Goodbye 2011--Hello 2012

Today at midnight, the year 2011 will end. For some, it was a rough year with lots of challenges, but also with good moments and new friends. I've heard from many people that 2012 will be better, and I firmly believe in that. 2012 will be our year, if we just seize the opportunity and make it our year. Carpe diem--seize the day. That simple phrase tells us all we need to know about how to succeed. It is on us to do something for our success and happiness.

That said, I wish you all a great start into the new year, with your friends and family, good food, beloved traditions, and a smile on your face when you count down.

May we truly make 2012 into our year!

German Tenses--An Overview (Part II.1)

German Tenses—an Overview Part II: Passive Tenses, Regular Verb, with “haben”

“fragen” is a regular verb which builds its compound tenses with the modal verb “haben” (to have).

Infinitiv == (infinitive)

fragen == (to ask)

Indikativ == Indicative Mode

Präsens == (simple present)

Ich werde gefragt == I am asked

du wirst gefragt == you are asked

er/sie/es wird gefragt == he/she/it is asked

wir werden gefragt == we are asked

ihr werdet gefragt == you are asked

sie/Sie werden gefragt == they are asked (you are asked—formal address)

Präteritum == (simple past)

ich wurde gefragt == I was asked

du wurdest gefragt == you were asked

er/sie/es wurde gefragt == he/she/it was asked

wir wurden gefragt == we were asked

ihr wurdet gefragt == you were asked

sie/Sie wurden gefragt == they were asked (you were asked—formal address)

Perfekt == (present perfect)

ich bin gefragt worden == I have been asked

du bist gefragt worden == you have been asked

er/sie/es ist gefragt worden == he/she/it has been asked

wir sind gefragt worden == we have been asked

ihr seid gefragt worden == you have been asked

sie/Sie sind gefragt worden == they have been asked (you have been asked—formal address)

Plusquamperfekt == (past perfect)

ich war gefragt worden == I had been asked

du warst gefragt worden == you had been asked

er/sie/es war gefragt worden == he/she/it had been asked

wir waren gefragt worden == we had been asked

ihr wart gefragt worden == you had been asked

sie/Sie waren gefragt worden == they had been asked (you had been asked—formal address)

Futur I == (future I)

ich werde gefragt werden == I will be asked

du wirst gefragt werden == you will be asked

er/sie/es wird gefragt werden == he/she/it will be asked

wir werden gefragt werden == we will be asked

ihr werdet gefragt werden == you will be asked

sie/Sie werden gefragt werden == they will be asked (you will be asked—formal address)

Futur II == (future II)

ich werde gefragt worden sein == I will have been asked

du wirst gefragt worden sein == you will have been asked

er/sie/es wird gefragt worden sein == he/she/it will have been asked

wir werden gefragt worden sein == we will have been asked

ihr werdet gefragt worden sein == you will have been asked

sie/Sie werden gefragt worden sein == they will have been asked

(you will have been asked—formal address)

Watch out for Part II.2 next Wednesday!

Tipps for Language Learning in a Foreign Country

If you ask around what way is best to learn a second language, many people will tell you to travel to a country where that language is spoken. Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? However, simply travelling to another country won't increase your language proficiency in that country's official language. There are some things you should keep in mind to reach your goal:

1) In order to increase proficiency in a language, you need to use it. This seems to go without saying, but I have known people who went to another country to do an internship and still didn't know any more of that country's official language by the time they returned home several weeks later. Another example is the youth group who goes on holidays. If all the teenagers stay among themselves, they won't need the second language at all, so they might as well spend their holidays in their own country for all the effect on their language skills.

2) Stay in a guest family. The best way to naturally increase your language proficiency is to stay in a guest family. You will need to use the second language whenever you want to communicate with them, and you will hear it in a natural environment. It is not necessary for you to communicate in grammatically correct sentences; as long as your guest family understands what you mean, you are fine (and they can help you express yourselv correctly).

3) Don't be shy. You are in a foreign country and have the opportunity to use your second language, so seize that opportunity. Most people will be willing to help you even if you don't know exactly how to say something, and you might meet a lot of interesting people that way. It is definitely a good start for a conversation if they notice that you are not from there.... If you are too shy to start conversations with strangers, just keep in mind that you probably won't see them ever again.

Generally, travelling to foreign countries is an awesome opportunity to learn or improve your language skills, and it is likely the easiest way to do it. Furthermore, it is a great way to learn a language in a way no text book or language course can usually offer you.

