Is the German language dying?
 
With so many anglicisms in German, will the language eventually be overthrown by English?

Die Prinzen have already sung about the many anglicisms in German in their song, "Be Cool Speak Deutsch."

English is Everywhere 
 
English is everywhere: in industries like transportation, technology, and food, many of the most prominent buzzwords are borrowed from English.

Therefore, many Germans can’t avoid speaking some amount of English in their daily lives. This causes many others to suggest that the German language is dying, and will eventually be overthrown by English.

This opinion, however, is not valid - the language is simply in a state of constant change. 

So, the German language is not dying.

Much too many people speak German as a native language, and the fact that it’s an Indoeuropean language makes it less likely to die out. It’s also important to note that foreign influences on German are nothing new.

Many Germans use English words to sound cool and chic - English-speaking languages drive pop culture and social media, and by using English, Germans feel more connected to the stylish people on TV and the radio. But this doesn’t mean one should fear an overthrow of German by English, because even though Germans often use them,

English words don’t completely replace their German counterparts. According to MIller, anglicisms allow for new nuances in the German language.
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Right, so the language isn’t dying, but it has definitely changed.

According to Thomas Steinfeld, German is an invention of the late 1800s. Poets, philosophers and scholars tried to create a newer and simpler German.

They were successful: they created a language that became intertwined with philosophy, science, and mathematics. But this connection also gave the language a sense of antiquity, which would later be avoided by those who spoke it.

That’s why German has changed in many shapes and forms. Most noticeable is the use of the cases, which are often switched or even left out.

But these changes don’t represent a deterioration of the language or the laziness of the younger generation, but rather a language that relies less and less on grammar in order to express something. 

We are All So Connected

Language change also depends on immigration: because of the “mistakes” made by immigrants, it’s now more acceptable to say „er ist mehr klein“ instead of „er ist kleiner,” and to switch around word order, for example, to say „er kommt nicht, weil er ist krank.“

But again, that’s not a sign that the language is in decline, but a representation of how Germany is changing as a society. In fact, there’s already a name for this mixed language: Kiezdeutsch.
 

 What is Kiezdeutsch?
 
 
In Kiezdeutsch, words from other languages, like Turkish, are mixed with German. 

Hinrichs believes that the most influential motivators of language change are immigration, contact between languages, and multilingualism.

If that’s true, then we can expect a lot more change in the future. Today, 69 languages are registered in Germany.

Multilingualism is nothing new in Germany, and it will always be a part of life. With the new wave of immigration, we can expect to see more change in the language.

And that’s a good thing: with changes in the ethnic makeup of the society comes a chance to learn from others while learning about ourselves.

This societal change manifests itself in many ways, and of course, language is one of them.

​Changes in language are tied to language contact and immigration, and in our world, one that is always becoming more and more connected, one can expect that the German language will become simpler, but that doesn’t mean that it will die out. 
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The language of Goethe is not the same language that’s spoken today.

The reasons for language change are aplenty, but an influential one is language contact and the many immigrants who now live in Germany, who make their own mark on the German language in order to make it their own.

If one sees these changes, both in the language and in society, as progress and not detriments, the reality of the situation becomes clearer: change is good for everyone, both immigrants and Germans included.

In the end, it all depends on how one chooses to see it: either as a chance for us all to become more connected, or something over which to aggravate one’s self.

Languages are constantly changing, but without its long and historical evolution, the German language would not be what it is today.

She who loves her language must also be thankful for how it’s changed.

​To see this post in German, click here.

​Mit so vielen Anglizismen in der deutsche Sprache, wird die Sprache unterworfen von dem Englischen werden?

With so many anglicisms in German, will the language eventually be overthrown by English?

​Be Cool, Speak Deutsch 

Englisch scheint überall zu sein.

Bei dem Transport, der Technologie und dem Essen sind viele Schlusswörter von dem Englischen ausgeliehen.

Das heißt, dass viele Deutsche es nicht vermieden können, oft Englisch zu sprechen.

Das führte viele Leute auch zu sagen, dass die deutsche Sprache stirbt, und dass es eventuell von dem Englischen unterworfen wird.

