In the first lesson we covered how to say “Hello, how are you?” and “What is your name?” in German. In this lesson we will look at possible answers to general questions. Phrases in brackets are the pronunciation of the adjacent word. NOTE: In German you may come across an awkward character (ß) it may look like the letter B but actually represents a double s. But this character is now only used in special circumstances. For the sake of this lesson we will use ss instead of ß so you don’t get confused.
The most simple of answers are “Yes” and “No”. Which in German are “Ja” (Ya) and “Nein” (nine).
Out loud or in your head say “Yes” and then “Ja”. Repeat this three times. Do the same with “No” and “Nein”.
If your not sure how to answer something I suggest three phrases. “Maybe” - “Vielleicht” (vee-liked), “I don’t know.” - “Ich weiss nicht.” (Ick vise nickt) or “I don’t understand.” - “Ich vestehe nicht.” (Ick ver-shter-hir nickt). Now these are slightly harder phrases to learn if you are not yet familiar with German. Start by revising “Maybe” and “Vielleicht” over in your head.
It should become clear by looking at the other two phrases that “Ich” means “I”. Also you might have been able to tell that “nicht” is “not”. We have “I do not know.” and “I do not understand”. In German, however, they literally say “I know not.” or “I understand not.”. Once you know “Ich” and “nicht” these phrases should become easier to learn.
All you have to learn now is “weiss” and “vestehe”. “Weiss” meaning “know” and “vestehe” meaning “understand”. Write these words down if this is hard to memorise and use this to revise at various points during the day.
Remember to try and practice these phrases with a partner for more practical learning. Thank-you for reading my article and hopefully you can catch the next lesson.
"The Worst Novel Ever Written"
Below the Beltway
By Gene Weingarten
Washington Post -- Sunday, February 16, 2003
I am on the phone with Robert Burrows, author of the recently published political novel Great American Parade. This book has sold only 400 copies nationwide, and Burrows seems flabbergasted to be hearing from me.
The most prestigious newspaper to have shown any interest so far is the Daily Student at Indiana University.
I tell Burrows that if he is willing to submit to an interview, I am willing to review his book at length in The Washington Post. The only catch, I said, is that I am going to say that it is, in my professional judgment, the worst novel ever published in the English language.
Silence.
"My review will reach 2 million people," I said.
"Okay," he said.
I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I really love my job.
Burrows, a keen-witted 79,is a retired University of Wisconsin English professor. He published the book himself, printing 2,000 copies, scattershotting them out to America's media in the hope that positive reviews would turn it into a big seller.
Me: Why did you think that anyone would want to read a novel whose central point is that the Bush tax cuts are imprudent fiscal policy? Do you think that E.L. Doctorow would write a book like that?
Burrows: Frankly, other people wondered about this,too. My wife asked me that. So did Warren Buffett, when I asked him for a blurb. He wrote a nice letter back on the bottom of my letter, saying he didn't think a novel was a proper vehicle for my ideas.
Me: I think it might be because you write badly. The Daily Cardinal of the University of Wisconsin-Madison called this "simply an awful book." The Wayne
State University newspaper calls you "unskilled," and says the book is "an agonizingly slow read" that is "naive," "dull" and "uneventful."
Burrows: I am not terribly depressed by the reviews. I am disappointed, of course. I was hoping that discerning people might find it, and it would begin to catch on.
Me: It is possible that some people might have found the plot a little improbable. They might find it hard to believe that,in order to garner political support for his tax cuts, George W. Bush would secretly arrange a giant parade in Washington honoring the richest people in America, who would march front to back in order of their net worth. Or that a cadre of earnest, teetotaling college students would get wind of this and, encouraged by Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, rise up to stage a heroic counter-parade honoring basic American values like morality and hard work. Was this perhaps deft satire, a nifty Swiftian touch?
Burrows: No.
Me: Ah.
Burrows: My idea of the novel is that the concentration of wealth among a small percentage of Americans is inimical to democracy. When primogeniture was outlawed in the Constitution, the Founding Fathers didn't foresee the development of colossal fortunes in stocks and bonds. You used to be able to see the accumulation of land among the wealthy, but you cannot see stocks and bonds. Cutting the tax on the wealthy from 39.6 percent to 33 percent was a terrible idea, even though Congress compromised at 35.1 percent.
Me: Your characters don't seem to have personalities.
Burrows: This was a novel of ideas. I didn't go into personal relationships.
Me: You have people speaking in paragraphs, using words like "indeed" in casual conversation. After your protagonist, Joan Milton, watches the planes hitting the World Trade Center, she turns away in horror and says to her friends: "What an almost unbelievable tragedy! It will take agreat resolve to overcome this terrible blow." My question is, have you ever heard real human
beings speak?
Burrows: This is the way I speak. In my circle, I am
regarded as a fascinating conversationalist. I have a dinner group that has been meeting for maybe 30 years. I admit that may be a little limiting.
Me: Your only black character, who is named Jesse
Jackson Jones, expresses his concurrence by saying, "Right on!"
Burrows: Yes.
Me: Okay! Well, do you think your book might be made into a motion picture?
Burrows: I never thought of that. That would be fun.
Me: Are you planning another book?
Burrows: Yes. It will be about Bush's plan to exempt stock dividends in perpetuity from taxes.
Me: As you know, I think Great American Parade is a wretchedly terrible product that shames the American publishing industry. Is it available in stores?
Burrows: People can buy it directly from me. I live in Whitewater, Wisconsin. I'm in the phone book. I appreciate this opportunity.
Me: You're welcome. Your book is printed on very white, shiny paper.
Burrows: They did a nice job.
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