The Awful German Language

The Awful German Language

Author: Mark Twain

Publisher: BVK

Published: 1880-05-15

Total Pages: 23

ISBN-13: 3853612075

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“The Awful German Language” is a humorous examination of the German language and the frustrations a native English speaker may have when learning it. The essay was published as Appendix D of “A Tramp Abroad” by Mark Twain in 1880.


Through the Language Glass

Through the Language Glass

Author: Guy Deutscher

Publisher: Metropolitan Books

Published: 2010-08-31

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 1429970111

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A masterpiece of linguistics scholarship, at once erudite and entertaining, confronts the thorny question of how—and whether—culture shapes language and language, culture Linguistics has long shied away from claiming any link between a language and the culture of its speakers: too much simplistic (even bigoted) chatter about the romance of Italian and the goose-stepping orderliness of German has made serious thinkers wary of the entire subject. But now, acclaimed linguist Guy Deutscher has dared to reopen the issue. Can culture influence language—and vice versa? Can different languages lead their speakers to different thoughts? Could our experience of the world depend on whether our language has a word for "blue"? Challenging the consensus that the fundaments of language are hard-wired in our genes and thus universal, Deutscher argues that the answer to all these questions is—yes. In thrilling fashion, he takes us from Homer to Darwin, from Yale to the Amazon, from how to name the rainbow to why Russian water—a "she"—becomes a "he" once you dip a tea bag into her, demonstrating that language does in fact reflect culture in ways that are anything but trivial. Audacious, delightful, and field-changing, Through the Language Glass is a classic of intellectual discovery.


Ranieri Reverse Recall

Ranieri Reverse Recall

Author: Luke Ranieri

Publisher:

Published: 2017-01-30

Total Pages: 99

ISBN-13: 9781520498164

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Discover how to learn anything by heart through Ranieri's innovative recall technique. Weaving practical advice through an entertaining narrative of the events of his life, the author instructs the reader on how to apply this method to almost anything, from figuring out how to pronounce long foreign names, to memorizing poetry and aircraft manuals. Ranieri passionately expresses his love of learning, his pleasure in teaching, and his desire to offer others his secret to finding success.


The German Language Today

The German Language Today

Author: Charles Russ

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2002-11-01

Total Pages: 292

ISBN-13: 1134848013

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This clear and accessible text provides a complete introduction to basic linguistic terms and descriptions of language structures. The German Language Today describes in detail the main liguistic features of the language and the wide variety of speech forms and vocabulary existing within the German-speaking community. It also introduces sociolinguistic and linguistic topics as they relate to the German language, and illustrates them widely with examples. The German Language Today describes the sounds, inflectional processes, syntactic structures, competing forms and different layers of words in the language. Topics covered include: The distribution of German and its dialects The linguistic consequences of German reunification The application of modern linguistic concepts to German, incorporating the findings of the latest German linguistic research. The book has been written with the specific needs of students in mind. It will be invaluable to students of modern German linguistics or modern German society and will be a useful reference resource for postgraduates and teachers of German.


Orderly and Humane

Orderly and Humane

Author: R. M. Douglas

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2012-06-26

Total Pages: 696

ISBN-13: 0300183763

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The award-winning history of 12 million German-speaking civilians in Europe who were driven from their homes after WWII: “a major achievement” (New Republic). Immediately after the Second World War, the victorious Allies authorized the forced relocation of ethnic Germans from their homes across central and southern Europe to Germany. The numbers were almost unimaginable: between 12 and 14 million civilians, most of them women and children. And the losses were horrifying: at least five hundred thousand people, and perhaps many more, died while detained in former concentration camps, locked in trains, or after arriving in Germany malnourished, and homeless. In this authoritative and objective account, historian R.M. Douglas examines an aspect of European history that few have wished to confront, exploring how the forced migrations were conceived, planned, and executed, and how their legacy reverberates throughout central Europe today. The first comprehensive history of this immense manmade catastrophe, Orderly and Humane is an important study of the largest recorded episode of what we now call "ethnic cleansing." It may also be the most significant untold story of the World War II.