Diese Stimmung stimmt eigentlich gar nicht - die Sprache ändert sich einfach immer.
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Also die deutsche Sprache stirbt nicht.

Viel zu viele Leute sprechen Deutsch als Muttersprache, und der Fakt, dass Deutsch eine Indoeuropäische Sprache ist, gibt es Kraft gegen Aussterben.

Es ist auch wichtig zu bemerken, dass fremde Einflüsse auf des Deutsche nichts Neues sind. Viele Deutsche benutzen englische Wörter, um schick und gebildet zu klingen – englischsprachige Länder beherrschen Popkultur und soziale Medien, und mit der Benutzung des Englischen sehen Deutschen sich als verbundener mit den modischen Persönlichkeiten im Fernsehen und Radio.

​Aber man soll des Unterworfen der deutschen Sprache nicht fürchten, weil obwohl die Deutsche oft Englisch sprechen, englische Wörter ersetzen deutsche Wörter nicht völlig. Nach Miller bringen Anglizismen bringen neue Nuancen zum Ausdruck.
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Wir Sind Alle Jetzt Verbindet

Also die Sprache stirbt nicht aus, aber es hat sich ja entwickelt.

Nach Thomas Steinfeld ist die deutsche Sprache eine Entwicklung des späten 18. Jahrhunderts. Dichter, Philosophen und Gelehrte versuchten es, ein neues und leichteres Deutsch zu schaffen.

Sie waren erfolgreich: sie erschufen eine Sprache, die wurde mit Philosophie, Wissenschaft und Mathematik verbunden. Aber mit dieser Verbindung kam auch ein Gefühl von Antiquität dazu – eine Antiquität, die später vermietet wurde. Deswegen hat die deutsche Sprache schon in viele Arten und Weise entwickelt.

Am Öffentlichtsten ist die Verwendung der Fällen, die oft verwechselt oder weggelassen werden.

Aber diese Änderungen repräsentieren nicht eine Verschlechterung der Sprache oder die Faulheit der Jugendlichen, sondern eine Sprache, die weniger und weniger auf Grammatik abhängt, um etwas zu äußern.
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Sprachwandeln geht auch um Migration: wegen der „Fehlern“ der Migranten ist es nun akzeptabler „er ist mehr klein“ als „er ist kleiner“ zu sagen und die Wortfolge zu ändern, zum Beispiel „er kommt nicht, weil er ist krank.“

​Das ist aber keine Verstümmelung der Sprache, sondern ein Zeichen von der Entwicklung der Deutschen als eine Gesellschaft. Es gibt auch schon einen Namen für diese Mischungs-Sprache, Kiezdeutsch.

​Was ist Kiezdeutsch?
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In Kiezdeutsch werden Wörter von vielen Sprachen, wie z.B. das Türkisch, mit dem Deutsch gemischt. 

​​Hinrichs stellte fest, dass die einflussreichste Motors des Sprachwandels Migration, Sprachkontakte und Mehrsprachigkeit sind. Wenn das wahr ist, können wir viel mehr Veränderungen erwarten.

Heutzutage gibt es 69 Sprachen, die in Deutschland registriert sind. Mehrsprachigkeit ist nichts Neues in Deutschland, und es wird immer ein Teil des Lebens sein.

Mit den neuen Migrationen werden noch viel mehr Sprachwandeln bewirkt werden. Und das ist ein Vorteil: mit Wechseln in der ethnischen Zusammensetzung der Gesellschaft kommen auch eine Möglichkeit, mehr von anderen zu lernen und mehr über sich selbst zu lernen.

Diese gesellschaftlichen Wechsel manifestieren sich in viele Formen, und natürlich ist die Sprache eine davon.

Dem Wechsel der Sprache liegen Sprachkontakt und Migration zugrunde, und in unserer Welt, die noch immer verbundener und verbundener wird, kann man es erwarten, dass die deutsche Sprache einfacher werden wird, aber dass heißt nicht, dass die Sprache aussterben wird.
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Die Sprache von Goethe ist nicht die Sprache, die heutzutage gesprochen wird.

Die Gründe für die sprachlichen Änderungen sind unterschiedlich, aber ein einflussreicher Grund ist der Sprachkontakt und die vielen Migranten, die jetzt in Deutschland leben, und die die deutsche Sprache ändern, um sie zu ihrer eigenen Sprache zu machen.

