German

Do you know the german alphabet? There are thirty letters:

a (ä) b c d e f g h i j k l m n o (ö) p q r s (ß) t u (ü) v w x y z

ß is a special german letter. It looks like a »B«
but actually it's an old combination of »s« and »s« or »s« and »z«. So it's called »ess-tset« (»ess« is the german name of »s« and »tset« the name of the letter »z«). (It's similiar to »w«, which is also an old combination of two letters: »double u« or »double v«!)

ß is pronounced like english »s« (in »mouse«) or »c« (in the word »ice«), e.g. groß (»big, great«) = »groce«, beißen (»to bite«) = »bicen«. (German s is pronounced normally like english »z«, and german z like »ts«.)

When a short vowel is followed by a consonant in German you use »double consonants« (bb, ff, ll, mm, etc.) Instead of kk you use ck, instead of zz you use tz, and instead of ßß you use ss.
So »groß« is pronounced with a long »o«, but »Boss« (»boss«) is pronounced with a short »o«.

Germany produces fine automobiles, guns, cameras, wine, and of course beer (and many other wonderful products, I'm sure).

German chocolate cake is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do hope that my english isn't so bad, but i wrote an A in the last test! And according to an Website of some-english-speaking-institute i achieved the Advanced Learner's level.
By the way, i'm German and i don't wear leather-pants (Lederhosen) (hope this word exists in english)

If you are interested in this language, let me tell you that what is called RoundRobin on this page on the German page is called Fortsetzungsgeschichte.
But if you are more interested in English click on »RoundRobin« and find a continuing story.

Das Land der Dichter und Denker?
Das Land der Richter und Henker!

The nation of poets and thinkers?
The nation of judges and executioners!

OK – I admit, it doesn't rhyme in English. But it is nevertheless true, isn't it?