The Chicago of Europe, and Other Tales of Foreign Travel

The Chicago of Europe, and Other Tales of Foreign Travel

Author: Mark Twain

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9781402758690

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Introduction. Mark Twain's own letters from the Earth -- Part I. The Mississippi. The lure of the river -- More river thoughts -- Steam boat magic and a small town boy -- The face of the water -- Goin' to the theater in the big city (a letter from "Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass," 1856) -- Mardi-Gras in New Orleans (A letter to Pamela A. Moffett, 1859) -- A tour of New Orleans -- The scene of battle: Vicksburg -- Part II. The West. "Roughing it" lecture -- Among the miners -- The killing of Julius Caesar "localized" -- A trip to Tahoe -- Off for San Francisco -- A San Francisco day trip -- San Francisco weather and other natural events -- Part III. Back East. Philadelphia: the first visit -- New York: the overgrown metropolis -- New York: the dreadful Russian bath -- New York: changes in the city -- New York: street people -- New York: personal ads -- Plymouth Rock and the Pilgriims -- First visit to Boston -- Boston: a modern Cretan labyrinth -- Boston antiquities --


Short Stories in German for Beginners

Short Stories in German for Beginners

Author: Olly Richards

Publisher: Teach Yourself

Published: 2018-10-04

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1473683386

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An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners. "I love Olly's work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in German for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? · Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary · Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently · Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability · Pleasure! It's much easier to learn a new language when you're having fun, and research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' · Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way Carefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including · A glossary for bolded words in each text · A bilingual word list · Full plot summary · Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in German for Beginners will make learning German easy and enjoyable.


Hannibal and Me

Hannibal and Me

Author: Andreas Kluth

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2012-01-05

Total Pages: 392

ISBN-13: 1101554193

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A dynamic and exciting way to understand success and failure, through the life of Hannibal, one of history's greatest generals. The life of Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who crossed the Alps with his army in 218 B.C.E., is the stuff of legend. And the epic choices he and his opponents made-on the battlefield and elsewhere in life-offer lessons about responding to our victories and our defeats that are as relevant today as they were more than 2,000 years ago. A big new idea book inspired by ancient history, Hannibal and Me explores the truths behind triumph and disaster in our lives by examining the decisions made by Hannibal and others, including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, Ernest Shackleton, and Paul Cézanne-men and women who learned from their mistakes. By showing why some people overcome failure and others succumb to it, and why some fall victim to success while others thrive on it, Hannibal and Me demonstrates how to recognize the seeds of success within our own failures and the threats of failure hidden in our successes. The result is a page-turning adventure tale, a compelling human drama, and an insightful guide to understanding behavior. This is essential reading for anyone who seeks to transform misfortune into success at work, at home, and in life.


Schadenfreude, A Love Story

Schadenfreude, A Love Story

Author: Rebecca Schuman

Publisher: Macmillan + ORM

Published: 2017-02-07

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 1250077664

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“A wild and wonderful ride” from a comic memoirist “who writes brilliantly about Germany and Germans . . . and being young and insane. . . . just read it, ok?” (Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize–winning, New York Times–bestselling author of Best. State. Ever). You know that feeling you get watching the elevator doors slam shut just before your toxic coworker can step in? There’s a word for this mix of malice and joy, and the Germans invented it. It’s Schadenfreude, deriving pleasure from others’ misfortune. Misfortune happens to be a specialty of Rebecca Schuman—and this is great news for the Germans. For Rebecca adores the Vaterland with a single-minded passion. Let’s just say the affection isn’t mutual. Schadenfreude is the story of a teenage Jewish intellectual who falls in love—with a boy (who breaks her heart), a language (that’s nearly impossible to master), a culture (that’s nihilistic, but punctual), and a landscape (that’s breathtaking when there’s not a wall in the way). Rebecca is a misunderstood 90’s teenager with a passion for Pearl Jam and Ethan Hawke circa Reality Bites, until two men walk into her high school Civics class: Dylan Gellner, with deep brown eyes and an even deeper soul, and Franz Kafka, hitching a ride in Dylan’s backpack. These two men are the axe to the frozen sea that is Rebecca’s spirit, and what flows forth is a passion for all things German. At once a snapshot of a young woman finding herself, and a country starting to stitch itself back together after nearly a century of war, Schadenfreude, A Love Story is a hilarious and heartfelt memoir proving that sometimes the truest loves play hard to get. “Spit-out-your-schnitzel funny.” —Pamela Druckerman, New York Times–bestselling author of Bringing Up Bébé