...

Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss…        =Herr/ Frau/ Fräulein (not used anymore)

Nice To Meet You!           =Schön, Sie kennenzulernen!

You're Very Kind!            =Du bist/ Sie sind sehr freundlich!

Where Are You From?     =Woher kommst du/ kommen Sie?

I'm From (the U.S/ Germany)       =Ich komme (aus den U.S.A./ aus Amerika / aus Deutschland)

I’m (American)     =Ich bin (Amerikaner)

Where Do You Live?        =Wo wohnst du/ wohnen Sie?

I live in (the U.S/ Germany)         =Ich wohne (in den U.S.A./ in Amerika/ in Deutschland)

Did You Like It Here?     =Gefällt es dir/ Ihnen hier?

Germany Is a Wonderful Country            =Deutschland ist wunderschön.

What Do You Do For A Living?  =Was ist dein/ Ihr Beruf?

I Work As A (Translator/ Businessman)   =Ich bin (Übersetzer/Dolmetscher) / Geschäftsmann

I Like German       =Ich mag Deutsch

I've Been Learning German For 1 Month =Ich lerne seit einem Monat Deutsch

Oh! That's Good!  =Oh! Das ist toll!

How Old Are You?          =Wie alt bist du/ sind Sie?

I'm (twenty, thirty…) Years Old. =Ich bin (zwanzig, dreißig,...) Jahre (alt).

I Have To Go        =Ich muß gehen/ los!


       I Will Be Right Back! =Ich bin sofort wieder
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