Late Boomer
Super Member
It is funny how direct instruction is linked to anti-progressivism. This is why I had to monitor what and how my son was taught at school.
Confidence in foreign language skills
- Thread starter harman/kardon
- Start date
DeadRock
Ideas Guy
Keeping things in perspective...when the bar is not very high to begin with, even so-called progressive places (states, provinces, territories, countries), aren't turning out highly competent language users by the end of high-school. The bane of most college or university profs' existence (and this has been the case for decades) is in fact the sorry state of too many 1st year students' language proficiency. In theory, the venerable New York Times is written at a level commensurate with high school grads...think about it...how many high school grads can read a New York Times Op Ed and talk about with authority of understanding?...I mean the language, not necessarily historical and/or political context...
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That explains a lot, upon reflection.
The first books I ever read (in fact, where I taught myself to read, at first), were British books from the early 1960s.
That's why I seem to trigger the spell checker on words, that I know are spelled correctly. Licence is one, in particular. And the words listed with double-L's...
Regards,
Gordon.
Heimat
Heimweh
Geborgenheit
Gemütlichkeit
These words can't be translated into English exactly. Geborgenheit, for example. This is not just "security", it is much more. In order to get an idea, Geborgenheit is what an embryo may experience in the womb of its mother. Warmth is in Geborgenheit. And more...
Are there English words losing a lot of their meaning by being translated into German?
Heimweh
Geborgenheit
Gemütlichkeit
These words can't be translated into English exactly. Geborgenheit, for example. This is not just "security", it is much more. In order to get an idea, Geborgenheit is what an embryo may experience in the womb of its mother. Warmth is in Geborgenheit. And more...
Are there English words losing a lot of their meaning by being translated into German?
Heimat... would be "home" or "the feeling of one's home", perhaps even "place of belonging". Heimweh... is relatively easy, and I would translate it as "homesick". Geborgenheit... is more difficult. I had to think about that one for a bit, but it should be translated as "feeling of being sheltered with love". Gemütlichkeit... that is the feeling of warmth and comfort, surrounded by friends and family. Just like "fahrvergnügen", there is no single word in English for any of those except "Heimweh".
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Thank you Tasha... I can tell you... you are very close. Your reply really makes me smile!
The correct use of prepositions - it is a nightmare. I mean the always or almost always correct use. I do not know how to improve my skills regarding this issue. My brain does not register a wrong one which is so embarrassing.
Chris, what exactly are you having trouble with, in regards to prepositions? Maybe I can help.
I just googled prepositions since I use them naturally as a native speaker and wanted to see what the experts say.
Web pages can't even agree on how many there are, anywhere from 30 to 150; so I can see how confusing they must be!
Web pages can't even agree on how many there are, anywhere from 30 to 150; so I can see how confusing they must be!
Dutch culture and language have similarities, my take on the mentioned words:
Heimat and gemütlichkeit don't fully translate to any other language I think.
For gemütlichkeit us Dutchies have 'gezelligheid' and the Danish 'hygge', which captures a similar meaning, but not the same.
You only 'get' the full meaning of the word when you've lived amongst Germans or in Germany for a while, as it describes a feeling you need to have lived imho.
Heimat is just a bit broader than any synonym in another language, such as 'homeland' in English.
Geborgenheid is (also) a Dutch word the closest English word would be sheltered, but not covering the meaning quite correctly.
Heimwee is a Dutch word as well, the English word homesick means the same from my Dutch perspective.
In general:
I only read your opening post next to the last ones in this thread, cool that you sharing your personal journey with the English language.
I don't know where you currently stand yet in that journey, but it is a conundrum, isn't it: having to practice speech to become fluent, whilst not having the right level yet to feel confident to practice.
I have several Dutch friends who are living in Germany and all their German friends push themselves to speak English when we are together with a multinational group, huge respect to them! All of them are good examples of practice breeding mastery I can say. For some of them it was genuinely hard, but they pushed on!
I'm also always amazed that they don't laugh to my face when I try my 'ferien Deutsch' on them.
Tim thank you for your reply. It is just that I use the correct preposition mostly for sure, but not always. In that case (whenever it might be) my brain does not register when I use a wrong one, and this a bit embarrassing.
I've never had any trouble at all getting the meaning of your words, Chris. You're doing just fine, my friend.