Germany is governed under the Grundgesetz (Basic Law), adopted in 1949 as a provisional constitution. It became valid for the entire nation on October 3, 1990. This law guarantees rights to individuals and provides for a relatively decentralized form of government designed to prevent the emergence of a dictatorship like that of Adolf Hitler, who controlled Germany from 1933 to 1945. Germany is divided into 16 Lander (federal states). The head of state is Bundesprasident (Federal President). The head of the government is the Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor), who is elected by the lower house of parliament, called the Bundestag. The upper house, the Bundesrat, represents the interests of the Lander.
Why study Deutsch, you might ask.
Let's look at the practical application of it. Today, Deutsch is spoken by more than 100 million people living in Germany, Austria, and the greater part of Switzerland. It is used and understood by millions elsewhere in Europe and around the world.
Deutsch is one of the great international languages, particularly valuable in the fields of science, technology, and commerce. And speaking of commerce, did you know that the Federal Republic of Germany is a leading economic power, ranking second only to the United States among the world's trading nations?
You are now ready to set out on the exciting journey of learning a new language. This blog is designed to make the learning process easy, interesting, and convenient as possible. We have used verbs only in the present tense so that you can quickly gain a conversational knowledge of Deutsch.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Learn more about Deutsh & Germany
Congratulations, dear friend! Visiting this blog was a splendid idea. You will enjoy learning a new and beautiful language.
Beautiful? Yes, I know; people have been made to believe that Italian is more melodious, French more elegant, Spanish more virile - but who wants to sing, wear formal attire, or be macho all the time?
I have it on good authority (my own that Deutsch is a down-to-earth, no-nonsense, yet surprisingly poetic language that you will love to learn.
Let's lay to rest some misconceptions.
No, Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitiswitwe (widow of a captain of the Danube steamship company) is not the longest word known. There is a place in Wales whose Welsh name is longer by a couple of inches.
No. Speaking German won't give you a sore throat. I've been practicing it for years and to no ill effect. Like the Scots and the Duth, Germans cherish their gutturals.
No. It's not true that the average German male wears short leather pants, likes to yodel, and feeds on sausages, potatoes, and sauerkraut.
On the other hand.
Yes. It's true that Deutsch is closely related to English, and that you will easily recognize hundreds of words.
Yes. It's true that Germans have a crush on their beer - but so will you, once you taste it. (Personally, I adore their wine, also.)
Yes. It's true that haggling in stores will get you nowhere, that service personnel are less tip-hungry than elsewhere, that hotel rooms are generally clean, and that trains run on time. True also that there's an abundance of theaters and opera houses, concerts and ballet.
Let's quickly talk about some of the major cities. Frankfurt is one of Germany's foremost transportation hubs, and also its financial center. It is served by a major international airport.
In the fall you can enjoy merr-making at Munich's Oktoberfest. The city is famous also for its great theaters, fine concerts, and rich art galleries.
If you seek elegance, Dusseldorf, a metropolis of the Rhine valley, takes first place. It is the fashion capital of Germany and one of its wealthiest cities as well.
Hamburg, the "Venice of the North," is one of the great seaports of the world. It is also an important cultural center noted especially for its major magazine and book publishing firms. The St Pauli district in Hamburg is well known for its steamy nightlife.
The reunited city of Berlin was made the capital again in 1990, when the German Democratic Republic officially acceeded to the Federal Republic. One of Europe's largest industrial ceners, Berlin also is a cultural mecca, with three opera houses, several major orchestras, dozens of theaters, and world-renoned museums. It is the future seat of the federal government.
Bonn, the former unification capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, until 1949 was a little university town famous as the birthplace of the compower Ludwig van Beethoven. It was raised to eminence by political intrigue. Berlin, itself out of the running, promoted Bonn, fearing that Frankfurt would get the prize and keep it permanently, even if reunification were to occur. Bonn will continue to be an important administrative and scientific center even after Berlin becomes the seat of the federal government.
