THE GERMAN LANGUAGE Facts compiled from vistawide

THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

Facts compiled from vistawide.com

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF :

•Germany•Austria•Switzerland•Liechtenstein •Luxemburg•Northern Italy•Eastern Belgium

Maps of GERMANY

German is the most widely

spoken language in

Europe. More people speak German as their

native language than any other language in Europe.

It's no wonder, since Germany's 83 million inhabitants make it the most populous European nation.

Germany has the 3rd strongest economy and is the #1 export nation in the world.

In 2007, for the 5th year in a row, the Germans were world champions in exports. The country exported 940 billion US dollars worth of goods, just ahead of the US exports.

Knowing German creates

business opportunities.

Companies like BMW, Daimler, Siemens, Audi, Lufthansa, SAP, Bosch, Volkswagen, BASF, Adidas, and many others need international partners.

The Japanese, who have the 2nd most powerful economy in the world, understand the business advantages that a knowledge of German will bring them: 68% of Japanese students study German.

Knowing German creates business

opportunities. If you're looking for employment in the

United States, knowing German can give you great advantages.

German companies account for 700,000 jobs in the United States, and US companies have created approximately the same number of jobs in Germany.

Germans are innovators.

• Gutenberg's printing press

• Hertz' discovery of electromagnetic waves

• from Ehrlich's development of chemotherapy

• to Einstein's theory of relativity

• to Brandenburg's creation of the MP3

Germans are innovators.

As a nation committed to research and development, Germans are on the frontline of new technologies. Germany exports more high-tech products than any other country except the U.S.

More than 600 firms are active in the field of

biotechnology. The east German city of Dresden has become Europe's microchip center with its more than 765 semiconductor firms.

Germans are the biggest spenders of tourist dollars in the

world.

While German workers are highly productive, it is clear that they know how to play just as hard as they work. With ample disposable income and an average of 6 weeks of vacation a year, Germans have the time and the means to travel, ... and they do!

Germans are the biggest spenders of tourist dollars in the

world. If you are a world traveler, you are certain to

encounter Germans wherever you go since nearly 3 out of every 4 vacations by Germans are spent in other countries.

In 2007, they spent a record 91 billion euros on international travel. Year after year, the residents of Germany spend more on foreign travel than those of any other nation

Germans form the largest single

heritage group in the U.S.

In the year 2000 census, 42.8 million or 15.2% of Americans reported having German ancestry, making German Americans the largest single heritage group in the U.S.

Germans form the largest single

heritage group in the U.S. Family names and names of thousands of

towns and cities indicate the German heritage of their ancestors or founders.

Such cultural mainstays as kindergarten, the Christmas tree, and hot dogs and hamburgers were introduced by German immigrants to America.

They founded multiple breweries, created Levi's jeans, invented ketchup, and created Hershey's chocolate.

President Horst Kohler

Berlin: capital of Germany

Berlin: capital of Germany• Largest city of Germany

• Center of culture, business, fashion

• Monuments: Brandenburg Gate, The

Reichstag, Berlin Wall,

Berlin Wall The Berlin Wall was a physical barrier encircling West

Berlin from 1961 to 1989. 98 people were killed trying to cross.

The “Fall of the Wall” paved way for reunification of Germany.

Bradenburg Gate: symbol of Berlin

Brandenburg Gate• Main symbol of Berlin and Germany.

• Built 1788 as a symbol of peace

• Led to city palace of Prussian monarchs

• Presidents Kennedy,

Reagan, and Clinton

have spoken there

Berlin:The Reichstag

(parliament)

Berlin: Zoologischer

Garten• Opened in 1844

• 1,400 species and 14,000 animals

Hamburg, Germany

• Second largest city in Germany

• Waterspray in harbor

• 2300 bridges “Venice of North”

• Hagenbeck’s animal park: 1907, first zoo

to use moats instead of cages

Hamburg: Heide Park

Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany• Munich = monk

• 1972 Summer Olympics

• Marienplatz= town center

Munich: Marienplatz• Town center of Munich

• Pedestrian zone

• Rathaus Glockenspiel

reenacts 2 stories of 16th

century with 43 bells and

32 figurines

Munich: Olympiapark

Munich: Allianz Arena

• 2006 World Cup

Munich: Oktoberfest

Koln, Germany• Koln Cathedral (600 years to build)

• Shrine of Three Kings

Koln, Germany• On the Rhine River

• One of Europe’s Oldest Universities

• Home to more than

30 museums and

hundreds of

galleries

Koln: Eau de Cologne• Koln Wasser (A perfume of citrus oils,

lavender, rosemary)

• Originated in 1709 and is still made today

Koln: Carnival

Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt, Germany

• Known as Frankfurt am Main

• Main River (pronounced “mine”)

• Financial center of Germany: stock exchange, European Central Bank, Bank of Germany

• Transportation center of Germany: Frankfurt Flughafen and Lufthansa

Frankfurt, Germany

• Only German city with

significant number of

skyscrapers

• Old Opera House

• International book fair

Dresden, Germany• Called “Florence of the North”

• Palace called “Zwinger”

• Located on Elbe River

• Dresdner Stollen = famous fruit bread

• Dresden china

Dresden: Zwinger Palace

Leipzig, Germany

Leipzig, Germany• Trade and business center

• City of Fairs: Messenstadt

• Double “M” = symbol of city

• Home of Gewandhausorchester and St. Thomas Boys’ Choir

• Theater der Jungen Welt

• Belantis Theme Park

Map of Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland• Known as “Genf”

• International conference center• Gigantic water spray in harbor

of Lake Geneva

• Second home to celebrities

Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

• Major banking center

• Lake Zurich

Maps of Austria

Vienna, Austria• Capital and largest city of Austria

• On the Danube (Danau) River

• Busy port for international cargo

• Known as city of music

• Vienna Boys’ Choir

• Spanish Riding School with Lippizan Stallions

Wien or Vienna

Vienna Boys’ Choir• Best known boys’ choir in world

• From ages 10 to 14

• Perform 300 concerts for over

500,000 each year

• Since 1924

Vienna’s Spanish Riding

School• Since 1572• Hapsburg family of Vienna and Spain• Strong sense of tradition in school (salute Emperor Karl VI), costumes • Horses from Lippiza, Yugoslavia

Salzburg, Germany

• Birthplace of Mozart

• Salzburg Music Festival

• Sound of Music filming

• Name comes from salt mine