Mark Twain’s opinion of the German language is provocative and ironic, and even amusing, but it does not reflect linguistic reality. German may not be the ‘easiest’ language in the world, but it is certainly learnable. After all, our Slovenian neighbours have six cases and two different plural forms, and Hungarian is one of the most complex languages of all. Anyone can learn German, and above all, it’s fun! There is so much new to discover in your everyday life and leisure time in Graz, Kapfenberg or Bad Gleichenberg, because a language is a gateway to a new culture above all else.
Why learn German, when everyone speaks English?
Admittedly, that is a good question, but one to which there is a clear answer: If I don’t, I am only getting to see the façade of a country. To understand and master the language of a country means to learn and understand something of the culture, the mentality and perhaps also the peculiarities of its people. If this doesn’t interest you then, of course, English is sufficient. The decision lies with each individual – whether they see life in a country as a visit to a supermarket in which they serve themselves without having to speak much, or whether they wish to discover something of the real life which is hidden behind the façade.
