Is it normal that i despise german language?

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All my life I have been fascinated by languages. I studied abroad in many countries, learning more and more languages. So far, I have studied Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Czech, Greek and Arabic. I am truly in love with all these languages and always look forward to learn more and more of them.

One year ago I started studying German and for half a year I have been living in Austria now. The issue is that I just cannot understand why this language is so despicable. What frustrates me the most is that even though I have been studying for so long, I can't even make simple sentences without making mistakes. I assumed that German would be a logical language, but it is just a convoluted mix of irrational rules. Nothing makes sense in German, you basically have to memorize everything.

The worst is that it is not even just me. At the German course pretty much everyone is learning the language out of necessity, no one looks forward to the class. I can count with the fingers of one hand the people that have actually told me that they love the language.

When I studied other languages, the courses were usually full of joy, people making jokes all the time and actually learning while having fun. And I don't know, I just feel frustrated by this language and I truly don't care about ever living in Germany or Austria at this point.

So... I pretty much just wanted to vent and to ask if anyone has ever experienced something similar. So, what do you think?

Voting Results

40% Normal

Based on 57 votes (23 yes)

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Comments ( 47 )

thegypsysailor

9 years ago

There is indeed something about the German language that does rub some people the wrong way.
When operating a charter boat, we quickly found that the Germans were not good clients. I honestly don't think most mean to be curt and impolite, but that is the way they come across. It's always, "get me another drink," or "I'll eat dinner now", never a please or thank you thrown in to soften the demand.
We stopped accepting bookings from Germans, and still won't charter to them, to this day; being impolite is one thing, but being impolite AND bad tippers is another!

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- Shiroyasha
  
  9 years ago
  
  Germans are certainly not impolite, they are just direct. German is a really precise language, you can pretty much express yourself with no room for misunderstanding. However, when they speak other languages, they just get a little lost in translation.
  
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Aliceee93

9 years ago

Guten Tag.

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anti-hero

9 years ago

It's not one of my favorites. Doesn't agree with my ears.

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RoseIsabella

9 years ago

Ich liebe Deutsch!

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- NurseDiesel
  
  9 years ago
  
  Ja, ja. Dies.
  
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Tommythecat.

9 years ago

All I can think when talking to a German person is hitler hitler hitler.

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- NurseDiesel
  
  9 years ago
  
  Mein kat.
  
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  - CoraCook
    
    9 years ago
    
    Kit-Kat, yummmmm
    
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  - Tommythecat.
    
    9 years ago
    
    Heil kitteh!!!
    
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  - casualcrow
    
    9 years ago
    
    Your cat? What?
    
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    - NurseDiesel
      
      9 years ago
      
      Kitteh doth know, though, doeth the crow? Hmmm??
      
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[Old Memory]

9 years ago

I always prefered the sound of the German language to any other language.

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SubstationSubCurb111713

9 years ago

It's absolutely awful that you've been made to live in a country and forced to learn the language those people speak. There should be a law against it.

I hope to God you can be rescued and returned to your own country forthwith.

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- CoraCook
  
  9 years ago
  
  This is in no way a comment deserving of that -1.
  
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  - SubstationSubCurb111713
    
    9 years ago
    
    It probably was. I'm sure whoever voted it down must have been yay clear on their own position. I strongly believe the people doing it have the most supreme intelligence possible and everything is good.
    
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- GreyWulfen
  
  9 years ago
  
  Du hast keine Ahnung!
  
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  - SubstationSubCurb111713
    
    9 years ago
    
    Probably not, no.
    
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green_boogers

9 years ago

German is a terrible language. The convoluted grammar buys you nothing. English words of Germanic origin are usually one syllable, in German they are three. It is senseless undesirable complexity.

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Avant-Garde

9 years ago

German is sexy and cool. Anyway, don't hate the language because you are having difficulty with learning it. Why don't you try the Pimsleur Approach. Yes, it is expensive. But, it is worth it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8beh6KowA8A
They sell the German version.

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- Avant-Garde
  
  9 years ago
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZuYgVdRf_Y
  
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[Old Memory]

9 years ago

Ich bin gut. I said that to my friend who takes German and she said that I said I was gay or something lol. Aw well. I have never taken it but know numerous people who love it

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handsignals

9 years ago

German Goo Girls

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CoraCook

9 years ago

Wollen Sie mit mir schlafen? Ich spreche kein Deutsch...

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- Crusades
  
  9 years ago
  
  Fick dich selbst du dumme nutte!
  
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  - CoraCook
    
    9 years ago
    
    You'd like that, wouldn't you?
    
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cupcake_wants

9 years ago

your subconscious knows it's the Nazi language so your reject it on a conscious level.

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daydreamer394

9 years ago

RAMMSTEIN

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Pika-girl

9 years ago

My online friend only speaks German... I always have to look up what she is saying...

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yesnomaybeso

9 years ago

I also dislike the language, the way it sounds. THey look angry all the time....