Dresden, now the capital of the Free State of Saxony, is increasingly important as a center of the microelectronics industry. A leading cultural center as well, Dresden is famed for its music, art collections, and baroque architecture.
Leipzig, also in Saxony, has a long tradition as a trade fair city. It was a focal point of peaceful resistance to the SED regime in the German Democratic Republic.
Away from the big, noisy cities, Germany's old-fashioned beauty is still intact. The enchanting valleys of the Rhine and the Mosel, the Neckar and the Danube, the vistas of the Black Forest, the Harz Mountains, and the Bavarian Alps, the ancient cathedrals, medieval towns, and legendary castles are wonders no tourist should miss.
Beautiful? Yes, I know; people have been made to believe that Italian is more melodious, French more elegant, Spanish more virile - but who wants to sing, wear formal attire, or be macho all the time?
I have it on good authority (my own that Deutsch is a down-to-earth, no-nonsense, yet surprisingly poetic language that you will love to learn.
Let's lay to rest some misconceptions.
No, Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitiswitwe (widow of a captain of the Danube steamship company) is not the longest word known. There is a place in Wales whose Welsh name is longer by a couple of inches.
No. Speaking German won't give you a sore throat. I've been practicing it for years and to no ill effect. Like the Scots and the Duth, Germans cherish their gutturals.
No. It's not true that the average German male wears short leather pants, likes to yodel, and feeds on sausages, potatoes, and sauerkraut.
On the other hand.
Yes. It's true that Deutsch is closely related to English, and that you will easily recognize hundreds of words.
Yes. It's true that Germans have a crush on their beer - but so will you, once you taste it. (Personally, I adore their wine, also.)
Yes. It's true that haggling in stores will get you nowhere, that service personnel are less tip-hungry than elsewhere, that hotel rooms are generally clean, and that trains run on time. True also that there's an abundance of theaters and opera houses, concerts and ballet.
Let's quickly talk about some of the major cities. Frankfurt is one of Germany's foremost transportation hubs, and also its financial center. It is served by a major international airport.
In the fall you can enjoy merr-making at Munich's Oktoberfest. The city is famous also for its great theaters, fine concerts, and rich art galleries.
If you seek elegance, Dusseldorf, a metropolis of the Rhine valley, takes first place. It is the fashion capital of Germany and one of its wealthiest cities as well.
Hamburg, the "Venice of the North," is one of the great seaports of the world. It is also an important cultural center noted especially for its major magazine and book publishing firms. The St Pauli district in Hamburg is well known for its steamy nightlife.
The reunited city of Berlin was made the capital again in 1990, when the German Democratic Republic officially acceeded to the Federal Republic. One of Europe's largest industrial ceners, Berlin also is a cultural mecca, with three opera houses, several major orchestras, dozens of theaters, and world-renoned museums. It is the future seat of the federal government.
Bonn, the former unification capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, until 1949 was a little university town famous as the birthplace of the compower Ludwig van Beethoven. It was raised to eminence by political intrigue. Berlin, itself out of the running, promoted Bonn, fearing that Frankfurt would get the prize and keep it permanently, even if reunification were to occur. Bonn will continue to be an important administrative and scientific center even after Berlin becomes the seat of the federal government.
Dresden, now the capital of the Free State of Saxony, is increasingly important as a center of the microelectronics industry. A leading cultural center as well, Dresden is famed for its music, art collections, and baroque architecture.
Leipzig, also in Saxony, has a long tradition as a trade fair city. It was a focal point of peaceful resistance to the SED regime in the German Democratic Republic.
Away from the big, noisy cities, Germany's old-fashioned beauty is still intact. The enchanting valleys of the Rhine and the Mosel, the Neckar and the Danube, the vistas of the Black Forest, the Harz Mountains, and the Bavarian Alps, the ancient cathedrals, medieval towns, and legendary castles are wonders no tourist should miss.
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