16.6.10

German Language

This issue of World 101 is dedicated to the German
language. We couldn’t fit all the key people
from Germany, Austria and Switzerland into the list,
but here are some of the distinguished names you
should recognize:
• Alois Alzheimer
• Johann Sebastian Bach
• Ludwig van Beethoven
• Albert Einstein
• Max Ernst
• Sigmund Freud
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Steffi Graf
• Alexander von Humboldt
• Carl Gustav Jung
• Immanuel Kant
• Martin Luther
• Karl Marx
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Richard Wagner
And let’s not forget ex-Terminator and Governor of
California, Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

German (Deutsch) is spoken by more than 120 million people in 38 countries of the world. Its 3 main centers of usage are Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The most written translations -into and from- a language are in German, and furthermore it’s one of the ten most spoken languages in the world. It was the Official language of Namibia until 1990.

The Kitchen: Die Küche
Breakfast: Frühstück
Liver-sausage: Leberwurst
Bread rolls: Brötchen, Semmeln, etc.
Lunch: Mittagessen
Dinner: Abendessen, Abendbrot
French Fries: Pommes Frites
Pickled shredded cabbage: Sauerkraut
Pork hock: Schweinshaxe
Boiled sausages: Bratwurst
Wheat beer: Weizenbier
Dumplings: Knödel
Noodles: Spätzle
White sausages: Weisswurst
Apple juice with mineral water: Apfelsaftschorle

Stollen:
A bread-like cake with dried citrus peel,
dried fruit, nuts, and spices such as cardamom
and cinnamon, usually eaten during
the Christmas season.

Schnitzel:
This is popular in German gastronomy.
Basically it’s an escalope of pork coated
in breadcrumbs and usually deep-fried.

Rindsroulade:
Beef roulade, thinly pounded sirloin steak,
rolled around mustard leaf and a pickle,
and then baked.

Rote Grütze:
Red fruit jelly cooked from black and red
currants, raspberries and sometimes with
strawberries or cherries. It is by tradition
served with cream, but also usual with vanilla
sauce, milk or whipped cream.

Oktoberfest, the world’s largest annual
fair takes place in Munich, Bavaria from
late September to early October. It is best
known internationally for the large quantities
of beer drunk in the 14 main tents at
the festival.