How useful is the German language?

Brian Collins

PhD in linguistics at U of Queensland (2023)

13,137 followers

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Hi.

I consider myself to be a linguist and a Slavicist. I am interested in dialects and mutual intelligibility, and I am also a fairly big science fiction fan.

I am originally from the US. I immigrated to Australia in 2016 and have lived in Queensland since 2018.

 

How useful is the German language? Is it the 2nd largest Germanic after English, but just concentrated in Central Europe & not transcontinental like French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese? Is it however still more useful than Dutch or Swedish?

“Is it the 2nd largest Germanic after English…?”

Yes.

“[B]ut just concentrated in Central Europe & not transcontinental like French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese?”

Chinese is no more “transcontinental” than German. The only people who speak Chinese on other continents are immigrant communities. German, in fact, is a bit more settled than Chinese in the Americas with many communities of native speakers in the US, Canada, and Belize that have existed since the 1700s.

Chinese is spoken natively mainly in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. There are small communities of Mandarin and Cantonese speakers in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. Most of those communities though, are relatively new.

Russian is only transcontinental because Russia spans two continents and has some former Soviet Republics in Central Asia. Russia is big and borders every country to the South between North Korea and Belarus.

The majority of four countries speak German natively: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

A substantial minority (38%) of Switzerland though speaks French, Italian, and Romansch.

“Is it however still more useful than Dutch or Swedish?”

If you are looking at “transcontinental” languages, Dutch is more useful insofar as it is also spoken in Suriname, Aruba, the Dutch Antilles, and there’s a mutually intelligible language in Africa called Afrikaans, spoken in South Africa, and by minorities in Namibia, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere.

That being said, Dutch and closely-related Afrikaans have fewer than a combined 40 million speakers. Most countries where Dutch is spoken natively are tiny with fewer than a million people, and there are lots of speakers of Creole languages in those countries.

German has more speakers than Dutch or Swedish. You will also find a lot more people in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland who don’t speak English than you will find people in the Netherlands or Sweden.

I have spoken German with many people who could not speak English and I wouldn’t have been able to communicate with them otherwise.

In most major cities around the world, there are Stammtische (conversation tables) of Germans and people who want to practice their German. Before I moved to Australia, I regularly attended one in Seattle. Obviously, with COVID restrictions, that’s changed.

With about 100,000,000 native speakers, German is a pretty big language. Only counting EU citizens, German is the biggest language in the EU by 15 million.

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What does a typical German home meal look like (preferably with some photos)?

Steffen Häuser

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First of all there is no “typical German home meal”. German cuisine is extremely regional. A typical home meal in Swabia will look different to one in North Germany for example.

Also often home meals will include stuff like Spaghetti Bolognese or whatever, especially during the week.

If this is about traditional German food, the best to check this would be the “Sonntagsbraten” (Sunday roast) where you typically do traditional German meals (especially if grandma cooks ^^).

But again - this food will be completely different depending on from what region of Germany you come.

In Swabia it might be something like that, called the “Pot of Stuttgart”:

This is Pork filet with Swabian Noodles (called “Spätzle”) and vegetables, cooked together in the oven.

In Bavaria it might be something like that, Braten (might be translated with “Steak”, though Braten is not really steak, Braten is typically baked in the oven) with Dumplings (in this picture two kinds of dumplings - “Semmelknödel” (made from bread) and Potato Dumplings, both typical side dishes in Bavaria):

Further North in Germany it might be something like Sauerbraten (“Sour Steak”, losely translated):

In this region a sidedish of potatoes would be far more typical. The meat used is beef here (while in South Germany Pork would be more typical, though regional beef recipes are also known).

And here would be a typical speciality from Berlin, “Berlin Liver” (no idea if it is cooked at home or only in restaurants, I am not from Berlin, I am from South Germany), typical sidedish is mashed potatoes here:

Another recipe more from north Germany would be Rouladen, either with Potatoes or with Potato Dumplings:

And if Grandma came from former Sudetenland (or learned cooking from her mother from that area) - that is Bohemia, today Czech Republic - it even might be something like that (Karlsberger Braten with Serviette-Dumplings):

(Note how the Dumplings look quite different - this is Bohemia-Style!!! Or Austria-Style, they also cook like this in some regions - or Czech Style)

Here is another type of “Braten”, I think it is more South German, but this one could probably also be found in North Germany:

Note all these three are typical “Sunday specials”, you do not cook like this on workdays. On workdays it is often quick stuff which is also often not “typical German food”.

There’s a lot of other (Quick) regional specialities. For example Swabian Noodles with Cheese, or (again Swabia) Noodles with Sausages and Lentils (with some vinegar on the lentils), or Dumplings with Mushrooms in Creme-Sauce (Bavaria) or special meshed meat (typical North German recipe). That is stuff you might find also under the week. Though really under the week it is often some “quick type of international food”, like Spaghetti or Schnitzel or some sort of meat with rice or whatever.

What are the best 10 food to eat in Germany?

 

Johanna Steinbrecher

8,746 followers

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10? Let me try.

Wiener Schnitzel. It is all about how it is made. It is veal that is breaded and fried.

