12The English Language Journal

for Baden-Württemberg

www.accents-magazine.de

September/October 2006

accentsmagazine

When Deutsch and English don’t match

The Queen’s pharmacist in London

Folk dance a flourishing

Mailing a letter? Join the queue!

Dirty Denglish

3accents magazine

The German language is threat-ened by the corrupting influenceof English. Indeed, Germany’slinguistic independence and cultural identity will disappear if the mishmash of German andEnglish, commonly known asDenglish (or Denglisch) is noteliminated.

Well, that’s the way thatsome Germans see it. Fromcool and comeback to fashionand feedback; from sorry andsale to ticket and teenager; there’s no doubt that in all areasof life, Germans are borrowingEnglish words or using pseudo-English words (Wellness, sen-den, relaxen) in place of theirown. How widespread is the

influence of Denglish? And is itsomething that native-Englishspeakers should also be con-cerned about? Dirty Denglish is the title of our feature story, on pages 8-10.

Pass through, bend the line,square up: if staunch opponentsof Denglish want to get hotunder the collar they need lookno further than your averageBaden-Württemberg town orschool hall on a regular Satur-day night. English terms are thenorm when it comes to Irishfolkdancing and American folk-dance forms like square andround dancing. In our Arts andCulture section, we explore theenormous popularity of these

imported forms of folk dance insouth-west Germany.

Bang Your Head. No, notexactly a step taught by squaredancers. We’re talking heavymetal music. The “Bang YourHead” music festival takesplace every June in the town of Balingen, in the Swabian Alb.It’s a town with plenty of con-trasts: heavy metal and highculture; beautiful buildings androlling, wooded hills. Balingenfeatures in both our travel section (pages 14 -15) and in ourGood to Know tips (page 21) in this edition.

In this issue you can alsofind out who supplies theBritish Queen with her medi-

cine, which church waited 140years for a full-time priest, andhow to join the queue in a postoffice. (Psst, from the side!)

Finally, to all those whoenjoyed reading our Children’sCorner section up until now,we’d like to apologise: forvarious reasons we have deci-ded to close down this section.However, our “Book Reviews”of books for young readers willcontinue. You’ll now find themin the Arts and Culture section.

accents magazine

editorial team

Editorial

118 16 22

8 Dirty Denglish

Is English polluting Deutsch?

9 “Language always

changes“

Views of a German linguist

5 Queen’s pharmacist

in London

6 American lawyers in B-W

7 Heidelberg institute

turns 60

7 St. Catherine’s new priest

11 The folk dance boom

Irish and American folk dance grow in popularity

12 Book reviews

14 Balingen

Cultural treats in the Swabian Alb

21 Money Matters

Holiday money 21 Balingen Tips

22 The postal system

22 Got mail? Join the queue!

4 Letters

4 My Two Cents

Uber-cool with German 16 accents choice

What’s on listings18 accents guide

Clubs and contacts20 Classifieds

Contents

Feature News and Events

Arts and Culture

accent on…

Good to Know

Labyrinth

Regulars

accents magazine Published by accents media GbR (Bryan Groenjes, Maki Kuwayama, Geoff Rodoreda) Neue Brücke 3, 70173 Stuttgart. Tel 0711 3102160, Fax 0711 3102161, info@accents-magazine.de Editor Geoff Rodoreda, editor@accents-magazine.de Arts Editor Stuart MarlowCopy Editor Katharine Schmidt Photographer Chrys Rynearson Contributors Toni Astle, Andreas Fischer, Dagmar Fritz, Liz Gaiser, Anna Gentle,Helen Klimmek, Melissa Martin, Nichole Martinson, Rebecca Perrin, Simon Rentschler, Steve Trevallion, Harvey Utech, Anastasiya ZagorniAdvertising Enquiries Bryan Groenjes, ads@accents-magazine.de. Webmaster Andrew Golledge, webmaster@accents-magazine.de Websitewww.accents-magazine.de Graphic Design Brucklacher Visuelle Kommunikation Reutlingen, www.brucklacher.de Prepress CGS Möhrle,Vesoulerstraße 4, 70839 Gerlingen Cost free Published every two months Circulation 10,000 Distribution everywhere English is spoken: subscribing firms, cultural institutions, shops, pubs, clubs, theatres, hotels and selected tourist centres Advertisers and Corporate SubscribersAdolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, Biddy Early’s Irish Pub, Celesio AG, Corso Cinema International, George and Dragon English Pub, InternationalBaptist Church, Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James-F.-Byrnes Institut e.V., Ernst & Young AG, Little Giants Early Learning Center, The Loft Designer Clothing, Piccadilly English Shops, Robert Bosch GmbH, Schiller International University, SEB AG Stuttgart, United States ArmyGarrison Stuttgart – Kelley Theatre ISSN 1862-345 X

