Should I Minor in German(Dooyuchspeek)?

I'm a journalism major w/ a focus in magazine writing. I just realized today that after four semesters I never really decided on a minor. For a time I was semi-set on Mass Communications, but I've decided that I want to stand out from the typical skillsets.

I'd like to minor in a language. First of all, being polyglotal, for me, is the mark of an educated person. Secondly, i'd like to do journalism(or otherwise, i'm open) work outside of the United States. I love the idea of English-language newspapers and publications in countries with different national dialects, Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diaries no doubt played a part.

Originally, I was pondering a minor in Japanese, but that's really the mid-standard secondary language course that everyone is taking now(that and Cantonese). Furthermore I don't know if i'm up to learning another alphanumeric system. German just seems right- i'm 1/3rd German, I love the country, and Deutsche Welle is my favorite news source.

Do any of the salty seadogs here want to put their two Euros in? Help me decide on my irrevocable path and lot in The Future World?

Go for it! It's a fantastic language!

go for it by all means. just remember tha grammaticly german is a very complicated language, so it will need a lot of work on your part. if you just want to be able to do basic conversationsl german then, it should be much easier. having a common root helps, as many words are either the same, or at least similar.

Ich bin krank

NObabe wrote: Ich bin krank

Warum?

Alpine Angel wrote:

NObabe wrote: Ich bin krank

Warum?

That's all I remember.

Du bist eine Schwein NOT

NObabe wrote:

Alpine Angel wrote:

NObabe wrote: Ich bin krank

Warum?

That's all I remember.

Du bist eine Schwein NOT

Cheers, I've already taken three and a half years of Spanish, which is pretty complex in terms of grammar and conjugations in relation the all-important infinitive, which might help. Granted, I won't have the advantage of having grown up being immersed in it the same way I was with Spanish .

If you want to do journalism outside the U.S., you should be aware that there are two diplomatic languages: English and French. Granted, a journalist isn't a diplomat, but those are the diplomatic languages because one or the other is spoken in large areas of the world, so being fluent in those languages can be useful in an international career. Another useful language, of course, is Spanish, which you are apparently already fluent in. If you want to be fluent in an up-and-coming language, it can't hurt to know Mandarin, because China is rapidly growing in importance.

On the other hand, if you want to reconnect with your German heritage, go for it! I did the same with Italian-- no practical application, except that women love to hear it-- but it was important to me.

My two Euros.

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Originally, I was pondering a minor in Japanese, but that's really the mid-standard secondary language course that everyone is taking now(that and Cantonese).

The official language of China is Mandarin, so Cantonese is pretty much useless. Even Chinese immigrants here are having to learn Mandarin so they can do business with China.

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Originally, I was pondering a minor in Japanese, but that's really the mid-standard secondary language course that everyone is taking now(that and Cantonese).

The official language of China is Mandarin, so Cantonese is pretty much useless. Even Chinese immigrants here are having to learn Mandarin so they can do business with China.

Plus Manchurian!

[orange]|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3[/orange] wrote:

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Originally, I was pondering a minor in Japanese, but that's really the mid-standard secondary language course that everyone is taking now(that and Cantonese).

The official language of China is Mandarin, so Cantonese is pretty much useless. Even Chinese immigrants here are having to learn Mandarin so they can do business with China.

Plus Manchurian!

Erm...The majority of the population of Northeast China is Han Chinese. Manchus form a significant minority, and have been almost completely assimilated into the Han Chinese; the Manchu language is almost extinct.

And...Standard Mandarin is the official Chinese spoken language used by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia and Singapore.

So...No.

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Cheers, I've already taken three and a half years of Spanish, which is pretty complex in terms of grammar and conjugations in relation the all-important infinitive, which might help. Granted, I won't have the advantage of having grown up being immersed in it the same way I was with Spanish .

go for it then. knowing spanish grammer should be a big help. just remember that you can not assume that the genders in spanish are the same as they are in german.

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

[orange]|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3[/orange] wrote:

Comrade Shampanyov wrote:

Hannett of the Apes wrote: Originally, I was pondering a minor in Japanese, but that's really the mid-standard secondary language course that everyone is taking now(that and Cantonese).

The official language of China is Mandarin, so Cantonese is pretty much useless. Even Chinese immigrants here are having to learn Mandarin so they can do business with China.

Plus Manchurian!

The majority of the population of Northeast China is Han Chinese. Manchus form a significant minority, and have been almost completely assimilated into the Han Chinese; the Manchu language is almost extinct.

Isn't that a pity? In old times Manchus were the majority in the Northeast Chine. Now only you and me remember them :(

Pity when a language goes extinct.

wasn't this thread originaly about german?

Nein.

Oder, wie sagen sie "hijack"?

Hannett of the Apes wrote: i'm 1/3rd German

Ronald Kirsch wrote: wasn't this thread originaly about german?

You're right. It's all confusing...

Does anyone need Russian lessons?? :D

French is more universal than German. Be aware that taking a college course on a language involves alot of busy work and could potentially lower your GPA.

well we all know what i am. then again what am i? born in germany, with a german mothter, and a american father whose family came from germany, living in australia.

Ive been learning German part time for a year or so now. No particular reason, just got interested after buying a crash course tape when i went to Frankfurt. Yes the grammar is difficult to get your head around at first, im just about there now, hopefully it will start getting easier from here cos i can focus on learning words a bit more.

To me, a language without practicing it on a regular basis is meaningless, and practically such a knowledge won't be of good quality, especially with such grammatically difficult languages like German. You just can't keep up with it after a certain period of time (6 months is risky, a year would kill what you'd studied).

Very true. Will have to hope i can keep the interest up and keep practising.

[orange]|| | ||| 6217|| 8 || 3[/orange] wrote: To me, a language without practicing it on a regular basis is meaningless, and practically such a knowledge won't be of good quality, especially with such grammatically difficult languages like German. You just can't keep up with it after a certain period of time (6 months is risky, a year would kill what you'd studied).

Which is why i'm more or less deadset on trying to get work or at least living for a while in whichever country(ies) corresponds to the language I take.

Well, I don't think that German is that complicated, I had no problem in being raised with it...

Well If you decide to take German lessons I may help you to train it...

So what'll it be, Hannett of the Apes?

I've decided to go with whatever the bird in the Cocteaus was speaking.

Well that certainly clears thing up then...