Wurst. All types of sausages. You would not believe how many types. For instance “Weißwürste” is my favorite. That is a white sausage. Other sausages that are made are Bockwurst, Leberkäse, Knackwurstm Leberwurst, Blutwurst. If you visit Germany and are with a large group at a restaurant. Each should order different sausage. This way you can share them amongst one another and experience the different flavors.

Gulasch. That is a soup of meat with vegetables.

Spätzle. That is flour dough and eggs mixed together with cheese on top.

Maultaschen. That is pasta filled with pork and vegetables that is either boiled or fried.

Königsberger Klopse. This is a meatball that is mixed with beef, pork, veal, onions, eggs. It has sauce on it.

Ketwurst. This is similar to the American hotdog with ketchup. Call me crazy, but I love Ketwurst and had to add it to the list. Ket=Ketchup. Wurst=Sausage.

Bratkartoffeln. This is what I ate when at home growing up. My mother over the years made tons of it. It is slice boiled potato fried with bacon and onion. I still enjoy it today. When I come home for a visit, guess what my mother cooks?

Rouladen. This is made with thin beef with ham and a pickle inside rolled up.

Sauerbraten. This is something my grandmother always make when we visited her on special occasions. It is slowly cooked beef (good quality) in a oven, at a lower temperature. It takes hours and hours. It becomes really tender.

Hasenpfeffer. This is stew but made from rabbit. Mix with wine, onion and pepper.

What makes the Filipinos different from other Asians?

 

John Dalton Maestre

Filipinos are unique because they’re too common. We have one of the most dispersed diaspora in the world. There isn’t a continent on earth except Antartica, of course, that doesn’t have a Filipino minority.

We’re common because we can relate to so many cultures. We can travel the whole world and find something that could bring us home. US pop culture is as important as FilPop. East Asian and Mediterranean food taste similar to ours. Latin America shares the same religion. There is a sizable Muslim minority in the Philippines so we have basic understanding of Islamic culture.

We have Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Malay tidbits in our culture. There’s also tons of Spanish spices there. As well as American beef. The way we’re presented looks really similar to the rest of South East Asian countries.

To sum it up; we look like South East Asians, eats a lot of Chinese and Japanese, believes in Mediterranean/Iberian values of machismo, chivalry, and Catholicism, act like Americans, and make up a pretty awesome mess. We’re a puzzle. An abstract identity that piques the interest of everyone. Yet we’re literally everywhere.

"14 Wisdoms to Achieve Peace of Mind”

 "14 Wisdoms to Achieve Peace of Mind”

1. The ultimate trust is when people mock you, but you remain silent because you know who you are and who they are.

2. Quiet people are either carrying a big sorrow or a big dream.

3. You didn't create this world to impose your conditions on others. First, correct yourself so that you can be an example to others, then expect them to be like you.

4. Arguing with ignorant people is like drawing on water, no matter how hard you try, you won't achieve anything.

5. Shoes have tongues but don't speak, tables have legs but don't walk, pens have wings but don't fly, clocks have hands but don't hold, and many people have minds but don't think.

6. They speak ill of you, then sit with you and smile at your face, these are the worst people.

7. Difficult times are the best way to reveal a person's true character.

8. Small-minded people have small problems, while big-minded people don't have time for problems.

9. Don't be close to someone who makes you happy, but be close to someone who is only happy with you.

10. People are like waves, if you go with them, they will drown you, and if you oppose them, they will exhaust you.

11. I don't know the secret of success, but the secret of failure is trying to please everyone.

12. I am determined to achieve my goal, either I will succeed, or I will succeed, or I will succeed.

13. If we didn't have the blessing of forgetting, many of us would go crazy.

Most importantly: 14. Remove yourself from the list of stingy people and send blessings to the Seal of the Prophets. These wisdoms will not only bring you peace of mind but also help you improve your life."

What do non-Filipinos like about the Philippines?

 

John Williams

Ordained District Elder, Speaker, Author, Bible Teacher

464 followers

59 following

John Williams, an Ordained Minister, a USAF Persian Gulf War Veteran, writer for more than twenty years, and published author. John has since published thirty books to date. After reading hundreds of books and living a challenging but amazing life, John has a lot of wisdom to share. John Williams Author

I have visited the Philippines four times. I have many friends that are Filipino. I love the weather, the beaches and some of the foods. Most of all, I love the Filipino people. They have such great spirits and are relentlessly resilient. The Philippines could be a fantastic country if they only knew the real power that they possess.

Many people say that the Philippines is a poor country. That is not true, but it is the lie they are continually being told, and unfortunately many believe it. In fact according to the International Monetary Fund, the Philippines rank number 38th in the world just below Singapore and above Columbia. Their ranking tops countries like Romania, Egypt, Vietnam, and Finland. Unfortunately, much of the wealth created there does not trickle down to the local economy. In my humble opinion, the government could do more to develop the infrastructure. They are already addressing the security concerns of the Mindanao area. These are important to attract more foreign business.

I see the Philippines as a diamond that is on the verge of becoming one of the most brilliant diamonds in Asia. They just need a little help. I am called there to do just that. Those of you who need an invitation to do something exciting and miraculous, here it is. The greatest natural resource of the Philippines are the amazing people. That is why I love going there.