Merry Christmas!

It is the 24th, and in Germany, today is the main day of Christmas, where the children get their presents in the afternoon or evening (often after having been to church earlier). Many families sing some Christmas songs together before opening the presents. In the afternoon, Christmas cookies, lebkuchen and stollen are eaten, and in the evening, the whole family has a traditional meal together. The traditions here reach from simple potato salad and hot dogs, to fish or duck, to opulent meals; it really depends on the family.

(the work of one afternoon--my sister and I had fun)

On the next two days (25th and 26th), both of which are bank holidays, many families visit with their grandparents and other relatives. (Yes, Christmas lasts for three days in Germany.)

Every year, thousands of people storm into the shops on the morning of Dec 24th, to get the last Christmas presents, buy a Christmas tree (if there are any left), get groceries.... Some good advice: If you don't need it, leave your car at home on the 24th, and only venture out if you really have to (until the shops close at around noon or one).

Merry Christmas to all of you! (And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I still wish you a really nice day, and maybe a different holiday....)

German Tenses--An Overview (Part I.2)

continued from Dec 14, 2011

Konjunktiv I == Subjunctive
Präsens == (present)

ich frage == (that) I ask
du fragest == (that) you ask
er/sie/es frage == (that) he/she/it ask
wir fragen == (that) we ask
ihr fraget == (that) you ask
sie/Sie fragen == (that) they ask ((that) you ask—formal address)

Vergangenheit == (Perfekt) (past)

ich habe gefragt == (if) I asked
du habest gefragt == (if) you asked
er/sie/es habe gefragt == (if) he/she/it asked
wir haben gefragt == (if) we asked
ihr habet gefragt == (if) you asked
sie/Sie haben gefragt == (if) they asked ((if) you asked—formal address)

Futur I == (future I)

ich werde fragen == (if) I were to ask/should ask
du werdest fragen == (if) you were to ask/should ask
er/sie/es werde fragen == (if) he/she/it were to ask/should ask
wir werden fragen == (if) we were to ask/should ask
ihr werdet fragen == (if) you were to ask/should ask
sie/Sie werden fragen == (if) they were to ask/should ask
((if) you were to ask/should ask—formal address)

Note: The subjunctive future with “should” is mostly used in BE.

Futur II == (future II)

ich werde gefragt haben
du werdest gefragt haben
er/sie/es werde gefragt haben
wir werden gefragt haben
ihr werdet gefragt haben
sie/Sie werden gefragt haben

Note: German Konjunktiv I Futur II doesn’t seem to have a corresponding English verb tense (on the other hand, the English pluperfect subjunctive doesn’t have a corresponding German verb tense). It is rarely used in modern German anymore.

Konjunktiv II == Conditional
Präsens (Präteritum/Futur I) == (present)

ich fragte/würde fragen == I would ask
du fragtest/würdest fragen == you would ask
er/sie/es fragte/würde fragen == he/she/it would ask
wir fragten/würden fragen == we would ask
ihr fragtet/würdet fragen == you would ask
sie/Sie fragten/würden fragen == they would ask (you would ask—formal address)

Note: Regular verbs have the same forms in Konjunktiv II Präsens as in Präteritum, therefore the modal verb „werden“ is used in its conditional form (würde etc) together with the infinitive to differentiate Konjunktiv II from Präteritum.

Vergangenheit (Plusquamperfekt/Futur II) == (past)

ich hätte gefragt/würde gefragt haben == I would have asked
du hättest gefragt/würdest gefragt haben == you would have asked
er/sie/es hätte gefragt/würde gefragt haben == he/she/it would have asked
wir hätten gefragt/würden gefragt haben == we would have asked
ihr hättet gefragt/würdet gefragt haben == you would have asked
sie/Sie hätten gefragt/würden gefragt haben == they would have asked
(you would have asked—formal address)

Note: In both German Konjunktiv II tenses, both given alternatives (the „natural“ one and the one using „würde“) are equally valid and are used without difference in meaning.

Imperativ == Imperative

Frag(e)! == Ask!
Fragen wir! == Let’s ask!
Fragt! == Ask!
Fragen Sie! == Ask! (formal address)

Infinitivformen == Participles
Präsens == (present)

fragend asking

Perfekt == (past)

gefragt == asked

Watch out for Part II.1 next week!

From the Life of a Bilingual Writer...(III)

Fun Facts

I have started to try lip reading whenever I watch a synchronised (German) version of an English speaking film or series. It is amazing how many words I can already recognise if I pay attention and the face is shown well!

