Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Notes -
We actually have at least three Germans here that post somewhat regularly.
That said, oh boy yes, Germans have trouble with all kinds of grammar. For what it's worth, I'm about as eloquent in my native tongue as I am in English, but I am not knowledgeable about the actual rules of grammar. I can't really pinpoint what it is they do wrong. But there's hardly any need, since they get so much wrong
Now, which Germans are they?
Practically all but some of the old and some speech elitists. Language is in decline, as always.
Older Germans make mistakes because of a lifetime of bad habits. Younger Germans make nothing but mistakes because they never heard anyone speak correctly. Younger Germans also intentionally make mistakes because they're too cool for grammar and vocabulary both, speaking mostly in meme phrases, and stumbling when they're forced to leave that space. Younger Germans additionally do their best to emulate immigrant speech patterns, since those are also considered cooler than any native dialect or high german. And I suppose I needn't mentioned the "Germans".
Even well-educated Germans run roughshod over grammar. Maybe there are some ivory towers of Germanistik somewhere in which the language is still used by the book, but that's nowhere in real life. Politicians and news anchors may sometimes speak flawlessly, but they do so from a very reduced playbook that's hardly suitable for everyday use.
I'm no paragon of grammar myself, mind. But I am saddened by how most just don't care at all, and many actively try to do worse.
My German is not great, so I was quite proud when I was able to identify a grammar mistake on a sign in a grocery store, where I think they used the nominative instead of the dative case.
More options
Context Copy link
The worst bullying I ever got in my life was from fellow academics over my german grammar ability.
My grandfather was a hardline grammar conservative and a locally known intellectual on it, among other things. No wonder he got choleric with age.
I grew up bilingual which i think messed with my ability to learn non colloquial grammar rules as both languages are so closely tied in my head, with blurred borders and rules. Thats why i personally think anglicization in the youth is to blame.
Sophisticated grammar checkers have been a godsend(although I didn't use one for this post.) But especially in german seem to fail me quite often.
I consider myself an above average wordcel too, the grammar part of my brain is just irrevocably broken. I'm supposedly a native speaker but memories of akkusativ and dativ classes wake me up in a cold sweat.
More options
Context Copy link
More options
Context Copy link