Exploring the German Language

by Sally Johnson, Natalie Braber

If we want to understand how German speakers think about themselves and the world in which they live, then a useful place to begin is by looking at the language they use. This fully revised and updated edition provides a systematic approach to the study of the German language and an introduction to the social aspects of the language, including its dialects, its history and the uses of the language today. No previous knowledge of linguistics is assumed, and each chapter is accompanied by a series of practical exercises. This edition includes a brand new section on gender, purism and German unification, fresh examples for analysis and an updated chapter on the geography of Germany today. The book will help students not only to find new ways of exploring the German language, but also of thinking and talking about German-speaking cultures.

Genres: Linguistics, German Literature

312 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 1998

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Sally Johnson and Natalie Braber's Exploring the German Language is penned in English, I would if someone with no prior knowledge of practical German grammar and usage expressed an interest in considering this book either for pleasure or for enlightenment solo reading ONLY recommend the first part without major reservations and caveats (pages 1-80, covering the general introduction and the section that showcases German language history and its general status nowadays, including pointing out which areas of the world, aside from Germany proper, have German speaking minorities and sometimes even majorities). And yes, I do in fact think that especially the history of German and its place in Europe and as an Indo-European tongue, and how this is presented and shown in Exploring the German Language is indeed one of the best and most easily understood all-round general snapshots of German language history I have read to date, a very good even if basic short introduction and where readers also do not have to possess advanced university degrees in linguistics in order to understand the authors' presented text.

However and more than wee a bit frustratingly and annoyingly on my part, part two of Exploring the German Language (on the specific structures of German) is most definitely and certainly (in my opinion) both considerably more complicated and difficult in and of itself and also does seem to assume that readers have at least some basic and proper knowledge of and familiarity with phonetics, morphology and syntax (not to mention that the vast majority of the German language examples given are from where I stand far far too complicated for either readers with no prior knowledge of German or even for perusers who are just starting, who, say, are taking a first year basic German language course). And yes indeed, the third part of Exploring the German Language, on the German language in use, of course also and equally does in my opinion then assume and expect readers to be familiar with German language structures etc. at the at least low intermediate level (for even with the explanations and general interpretations, even with what Sally Johnson and Natalie Braber write about German being featured in English and in a comparatively easy to comprehend manner, MOST of the German language expressions and sentences that serve as examples are usually simply NOT elementary but assume quite a bit of German language, of German grammar, syntax and morphology knowledge and familiarity).

Finally and with the above in mind, I also do have to say that in my opinion, Exploring the German Language is actually considerably more suitable for in-class use as a university or college level textbook than as a tome to read for self guided study (as especially the information and details on the sounds of German and how German words and sentences are structured and presented, how the language itself works, this is not always all that easy to fully understand correctly without a qualified professor or instructor providing necessary guidance).

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a solid 5. If you are considering reading this book, pay attention to the table of content. Are you interested in the topics? It is a solid 5 at covering them (and some more, as it needs to lay some basic foundations on linguistics). Also consider that his book was crafted for in-class use and therefore it can be dense as a solo read. I would argue it's a good read anyways if you're interested on the topics, but worth accompanied by some Youtube videos if all the talk about fricatives and such gets a little dizzying.