[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] The awful German language

[theBs at gmx.de]

Hi,

I think Annegret explained the sound of the "Umlauts" very well as far as
that is possible at all. The whole conversation about this subject reminded
me of something Mark Twain once wrote when he was staying in Heidelberg. It
has nothing to do with genealogy, but it is fun to read (if you can take the
time) - especially when you speak both, English and German.

http://www.kombu.de/twain-2.htm

Tina




> --- Ursprüngliche Nachricht ---
> Von: "Annegret Krause" <krause.annegret at t-online.de>
> An: "'Gary Warner'" <gary at warnerengineering.com>, "'Otto'"
> <otto at schienke.com>, "'S G G E E'" <ger-poland-volhynia at eclipse.sggee.org>
> Betreff: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] GARY WARNER-Umlauts and Dialects
> Datum: Mon, 8 May 2006 21:29:08 +0200
> 
> It's not so easy for me to explain the pronunciation of German vowels,
> because my English is not so good ;-)), but I'll try it:
> 
> A-Umlaut (ä) sounds like ea in "meadow", or e in "best", in some words a
> little bit longer
> 
> O-Umlaut (ö) sounds like colonel, the name Möller for example. George
> Shoning is right.
> But there is another, a longer form. You have to speak it with more
> pursed lips. This form you hear in König
> 
> And the best explanation for U-Umlaut (ü): long E with pursed lips
> (Krüger). But there is also a shorter form (Müller) without an English
> equivalent. Try it!! 
> 
> 
> Annegret 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org
> [mailto:ger-poland-volhynia-bounces at eclipse.sggee.org] On Behalf Of Gary
> Warner
> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 6:02 PM
> To: Otto; S G G E E
> Subject: Re: [Ger-Poland-Volhynia] GARY WARNER-Umlauts and Dialects
> 
> Otto,
> 
> I do not follow about the long E sound in the word Platt.    To me a 
> long E sound is the first letter in the word "eagle".
> 
> Gary
> 
> At 08:24 PM 05/07/06, Otto wrote:
> >Gary Warner asked:
> >"  I am interested to know if they sound the same in all German words
> >(assuming the same dialect).   I am also interested in how the sounds
> >differ in the two most common German dialects, which not knowing any
> >better I assume are high and low German."
> >----------------------
> >As mentioned before, There are many dialects of Flatland German, same
> >for Middle German and highland German. Many.
> >
> >The "proper umlaut sound" is about Standardized German.
> >
> >There are rules that dictate the use of umlauts, the sounding of a
> >vowel at the front of the tongue instead of the back of the tongue.
> >The 'method' of sounding out a 'front of the tongue' vowel creates a
> >conflict between the precise speakers of standardized German and the
> >speakers of German dialects.
> >
> >The conflict is a simple one.
> >Precise speakers of standardized German purse their lips in sounding
> >out an umlaut.
> >
> >Speakers of dialects usually do not purse their lips and speak out
> >the umlaut sound directly.
> >
> >Try it-
> >Sound out the English long 'E' two or three times as you would
> >speaking  English.  (same as Platt)
> >Now sound out the same English long 'E' two or three times with
> >pursed lips. (the 'standardized' German sound)
> >That is it!
> >
> >I know.
> >My Dortmund cousin browbeat me for years because I would speak out
> >the umlauts without pursing the lips.  I'd learned from my parents a
> >1920's high German with an East Prussian dialect twang. (and some
> >really neat Polish and Russian cuss words)  Couple that with an
> >American creative English and you see I am doomed when it comes to
> >lip pursing. I am hopeless. . .  yet I communicate.
> >
> >While in Berlin I attempted conversation with a river boat captain.
> >He replied with a solid paragraph or so of speech. I was awed. I did
> >not understand it. I asked cousin Peter what language does he speak?
> >He answered, "German. . .  in a solid Berliner dialect."  On the
> >Mosel I purchased zwei Flaschen Wein, they brought me zwo Flaschen
> >Wein.   Standardized German is what one reads in a book.
> >
> >Two things must be kept in mind, in reality, there is no such thing
> >as a pure race or a pure language.
> >It is the use of language itself that makes us human.
> >
> >. . .  Otto
> >
> >                       " The Zen moment..." wk. of March 5, 2006
> >                       ________________________________
> >                          "Remove what isn't... What is remains."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >Ger-Poland-Volhynia Mailing List hosted by
> >Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe http://www.sggee.org
> >Mailing list info at http://www.sggee.org/listserv
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ger-Poland-Volhynia Mailing List hosted by
> Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe http://www.sggee.org
> Mailing list info at http://www.sggee.org/listserv
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Ger-Poland-Volhynia Mailing List hosted by
> Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe http://www.sggee.org
> Mailing list info at http://www.sggee.org/listserv
> 

-- 
"Feel free" - 10 GB Mailbox, 100 FreeSMS/Monat ...
Jetzt GMX TopMail testen: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/topmail