Language

Over 100 million people in different countries all over the world, including Austria and part of Switzerland speak German today. Belonging to the Indo-European language group it developed more and more regional dialects, especially in Cologne, rural Bavaria, Swabia and parts of Saxony. The Sorb minority in eastern Germany has its own language and in the north it is common to hear people speaking “Plattdeutsch” and Frisian. Both are distant relatives to English and furthermore the fact that many German words survive in the English vocabulary makes things a lot easier today for native English speakers.
All German school children learn a foreign language (usually English) and consequently most are able to speak it to a certain degree.

It’s not difficult to pronounce or even to understand a little German because almost all sounds can be found in English. Nevertheless it is important to pay attention in one point drawing a fat line between the German “Sie” and “du”, that both means “you” in English. Addressing an acquaintance with the formal “Sie” is a must, unless invited to do otherwise. Muttering a familiar “du” (reserved for close friends, children and family) to a person in service will only incite wrath and bad service, although “du” is often acceptable in bars where are young people. If in doubt, use “Sie”.