Coffee... from Togo?

As you all likely well know, countless English terms have been integrated into languages in both Europe and all over the world, and German is no exception.

Although Europe is filled with the traditional cafés where one always goes purposefully to sit and enjoy a cup with company, the characteristically American concept of grabbing coffee on the run in the mornings or around lunch has likewise infiltrated the modern food industry here, and nowadays, it's not uncommon to come across the distinctly English term "Coffee - or "Kaffee" - To Go" in coffee shops and restaurants everywhere.


It's hip! It's modern! And sometimes, it just feels cooler to advertise than "Kaffe zum Mitnehmen"!

Unfortunately for many of the older generations of Germans, it can be often be quite difficult to keep up with the dynamic changes that almost seem to flood in with every passing week.

But it's to my personal great amusement when you overhear an elderly German going up to a counter and ordering "ein Kaffee Togo, bitte". Togo, pronounced with German vowels. Togo, which rhymes with "pogo" of pogo-stick. Togo, like the small west African country. Togo, like only a cute old German would say.

Vhat the Wuck?

There has always been this little phenomenon with a surprising number of Germans who speak English regarding the English letters "V" and "W" .

Other American friends who speak German and I have frequently noticed that Germans say "willage" instead of "village". Phonetic mix-ups are nothing remarkable in any language-to-language transfer. All languages are composed of a different collection of phonetic ingredients, and basically, some language always has some kind of sound that some other language doesn't have.

HOWEVER.

I find the above example completely bizarre, because the German language has these phonemes (sounds). The only difference is that their "V" is pronounced as a "fff", and their "W" is pronounced as our "V". (Prime example: Volkswagen is pronounced, "Folksvagen," to us.) Despite that, it shouldn't make a difference. The sounds have different labels, but they are still present in both languages. To this day, I still cannot figure out why Germans say "willage" instead of "village".

They have the phoneme. There is no reason to mix them up. They have the phoneme. And might I mention that there are few English-speaking Germans who have any major problems with the "w" in "where" and "when"?

I've asked and discussed this with German friends of mine personally. I've gotten anything from Germans who have no problem saying English words starting with "v", to those who can discern absolutely no difference when I enunciate both the correct and incorrect forms before them, to those who have said, "Well, I actually had a good American friend who helped teach me what exactly to do with your mouth, lips and tongue. So that's why I can do it. However, that's the only reason why I can pronounce it correctly now. As far as sound, I promise you, both still sound exactly the same to me."

Isn't this bizarre?!

The Draaaawwwwl

Over the course of the year so far, I've introduced myself to other American students, of course. Typically, both parties always ask where the other is from at some point.

I must admit that I groan inwardly to myself every time I tell an American the state that I'm from in the southern US, and they immediately react with shock that I don't have any trace of a southern accent. Really, now. And I always thought I was the one who lived under a rock. I suppose I never realized before that it was a phenomenon to be born and raised in "redneck country" and come out speaking newscaster English despite the fact.

To the rest of America's population: YES, it happens. NO, I'm not the only one.

Brand New Perspective

I have a good friend who hails from the Czech Republic. She has lived in Germany for a few years and has very good German, though she still has a very noticeable accent as well.

Once, my friend was washing her hands in the bathroom of a restaurant. A very young German child, maybe four or five years of age at most, was also there next to her. After they happened to exchange a few words, the child looks at her and says with genuine confusion, "Why are you talking that way?"

Meaning, of course, her accent.

I find this cute and intriguing, and it makes me smile a little to think about it.

Deu-rish

From starting the first day of the month-long intensive German course today, I have to say one thing...

German spoken with a very heavy Irish accent is just about one of the most freaking remarkable linguistic phenomenons I have had the complete pleasure and amusement to hear.

I have absolutely no intention of poking fun at the Irish girl in my level class. Just for the record, however, I'm considerably glad that I happen to sit facing away from her, because every time she had to read aloud in German today, I could not keep a poker face if my life depended on it. And she has a very strong accent.

Oh, how I wish you could only hear! It's fascinating.