The Awful German Language
Book • 2009
Published as Appendix D in Mark Twain's 1880 book 'A Tramp Abroad', 'The Awful German Language' is a humorous essay that delves into the complexities and frustrations of learning German.
Twain, who attempted to learn German twice, once at age 15 and again 28 years later, uses his experiences to highlight the challenges of German grammar, including separable verbs, adjective declension, and compound words.
He also critiques the German language's system of inflection and linguistic gender, comparing it to English.
The essay is known for its humorous examples and interlinear translations that emphasize the mechanical aspects of the German language.
Twain, who attempted to learn German twice, once at age 15 and again 28 years later, uses his experiences to highlight the challenges of German grammar, including separable verbs, adjective declension, and compound words.
He also critiques the German language's system of inflection and linguistic gender, comparing it to English.
The essay is known for its humorous examples and interlinear translations that emphasize the mechanical aspects of the German language.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 0 episodes
Erwähnt von ![undefined]()
Stefan Draf
Ist Deutsch eine schnelle Sprache?
