Learning to speak German is challenging; every noun has a gender, and just when you think you've figured it out, a new exception to the rule bursts your language bubble.
The language may be difficult to learn, but it is riddled with oddities and poetic descriptions, making it a fascinating experience for language enthusiasts. Here are some fascinating facts about one of the world's most enigmatical languages.
German (Deutsch) is Europe's most widely spoken mother tongue.
It is spoken in countries other than Germany. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Luxembourg all speak it as their official language.
North Italy (South Tyrol), Poland, Hungary, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Namibia, Russia, Romania, the Czech Republic, and other parts of Europe have sizable German-speaking populations.
Over 100 million native speakers and a total of 185 million speakers worldwide speak it.
It is also one of the most widely taught foreign languages in the world.
It is also a common language in Central and Eastern Europe.
One of the most important motivators for learning a foreign language is a career.
It is Europe's largest economy, the world's fourth-largest by nominal GDP, and the world's second-largest exporter, making it an essential language to learn.
They are engineering world leaders.
Fluency in German has opened up job opportunities in medicine and healthcare, education, logistics, automobile, power and utility, mass media, entertainment, tourism, information technology, financial services, outsourcing, and other fields in India.
Germany's global powerhouses include BMW, Volkswagen, Bosch, Daimler, Adidas, Allianz, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, SAP, BASF, and Lufthansa.
Many of these multinational corporations will value your German language skills on your resume.
Several international companies with operations in India are looking for German-speaking employees.
It expands your job opportunities in India and abroad with German and foreign companies.
German translators, interpreters, proofreaders, content writers, and trainers are in high demand.
Jobs are also available at the German embassy in New Delhi, as well as the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore. The German language's reach is expanding.
Many multinational corporations (MNCs) such as Amazon, Accenture, BMW, Siemens, Volkswagen, HP, Audi, Oracle, Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Thomson, Axa, GE, and others hire German language experts for outsourcing and offshore work.
Economic strength in Germany equals business opportunities.
Germany is known for its ideas and innovations.
The country provides a wide range of courses at the bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and post-doctoral levels.
Employers all over the world value their degrees.
Germany's universities are internationally renowned and ranked among the best in the world.
You will graduate with a degree that is internationally recognised, giving you excellent prospects in the global job market.
Because the states fund higher education in the country, the vast majority of academic institutions in Germany are free for students, including international students.
DAAD: Designed to promote international academic exchange, this organisation provides numerous scholarship and funding opportunities.
It's no surprise that students, scholars, and researchers are flocking there. There are numerous research opportunities available to you while studying in Germany.
The educational system encourages research and emphasises practical knowledge over theoretical knowledge.
While it is not required, if you are applying for an English-taught course.
Germans make good money and have 6 weeks of vacation per year because of the country's strong economic growth and low unemployment.
It comes as no surprise that they are the world's largest spenders of tourist dollars.
They can be found all over the world, including Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
German speakers can be found everywhere in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.
Every year, millions of German-speaking tourists visit India for sightseeing but are unable to communicate in English.
Fluency in this West Germanic language broadens career opportunities in the hospitality, travel, leisure, and tourism industries.
Assume they can communicate with travel agencies, tour companies, tour guides, hotels, airlines, and car rental agencies. In that case, their language will be advantageous.
While it is possible to travel to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other Central and Eastern European countries without speaking any German.
Knowing the language enhances the meaning of travel for everyone involved.
By speaking the language, you will be able to enjoy yourself to the fullest, earn their respect, and open the door to genuine interaction and connection.
Some may wonder why they should study a popular one. A compelling reason to learn?
Well. Consider the Dutch (another West Germanic language and lingua franca in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Caribbean Islands, etc.).
There is currently no Dutch language programme in India.
As far as I am aware, not at any Indian university or private institute.
You have few options for books, teachers, or even speakers if you want to learn Dutch.
When you feel like your progress is stalled due to a lack of resources, it can quickly become frustrating.
After French, German is India's second most popular foreign language. The "First Move Advantage" is one of the primary reasons.
It's because their government began promoting German in India several decades ago.
In fact, the first German lessons in India were given in 1914 in Pune and Mumbai (more than a century back).
Because it is the second most learned foreign language in India, there is an abundance of study material and resources available to help you learn this fascinating language.
The German-speaking world has also produced some of history's greatest literary, musical, artistic, theatrical, and philosophical minds.
Many important works have been written and continue to be produced in German.
Germany and Austria are also well-known for their excellent music and film.
Knowing German allows you to appreciate these artists' masterpieces in their original and unfiltered form.
Every year, nearly 80,000 new book titles are published by German speakers. It is ranked fifth in terms of new book publication each year.
As a result, knowing this language allows you to gain an understanding of the way of life as well as the hopes and dreams of people in German-speaking countries, broadening your horizon.
It is the second most widely used scientific language after English.
Germany is the third-largest contributor to research and development, with over 250,000 scientists working there. Furthermore, it provides research fellowships to international scientists.
More than a hundred Nobel Prizes have been awarded to brilliant Germans for achievements in Science, including physics, medicine, chemistry, and other fields.
It is unsurprising that it is the world's second most innovative country.
Some of the most notable scientists from the German-speaking world include Einstein, Kepler, Röntgen, Planck, and Virchow.
Their scientists have proven to be great innovators time and again throughout history. This is still the case today.
Strong German presence on the Internet
Germans have a strong online presence.
Germany's top-level country domain,.de, has 17 million Internet domains, making it the fourth most popular extension after.com,.ru (Russia), and.jp (Japan).
It is one of the top languages written on the Internet, after English and Russian.
Because a large number of critical websites are in German and worldwide, knowing German gives you greater access to information.
It also grants you access to another 17 million websites. It does not even include the many German sites ending in.com,.net,.org, and.info.
German and English are members of the same language family, the West Germanic language family.
You have an advantage if you know English, Dutch, or any Scandinavian language or plan to learn them.
Both have thousands of similar words and phrases, which are known as "cognates."
Hello is changed to Hallo. Water becomes Wasser, father becomes Vater, friend becomes Freund, and so on.
After all, it's not that difficult, is it?
Many people believe it is difficult.
Well, I believe that every language is either more complex or easier to learn.
If you are dedicated and willing to put in the effort, you will be able to pass the German language proficiency test B2/C1 in 2-3 years.
All that is required is a little perseverance and the proper approach!