Cover photo by Chrys Rynearson. Thanks to UDO-SNACK, Calwerstraße 23, Stuttgart

Letters

to the Editor

Dear editor,

I just wanted to say that I find accents really interesting andinformative. I am from New Zealand and have been in Stuttgartfor just over one year. For me, it’s great to read interestingarticles and news in English, as my German is not yet goodenough to read German magazines. THANK YOU accents.Vanessa Franklin, Stuttgart

Dear editor,

I refer to the letter in your last edition “Sprechen SieDeutsch?” by Dr. Cindy Halbert-Seger (accents 10, p. 4). Iagree with her that English speakers are lazy when it comes tolearning foreign languages. But has she thought about why?There are some expats who are only here for a couple of years,and so they don’t bother learning German. Also, many Englishspeakers are not helped by the fact that so many Germans loveto practise their English. As well, native-English speakers havemuch less exposure to German in their home countries thanGermans have here to English. Just look at the prevalence ofDenglish, which I think helps Germans to learn English.David Brookfield, Stuttgart

Editor’s note:

Dr. Cindy Halbert-Seger’s letter (accents 10, p. 4), provided a lotof written and verbal feedback. She challenged accents to con-duct a survey of how well expats speak German following ourtest in accents 08 (Jan/Feb 2006) of Stuttgart’s English ability.“Kudos to Halbert-Seger!” wrote one anonymous postcard sender, “Looking forward to the survey she suggests.”

We agree that it’s important for any foreigner living in Ger-many to learn German in order to be able to integrate effect-

ively into German society. It’s probably true that native Englishspeakers are not the best foreign language learners in theworld, but we don’t see it as our task to test this theory. We arean English-language magazine – we’re not experts in Germanand are certainly not experts in conducting any sort of Germantest. Interestingly – and surprisingly for us at least – last year’saccents Readership Survey found that more than 80 % of ourexpat readers could speak at least reasonable German. Only17 % rated their German as poor. It was hardly a scientific language test but it may indicate that the German ability of native-English speakers living in Baden-Württemberg is not asbad as many might think. We welcome debate on this andother issues covered in accents. Please provide your name andyour city of residence whenever you write to us – we cannotpublish letters by ‘anonymous’ or ‘an occasional reader.’ Geoff Rodoreda, Stuttgart

accents magazine4 Letters

accents magazine Neue Brücke 3 70173 Stuttgarteditor@accents-magazine.de

My Two Cents

By Katharine A. Schmidt

While defenders of the language of Goethefind ever more evidence that their mothertongue is in danger of losing its soul to international English, they might take heartat the thought that contemporary Englishspeakers don’t shy away from the occasionalGerman word.

I’m not just talking about terms likeGesundheit (“health”), spoken after some-one sneezes. German has made its wayonto the evening news, into the businesspress, and has even been picked up by theyoung and the hip.

Uber, spelled without the Umlaut, hastrickled into English through Nietzsche’sterm Übermensch. In German, über oftenmeans “over” or “about.” But uber nowpops up a lot in US publications and is used

by twenty-somethings to heighten adjectivesfrom “boring” to “cool” to “sexy.” Forexample: “That must be so uber-boring.”

