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Today, German is one of the major languages of the world. It is the most spoken native language within the European Union. German is also widely taught as a foreign language, especially in continental Europe (where it is the third most taught foreign language after English and French), and in the United States.
- 95 million (2014), L2 speakers: 80–85 million (2014)
- Values
- Languages
- Religion
- German Food and Drink
- The Arts
- Business Culture
- Holidays and Celebrations
Germans place a high priority on structure, privacy and punctuality. The German people embrace the values of thriftiness, hard work and industriousness and there is great emphasis on making sure that "the trains run on time." According to Passport to Trade 2.0, an online business etiquette guide by the University of Salford in Manchester, England, ...
Unsurprisingly, the official language of the country is German. More than 95 percent of the population speaks German as their first language, according to Angelo State University's Center for International Studies. Other languages spoken include Serbian in eastern Germany; North and West Frisian, spoken around the Rhine estuary; and Danish, primari...
Christianity is the dominant religion, with 65 to 70 percentof the population identifying themselves as Christian. That number is 29 percent Catholics. Muslims make up 4.4 percent of the population, while 36 percent are unaffiliated or have a religion other than Christianity or Muslim.
Germans love rich, hearty cuisine, though each area of Germany has its own definition of what a traditional meal looks like. Pork is the most consumed meat, according to the German Food Guide. Schweinshaxe (braised pork hock) and Saumagen (pork stomach) are a couple of traditional pork dishes. Bratwurst, a form of sausage, is closely associated wit...
Culture doesn't just refer to how people interact and look. "Culture also means refined intellectual, artistic and creative achievement, for example as in cultural knowledge, or a cultured person," Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science. Germans have made tremendous contributions to classic...
The desire for orderliness spills over into the business life of Germans. Surprises and humor are not welcomed. Everything is carefully planned out and decided upon, with changes rarely occurring after an agreement is made, according to the German Business Culture Guide. There is a high regard for engineers in German, as evidenced by the country's ...
Germany celebrates many of the traditional Christian holidays, including Christmas and Easter. German Unification Day on October 3 marks the reuniting of East and West Germany and is the only federal holiday. While the country's big beer bash is called "Oktoberfest," its starts each year on a Saturday in September and ends 16 to 18 days later, on t...
- Kim Ann Zimmermann
Apr 30, 2024 · Altogether, German is the native language of more than 90 million speakers and thus ranks among the languages with the most native speakers worldwide. German is widely studied as a foreign language and is one of the main cultural languages of the Western world.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Here are some fun facts about the German language: German is the official language of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein; Native Speakers: Approximately 95 million worldwide; Approximately 15 million people worldwide are learning German as a second language (including you!) German has 4 letters that English doesn’t ...
Aug 10, 2023 · Job Guide. Exploring German Culture and Traditions. By / August 10, 2023. AI image by Midjourney. Germany is a country steeped in rich history, traditions, and customs. From its stunning architecture and art to its heavenly cuisine and famous folk festivals, German culture is known for its diversity and vibrancy.
It is one of 23 official languages in the European Union, and one of the three working languages of the European Commission, along with English and French. Recognised native minority languages in Germany are Danish, Sorbian, North Frisian and Saterland Frisian, with Low German being a regional language.
Dec 11, 2023 · Contents. 1. What Is German? A short history of the language. Notable characteristics of German. Similarities between German and English (and other languages) 2. Varieties of German. German Standard German. Swiss Standard German. Austrian Standard German. Yiddish. 3. German Culture. German humor. German gestures and body language. German etiquette.