Wenn man diese Entwicklung, sowohl in der Sprache als auch in der ethnischen Zusammensetzung, als Progress und nicht Einbuße sieht, wird die Realität klarer werden: Wandel sind gut für alle: die Migranten und auch die Deutschen.

Im Großen und Ganzen hängt alle davon ab, wie man wählt, es zu sehen: entweder als eine Chance, für uns alle verbundener zu sein, oder etwas, darüber sich zu ärgern. Sprachen ändern sich immer, aber ohne die lange und historische

Entwicklung der deutschen Sprache wäre die Sprache nicht, was sie heute ist.

​Wer seine Sprache liebt, muss auch der Sprachentwicklung dankbar sein.

​To read this post in English, please click here.

​Travel can be stressful for a lot of people.

I like to make things as easy and comfortable for my husband and I when we travel.

We've done it enough both together and alone and have traveled in every comfort level scenario - from roughing it completely (sleeping in a car, lost in the middle of the night in Warsaw or camping in torrential downpours in tents in Slovenia).

We've stayed with other rowdy travelers above the super steep stairs of the Amsterdam hostels.

We've even gotten rewards stays and felt so fancy staying at 5 star hotels in Italy and on business trips in Dubrovnik.

Every trip we've taken has led us to learn a valuable lesson to help us now have as smooth of a trip as possible.

Do you do these 11 EXPERT things before you fly abroad?

1.) Of course, you will want to check in online ahead of time to make sure you get the best seat possible. Do this online and have a mobile boarding pass ready.

If you get to the airport early and want to feel extra secure, you can absolutely swipe your passport at a kiosk and print out a physical boarding pass to board the plane.

My super powerful secret tip: 

Call the airline you're flying with the day before your departure (meaning the day you will be checking in). Ask for any upgrades or for the best seats available.

A 7 minute phone call can save you the charges of seat reservations and can score you free premium economy or even better upgrades!

I landed seats 10H and 10K on our Lufthansa flight from Philly to Frankfurt at no extra charge with extra leg room. It's the little things :) 

So, if you've ever worked in customer service, you know what it's like for someone else who is  working in customer service.

One of my first jobs was actually at a call center so I know how far it goes to be extra friendly, easygoing, and genuine while talking to someone on the phone.

How to reach a human on the phone:

Always remember to press zero to reach an operator and bypass all of the voice recording. If all else fails, check out GetHuman.com.

2. If you will be connecting to another city, book your train tickets in advance. My host sister in Germany clued me in on the Sparpreis you can score if you book train tickets 3 days ahead of your departure on most international train trips. More savings is always alright with me!

3. Packing cubes! These are absolutely genius and save SO much space. I'm also a fan of rolling clothes when packing. Backpack and carry-on (no checked luggage) only. Try to avoid over packing and plan out what you will wear each day of your trip. You don't want to check your luggage and risk losing all your stuff. Plus, it's so much easier to travel and maneuver around train stations and cobblestone streets if you have less stuff.

4. Collagen eye masks the day before and day of your flight keep you and your skin looking so fresh. Also, drinking a ton of water helps keep you feeling healthy and full while you travel. A lot of people see it as a downside that you have to use the bathroom  a lot more but at least you'll be stretching your legs more often which is always helpful on a long haul flight.

5. Sleep masks! This is even more important than a pillow on a long flight, in my opinion.  A good sleep mask that really covers everything can help you fall asleep. Add a cozy scarf or even a hood and you'll be snoozing in no time.

6. Travel uniform - find the one you prefer. Leggings, a long, soft t-shirt and a hoodie or sweater are one of my favs with either boots in the winter or Birkenstocks/Tom's in the summer. Jeans or joggers might be another option you might like. Make sure it's something you can sleep in and add and remove layers easily. 

7. Don't forget to pack your vitamins & headache medicine - I found a cute little vitamin holder at Marshall's that makes it easy to keep everything in one place. Similar here.

8. Call your banks ahead of time and/or exchange money. You'll want to let your bank know you're going abroad and find out what the exchange rate AND foreign transaction fees are (there could be both - you'll want to know this ahead of time so you can plan accordingly). 

