10 Interesting Facts about the German Language

There are different languages speak by billion people in this world. As a tool of communication, it can deliver meaning and message among people. One of the languages spoken in the world is German. And here are facts about the German Language which need you to know. As the most widely spoken native language in the European Union, it is spoken natively by about 100 million people. These following facts will give you information about the German language.

Facts about the German Language 1: Origins

The High German consonant shift during the migration period started the history of German language. The Elder Futhark inscriptions from the sixth century AD were found as the earliest evidence of Old High German.

Facts about the German Language 2: Written Language

Standard German was mostly a written language until 1800s. It was caused by the different pronunciation of Standard German varies from region to region. After 1800, Northern German pronunciation was considered the standard in prescriptive pronunciation guides. Find more facts about the First Thanksgiving here

Facts about the German Language 3: Geographic Distribution

The communities who speak German can be in many areas. It can be found in the former German colony of Namibia. It is also exist in other destinations of German emigration such as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Jordan, South Africa and Australia.

Facts about the German Language 4: The Most Widely Spoken Natively in the EU

In the European Union, the German language with around 100 million native speakers becomes the most widely spoken first language. It is also one of the three official languages of Belgium, alongside Dutch and French.

Facts about the German Language 5: Namibia

German is also spoken by about 25-30,000 people as a mother tongue in the former German colony of Namibia. It is used in business, tourism, churches, schools, literature, radio and music there.

Facts about the German Language 6: Third most taught foreign language in the English-speaking world

After French and Spanish, German becomes the third most taught foreign language in the English-speaking world. 32 % of citizens of the EU from 15 countries said that they can converse in German. They can speak either as a mother tongue or as a second or foreign language. Find more facts about the English Civil War here

Facts about the German Language 7: Three Genders

In German, there are three grammatical genders used; masculine, feminine, and neuter. The feminine noun usually ended by word ung, schaft, keit or heit. While nouns ending in chen or lein (diminutive forms) are neuter and nouns ending in ismus (-ism) are masculine.

Facts about the German Language 8: Brothers Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm known as Brothers Grimm are German authors who collected and published the fairy tales collections. Their fairy tales collections are popular throughout the world.

Facts about the German Language 9: The Loanwords

Interestingly, English has gotten many its words from German. For the example are automat, bratwurst, doppelganger, fest, edelweiss, blitz, kindergarten and so forth.

Facts about the German Language 10: Goethe-Institut

Goethe-Institut is backed by the government to improve the knowledge of German culture and language within Europe and the rest of the world. It activities include exhibitions and conferences with German-related themes, and providing training and guidance in the learning and use of the German language.

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