After I had translated my Miro the Dragon stories into English, single sentences or ideas for the next stories come to me in either German or English (which can be quite annoying since the stories started as a German children's book series and are supposed to stay that way, even if they are translated and published in America--does that make sense?)

Every now and then, one of my other languages takes over my mind, and I imagine certain situations in that language. Those "episodes" are often triggered by some random thing, like a name (and it either frustrates or amazes me, depending on how much I actually remember spontaneously).

Even when speaking German, I tend to use American measurements now.

I felt weird talking German to anyone while I was in America. When I did, I often had situations where I instinctively switched back to English.

During my first weeks back in Germany, I ended up using English words and/or sentence structure without noticing until after it was said.

To be continued...

Word of the Week ... XXII

My word this week is:

"deific"

Meaning: godly, but with a less reverent aspect as "sacred"

Example: The dinner last night was really deific, thanks!

I only learnt of this word yesterday, and it stuck with me enough to be worth a blog post.

German Tenses--An Overview (Part I.1)

Active Tenses, Regular Verb, with “haben”: Indicative Mode

“fragen” is a regular verb which builds its compound tenses with the modal verb “haben” (to have).

Infinitiv == (infinitive)

fragen == (to ask)

Indikativ == Indicative Mode

Präsens == (simple present)

ich frage == I ask

du fragst == you ask

er/sie/es fragt == he/she/it asks

wir fragen == we ask

ihr fragt == you ask

sie/Sie fragen == they ask (you ask—formal address)

Präteritum == (simple past)

ich fragte == I asked

du fragtest == you asked

er/sie/es fragte == he/she/it asked

wir fragten == we asked

ihr fragtet == you asked

sie/Sie fragten == they asked (you asked—formal address)

Perfekt == (present perfect)

ich habe gefragt == I have asked

du hast gefragt == you have asked

er/sie/es hat gefragt == he/she/it has asked

wir haben gefragt == we have asked

ihr habt gefragt == you have asked

sie/Sie haben gefragt == they have asked (you have asked—formal address)

Plusquamperfekt == (past perfect)

ich hatte gefragt == I had asked

du hattest gefragt == you had asked

er/sie/es hatte gefragt == he/she/it had asked

wir hatten gefragt == we had asked

ihr hattet gefragt == you had asked

sie/Sie hatten gefragt == they had asked (you had asked—formal address)

Futur I == (future I)

ich werde fragen == I will ask

du wirst fragen == you will ask

er/sie/es wird fragen == he/she/it will ask

wir werden fragen == we will ask

ihr werdet fragen == you will ask

sie/Sie werden fragen == they will ask (you will ask—formal address)

Futur II == (future II)

ich werde gefragt haben == I will have asked

du wirst gefragt haben == you will have asked

er/sie/es wird gefragt haben == he/she/it will have asked

wir werden gefragt haben == we will have asked

ihr werdet gefragt haben == you will have asked

sie/Sie werden gefragt haben == they will have asked (you will have asked—formal address)


Since I am currently writing up a summary of German verb tenses (and likely more grammar topics to follow) for my sweetheart, who started learning German, I will dedicate Wednesdays to "German Grammar Wednesday" for the time being (read: until I run out of topics). If you have particular questions or want to have a particular grammar topic covered, please let me know.

Next week: Part I.2 (Subjunctive and Imperative of "fragen")

Fun with Pronunciation--English

For all of you who think they know English pronunciation to a t, try yourself at this poem by G. Nolst Trenité which I found online last week. It is amazing, and I am pretty sure I got a few words wrong when I read it aloud. However, it was great fun to test myself. This poem shows the chaos of English pronunciation in a fun and compelling way. After you have read this, maybe you understand a little better why people who learn English as a foreign language may make pronunciation mistakes.

To take just one example from the poem:

Finally, which rhymes with enough,
Though, through, plough, or dough, or cough?

We have the same letter combination but various pronunciations. There is no hint as to why you pronounce the word the way you do, and learners of English have two options: to look it up in a dictionary, which is highly impractical in a conversation, or to take their chances with one pronunciation and hope it is the correct one.

Granted, that's exactly the reason why most language courses (even the self-learner courses) come with audio CDs. You only get that far with such a course, though. After that, there are so many different ways to improve your English, not all of which come with pronunciation help. At least, I haven't yet seen a single novel which gave me the correct pronunciation after each word....