9. Figure out where you are going to have your first meal upon arrival to help you adjust immediately. By having something prepared, it can help you ease into your trip and leave you not feeling overwhelmed by making a decision in another language immediately.
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​It can really help make you feel at home in a new place. 

​10. Get your phone unlocked if you're planning on getting a foreign SIM card while abroad. Alternatively, you can contact your provider and arrange an international plan before you leave home.

11. Schedule a delivery of Blue Apron 2-3 days before you leave so you don't waste any food and have just enough of what you need. You'll be so happy to not have to go grocery shopping and have exactly what you need to make delicious and healthy meals at home. I LOVE Blue Apron. Everything I have gotten has been super fresh, high quality, and flavorful. If you haven't tried it yet, you can get 

​Do you have any travel tips you swear by? Let me know in the comments below!

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​One of my favorite things about learning German as a teenager was having the ability to write a diary in another language that most people wouldn't be able to understand.

It helped me develop my writing skills, spelling, and simultaneously gave me some protection against any unwanted readers.

Even if you think you're not a journal/diary type of person, or a writer, I encourage you to work on your written German and spend some time each day writing a few thoughts down in German (or your target language).

What to write about?

• Recap your favorite book, show, or movie. This will give you an opportunity to use the past, present, and potentially even future tense!
  
  
• What do you dream of? Whether it's your actual dreams at night or what you hope for the future, you can practice using the past, present, and future tense.
  
  
• Something you don't like. Get it out there, practice negating and using vocabulary related to disliking something.
  
  
• What skills you have, are working on, or wish you had.
  
  
• Your goals (daily, weekly, monthly etc.)
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• Your daily tasks! If you like to write to-do lists, practice writing them in another language! Include everything, like shower, do dishes, prepare presentation, etc. 

Tip:

Write the best you can!

Don't stop to look up a word.

Try and describe the word you're looking for.

Even if you have to write something like,

"It's not the animal, it's the one you use to navigate a computer" in order to describe a computer mouse.

Look up the word you're looking for later and use it again that day, say it out loud, repeat it, and keep using it.

You won't forget it again.

When am I supposed to find time to write?

One of my favorite recent purchases that has been a game-changer for my language learning routine is this cube shaped, time block (I have it in purple).

You can set the timer for 5, 10, 20, or 30 minutes by simply flipping over the timer.

So, if I really only have 5 minutes to practice writing in my target language, I flip the cube over to the side with the "5" on it and the timer gets automatically set.

​Once the timer rings, I'll know 5 minutes is up. 

Whether it's first thing in the morning, over your lunch break, or before you go to bed, try to spend a few minutes reflecting, thinking in the target language, and writing down your thoughts.

German Language Learning Journal Prompts

I created some German Language Learning Journal Prompts to help you out in case you've got writer's block, you're stuck with a blank page, or just want a little guidance to start your daily language journal.

(Note: I plan to post free journal prompts for other languages as well, feel free to comment below or tweet me with which language I should do next!)
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Das Datum ______________________
z.B. Heute ist Mittwoch, der 24 Mai 2017
The date ______________________________
For example, today is Wednesday, May 24th, 2017  

Liebes Tagebuch,
Dear Diary,

Heute bin ich...
Today, I am..

Heute war ich...
Today, I was...

Morgen werde ich...
Tomorrow, I will...

Ich fühle mich…
I feel...

Ich bin _________ gelaunt. 
I'm in a __________ mood.

Ich habe _________ gemacht.
I did ________________.

Ich bin um __:__ aufgestanden.
I woke up at __:__.
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Example Journal Entry
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So a typical entry might start like this:

Mittwoch, der 24. Mai, 2017

Liebes Tagebuch,

Heute bin ich sehr dankbar, denn ich habe mein Ziel von 2.000 Follower auf Instagram erreicht. Es macht so viel Spaß mit so viele Leute zu sprechen jeden Tag. 

Bis Morgen,
Nikki

You can keep your journal in a Google Doc, in the notes section on your phone, or print out a free, handy PDF that I've created for you!
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​Let me know if you have any questions!
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