Why is German such a difficult language?
One reason is its grammatical structure, including its cases and word order, which can be different from English and may take some time to master. Additionally, the pronunciation and the use of compound words in German can also pose challenges for learners.
But what makes German so hard to learn? The only reason that German seems so difficult to people is that it has grammar rules that other languages don't. German is a language with relatively high “inflection,” meaning that the words in a sentence change based on their grammatical roles.
Phonetics are frequently cited as a reason why German is harsh and aggressive. It is not the phonetics that make German “harsh” though. Many other languages have similar phonetics. The listener's perception of these sounds makes all the difference.
While German might not make the list of the easiest languages to learn, it isn't one of the top ten most difficult ones either. If you're looking for a quick answer to whether learning German really is as hard as you've heard – the answer is yes and no.
Its grammar, word order, and extensive vocabulary contribute to its complexity. Additionally, the formation of compound words and the use of multiple cases and genders add layers of intricacy to the language. These factors collectively contribute to the perception of German as a complex language.
Overall, Spanish might be easier than German at the beginning stages, but the two tend to even out in difficulty once learners get to the more advanced stages. German has more complicated grammar rules that need to be mastered early on, but once learners get familiar with them, they find that they're pretty consistent.
However, in general, we can say that German is generally considered to be an easier language for English speakers to learn than Japanese. This is because German and English share many similarities in terms of grammar and vocabulary.
It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.
1. Quatsch! Pronounced like “Kvatch,” this is one of the more commonly used terms when showing your angry side.
- Mandarin. Most students consider Mandarin the scariest language to learn due to various reasons. ...
- Arabic. ...
- 3. Japanese. ...
- Russian. ...
- German.
What is harder Chinese or German?
Undoubtedly Chinese is more difficult as a language to learn. German language has the same set of letters which we use with a slightly different pronunciation. Besides, the Grammer concepts are also the same in German as in English.
However, German grammar tends to be difficult, and more complicated than that of Romance languages like French, for a lot of learners. It is consistent in following its own rules, but the problem is that there are a lot of rules, and the rules themselves are rather complex.
Mandarin Chinese
Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world. Mandarin Chinese is challenging for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the writing system is extremely difficult for English speakers (and anyone else) accustomed to the Latin alphabet.
- Rührei (Scrambled eggs) ...
- Arbeitslosigkeitsversicherung (Unemployment insurance) ...
- Röntgen (X-ray) ...
- Quietscheentchen (Rubber duck) ...
- Tschechien (Czechia) ...
- Kreuzschlitzschraubenzieher (Screwdriver) ...
- Schlittschuhlaufen (Ice skating)
- Guten Tag = Good day.
- Hallo = Hello.
- Auf Wiedersehen = Goodbye.
- Bitte = Please.
- Danke = Thanks, Thank you.
- Entschuldigung = Sorry.
- Gesundheit = Bless you (after someone sneezes)
- Ja = Yes.
- Rural. ...
- Squirrel. ...
- Blend v Bland , Met v Mat. ...
- Pleasure, Measure. ...
- Unvoiced Consonants. ...
- Tomb, Lamb, Debt. ...
- The, That, Then.
Both Italian and German have plenty of words that sound and look similar to their English counterparts. (These are called cognates.) Italian grammar and pronunciation take the cake for ease compared to German, but German is much simpler concerning verb forms and various rules.
For native English speakers German is one of the easier languages to learn. For native speakers of something Slavic (e.g., Polish, Croatian, Slovenian, etc), Russian will be easier. It depends on your first language. German orthography is also more like how German is pronounced than Russian orthography is.
Should you learn French or German? The answer to this question depends on many factors, including your interests, hobbies, family history, and more. However, if you're looking for one language to learn that easier and more useful, you may want to explore French first.
Language | Difficulty | Tones |
---|---|---|
Dutch | Easy | No |
Portuguese | Easy | No |
German | Moderate | No |
Indonesian | Moderate | No |
Which language is more in demand German or Japanese?
According to the popularity and career opportunity, if you are looking for a successful and highly paid career in a foreign language, Japanese is one of the best choices for you. Though Japanese is considered difficult to learn, yet it is the highest-paid foreign language for Indians.
Both German and Japanese are widely spoken, useful languages to learn. According to Rocket languages, in 2010, German claimed 89 million native speakers and 52 million non-native speakers.
Body Language
Germans may appear reserved and unfriendly until you get to know them better. Never put your hands in your pockets when talking with someone. "Thumbs up" gesture means "one" or is a sign of appreciation or agreement.
This is a well known German thing when someone burps 😂 After somebody burps, you say: Schulz! Sometimes, it is accompanied by putting your thumb on your Stirn (forehead). It is especially popular among Jugendliche (teenagers) to do this as a drinking game. If somebody does not say Schulz, gets hit!
Scheiße. One of the most common bad words in German, scheiße, has several creative constructions that mirror the English use of “sh*t.” Oh Scheiße!
References
- https://www.germanpod101.com/blog/2020/12/18/is-german-hard-to-learn/
- https://www.fluentu.com/blog/german/angry-german-words/
- https://www.languagebird.com/5-scariest-languages-to-learn-and-how-to-conquer-them/
- https://guide2fluency.com/language-resources/german-vs-italian/
- http://web.sut.ac.th/cia/2017/CulturalEtiquette/GermanyCulturalEtiquette.pdf
- https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/6-hardest-languages-for-english-speakers-to-learn
- https://blog.rosettastone.com/german-words/
- https://mylanguagebreak.com/learning-german-japanese/
- https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-German-language-so-complex
- https://japaneseplus.org/2017/02/11/japanese-vs-german/
- https://www.tiktok.com/@laedwards_family/video/7269752021085932843
- https://blog.busuu.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/
- https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/german-vs-french
- https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-say-that-German-is-a-very-complex-difficult-language-Personally-I-found-it-easier-to-learn-it-than-English
- https://www.quora.com/Is-German-harder-than-Russian
- https://www.thelocal.de/20181005/english-words-and-sounds-that-germans-will-never-pronounce-correctly
- https://www.qlasses.com/blog/which-foreign-language-is-in-demand-in-india
- https://www.sitzmanaetranslations.com/post/german-sound-angry
- https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/german-culture/german-culture-etiquette
- https://lingvist.com/course/learn-german-online/resources/german-curse-words/
- https://www.quora.com/Which-is-difficult-to-learn-German-or-Chinese
- https://www.tandem.net/blog/hardest-german-words-and-how-to-pronounce-them
- https://blog.busuu.com/is-german-hard-to-learn/
- https://testprepinsight.com/resources/french-vs-german-language/
- https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/spanish-vs-german