Guess what I am trying to say: Be a bit more tolerant towards someone speaking English as a second language when they try to get it right but make pronunciation mistakes. And, just for fun, imagine you trying to pronounce their native language correctly....

Thanks again for this delightful poem, English Pronunciation, G. Nolst Trenité!

Word of the Week ... XXI

This week's word of the week is something I stumbled upon while looking up some other word, and it made me smile, so here it is:

"thank-you-ma'am"

Meaning: A thank-you-ma'am is usually a hole or bump in the road which makes everyone in the car nod unvoluntarily while driving across.

Example: As we drove across a thank-you-ma'am, my sister almost spilled her coffee.

The word seems to have been around in the 19th century in colloquial American English. I have no idea, though, whether or not it is still in use. Americans, ever heard or used it?

Language as Tool Sets

Language gives us the tools to communicate. However, instead of just being one huge set of tools, language is a series of related and often overlapping tool sets. We have a certain vocabulary and way of speaking or writing appropriate to a certain situation, and we can change the way we speak and write accordingly.

Just imagine the language used in law texts (also called legalese), and now the way parents speak with their small children. Yes, I chose two so drastically different sets of language tools on purpose; that way, it is easiest to see how these tool sets differ in choice of vocabulary and sentence structure. Furthermore, we can use these examples to show that not everyone has access to the same tool sets. On the one hand, most people automatically use the appropriate tool set to speak with small children--that seems to be genetically "installed"--but on the other hand, many people who do not usually have to deal with legalese have trouble making any sense of it.

Writers usually have more than one tool set for writing too. Many writers write in more than one genre and every genre has its own tool set (or even several tool sets) to convey the genre-specific atmosphere and feeling. The sets vary in use of vocabulary, sentence length and structure, use of tenses etc. A medieval novel will use different words than a futuristic sci-fi novel, or a contemporary YA novel. Every time a writer tries his hands at a new genre and strives to find his voice for that genre, he acquires another tool set.

To fully utilise a language's potential, you should strive to acquire as many tool sets as you can. It will allow you to communicate effectively in any situation, which is the main reason why language exists. To communicate.

Language Learning Books--OMG!

So, I sorted through all my stuff I want to take with me when I'm moving after Christmas. Honestly, I was shocked when I saw the amount of boxes! Most of them are filled with my books--not just novels, but lots and lots of language learning books. I have eight really big books (and I'm talking about letter size, two inches thick, counting as deadly weapon on the top shelf): four dictionaries (for four different languages), two monolingual dictionaries, one idiom dictionary and one, probably the biggest of all, listing all the Italian verbs and their uses. Furthermore, I own a variety of grammar books, language courses, verb tables, smaller dictionaries (for other languages), and other useful language learning materials.

Why did I gather such a huge amount of stuff?

Well, the first and most obvious reason is because I am learning and working with several languages. But does that really account for having more than one grammar book for any single language? I know I am weird, but I simply love having several possibilities to look something up. Too often, I tried to find something in a grammar book, just to realise that my grammar book didn't sufficiently cover that topic. Granted, by now, I know several websites about grammar for one language or the other, as well as several online dictionaries, but there's nothing that can beat the experience and feeling of leafing through countless pages, scanning the content pages, and finally finding what I need.

The value of my private language learning library? I'm not sure, but I guess well over 1,000 euros (adding the purchasing prices together). It has taken me about half of my life to gather what I have so far, with many of the books having been birthday or Christmas gifts. Yes, I am proud of my little library, but boy, that's a whole lot of books! You never notice until you move and have to carry everything from apartment to car, to storage, to new place....

One Year of Language Love!

Today exactly one year ago, I started Language Love to create a blog where I could freely talk about that topic I love most--languages. I hoped that I might gain some readers who would enjoy what I write, but never would I have thought it possible to achieve this much. My pageviews per month have soared to heights I had never imagined possible for my little blog, and yet, it happened. This tells me one thing above all else:

I have awesome readers!!!

All of you who have shared your experience with us in guest posts, or who have regularly read this blog, have made this huge success possible. I want to thank you for your readership and your loyalty. You really make me feel special and make me smile whenever I have a look at my page view statistics or receive a comment, either on this blog or via email or other ways, since I know I am read, and people enjoy my blog.

As soon as my current situation allows me some time to breathe, I want to go through all these blog posts and comments I have received so far, and want to compile a "Best Of", so stay tuned for that.

As for now, all that needs to be said:

THANK YOU!!!