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- orinoco
  
  9 years ago
  
  THey look angry all the time....
  LOL
  
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  - yesnomaybeso
    
    9 years ago
    
    Iunno! It's just, I can't imagine being cute to somebody in German. because it sounds like you're actually angry / criticising. But I do not wanna be mean 0:)
    
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Aeon

9 years ago

I used to dislike german. Than i heard some german music, begining woth the band Oomph!. The language can sound really tender when needed. I find it kinda cool now. I wanna learn it.

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Jfdp

9 years ago

I recently learned german so I could try and pick up a german exchange student in my class- I think the language is pretty cool, though my first lang is Afrikaans which is very Germanic in of itself and probably made the whole thing easier to grasp, but if you want a difficult language you should try learning isiXhosa

And yes even the name is difficult to pronounce

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orinoco

9 years ago

"... but it is just a convoluted mix of irrational rules. Nothing makes sense in German, you basically have to memorize everything.", "...no one looks forward to the class." Don't you think there might be a connection between these two statements?

To say it bluntly: Dump your teacher!

German has a fascinating depth, but you must know an awful lot about it to make its qualities transparent and to give inspiring lessons. It is not enough to be a native speaker with one of these worthless "qualifications" they invented to make dumb people pass the exams if you want to be a successful teacher of this great language.

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- CuteKitten
  
  9 years ago
  
  I agree, I've been learning german 4 years now and even though I'm far from fluent, I really do like it. When given the option I chose german over french as I found it easier (plus I couldn't prounonce half those french verbs).
  
  Keep learning fun; we used to play fizz buzz, watch movies aus deutsch and listen to music by Cro (he goes really fast so it's hard to keep up but his raps are really catchy)
  If you're bored or sick of it just try doing something to shake things up a bit
  
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oysterbay

9 years ago

Pale sausage and sour cabbage, no just no.

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Shackleford96

9 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD8T5YjMRpc&list=PLApXX6kNIRl_3GYQ89sdgp27Z8eWZHdMh

^I have no idea what they are saying, but they make me so happy to listen to :)

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- EccentricWeird
  
  9 years ago
  
  More of your witch music, Rusty!?!?
  
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  - Shackleford96
    
    9 years ago
    
    I believe the technical term is 'German Folklore Metal' not 'witch'
    
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    - EccentricWeird
      
      9 years ago
      
      I have my suspicions...
      
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      - Shackleford96
        
        9 years ago
        
        Sure sure
        
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dinz

9 years ago

One thing some English speakers can't grasp on is the grammar structure.

And the long words? They are just compounded nouns.

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Shrunk

9 years ago

Been trying to learn it since i was a kid, since it's the language of my father's side of the family, but he was too busy to teach me very much of it.. :( After 22 years only intermediate level... I have a better grasp of spanish even though I have no one to speak with in it. and it seems like most Germans don't even want to speak German themselves. If you make any little mistake they will just insist on speaking english... Lucky you to live in Austria though!! personally I think they are nicer than germans, but maybe only cause that's where half my family is from..:)

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  9 years ago
  
  I think that's part of the issue... you don't really need to speak it, because both Austrians and Germans are well versed in English, and they will always speak it if it is better to communicate.
  
  And well... about Austria... I would say that Germans are just "grumpy", but they aren't really mean. Austrians appear to be more polite... but they are kind of elitist too... so... I don't know :D
  
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  - orinoco
    
    9 years ago
    
    Austrians APPEAR to be more polite...
    Live for a year in Vienna, and you will understand what this politeness means.
    
    You find grumpy people everywhere, in particular, I found them in the U.S. But that is no reason to make any judgment about the American language.
    
    "If you make any little mistake they will just insist on speaking english..." - are you sure this is not meant as an act of politeness? I know what you mean ("My English is better than your German..."), but, on the other hand, are you sure it was just "any little mistake"? It becomes embarrassing if you think this and the other person, to be honest, would have to say "Sorry, I don't understand a word!"
    
    By the way, what I found in France was this: If I made (what I thought to be) a little mistake, the French did not want to continue talking with me at all! I'd have been glad had they offered to continue in English!
    
    And in Italy? As soon as you get out the first word in Italian which they understand they are enthusiastic and declare you are perfect!!
    
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    - Shrunk
      
      9 years ago
      
      Interesting. I think Spanish speakers are the same way as you describe Italians- If you say anything in Spanish they get excited and start speaking to you as though it is your first language (no matter the mistakes)! xD
      And yeah, I noticed french people seem to HATE speaking English and avoid it at all costs.
      You may be right about the German-speakers just being polite. the "little mistakes" that are overlooked in Spanish may be more embarrassing in German... but older German/Austrian people did not mind my mistakes, whereas it is the younger ones who prefer English (as they learn it very well in school now)
      Also I guess you could compare Vienna to any major city- usually more rude people there (although not as rude as in U.S. big-cities from my experience). In the more rural and even suburban parts I went, most people were very friendly ^-^
      
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Are You Normal?

Is it normal that i despise german language?