Of course, all English speakers knowsome basic German: Kindergarten, Müsli,Sauerkraut, Bratwurst. But with some ofthese everyday terms, adoption into Englishcan cause some confusion. In English-speak-ing countries, “Kindergarten” refers to achild’s first year of school or their last yearbefore first grade. Whereas in Germany,kids spend three years in Kindergarten.

A number of polysyllabic German wordscome in handy if you’re trying to show offhow well-read you are, and they more orless retain the meaning they have in Ger-man. There’s Weltanschauung, to describe aperson’s view of the world; Schadenfreude,for that joyful feeling when misfortunebefalls others; and Realpolitik, for a foreign

policy based on pragmatism rather than onmoral or ethical principles. (Isn’t it wonderfulthat English, the language of breezy inter-national marketing, has to rely on Germanfor these pithy terms?)

My favorite among heavyweight Germanimports is the word Angst, which somehowmakes me think of a Woody Allen movie,just about any of them. In German, Angstrefers to common, everyday “fear.” But native-English speakers use angst to mean“anxiety,” or as my Webster’s dictionarysays: “a gloomy, often neurotic feeling ofgeneralized anxiety and depression.” Like I said, Woody Allen movies all over.

Comments, questions, and suggestions to

mytwocents@accents-magazine.de

or accents magazine, Neue Brücke 3,

70173 Stuttgart

World Cup special thanks

Expats learning German

Dear editor,

We would like to thank accents magazine for contributing tothe success of the UNESCO World Youth Festival in Stuttgart in July. Most of our 2000+ guests are already back in theirhome countries, hopefully spreading the festival’s message of intercultural friendship, peace and understanding. Your specialedition “World Cup Survival Guide” provided our internationalguests with the chance to discover the beautiful and interestingsites of Stuttgart. Maybe even their host families were able tolearn something new about their hometown through yourmagazine. Thanks again for your help in making this festival atruly rewarding experience for all participants. Ulrike Weinz, Project Manager,UNESCO World Youth Festival 2006, Stuttgart

News and Events 5accents magazine

News and Events

The UK Honorary Consul in Stuttgart, FritzOesterle, has been checking up on thehealth of the British Queen – indirectly, atleast.

Oesterle was part of a delegation ofBaden-Württemberg business and politicalleaders, headed by Baden-Württemberg’spremier, Günther Oettinger, which visitedLondon in June. Oesterle is the chairmanand chief executive officer of the Stuttgart-based firm Celesio AG, Europe’s largestpharmaceutical distribution company.Celesio has an especially strong presencein the UK market – more than half of its35,000 employees are British.

Oesterle played host during PremierOettinger’s visit to the London pharmacyJohn Bell & Croyden. It’s one of Britain’soldest pharmacies and, as a holder of aroyal warrant to the Queen, delivers medi-cines to the British royal family. John Bell &Croyden is the flagship shop of the Britishpharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy, which is

owned by Celesio. Looking at it anotherway, the British honorary consul in Stutt-gart is, ultimately, the Queen’s pharmacist.

At John Bell & Croydon, Premier Oettinger inspected the range of healthcare services offered at British pharmacies,including some asthma and blood-sugar-level tests which are normally carried outby doctors in Germany.

Oesterle, the Celesio boss and UK rep-resentative in Baden-Württemberg, waskeen to show Baden-Württemberg’s politicalleader aspects of British health care pract-ice that could be worthy of mention in thedebate on health care reform in Germany.

“Premier Oettinger’s visit to our flagshipLondon pharmacy clearly demonstrates thathealthcare policy and the importance ofhealthcare provision has become a centraltheme in German politics,” said FritzOesterle. “We are committed to intensify-ing the dialogue on health reform with decision makers in politics.”

Her Majesty’s Royal Chemist

UK Honorary Consul in London

The UK’s Honorary Consul in Baden-Württemberg, Fritz Oesterle, has reviveda tradition that hasn’t occurred for manya year in Stuttgart – celebrating the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

On Friday, June 23, Oesterle invitedmore than 300 guests from the world ofpolitics and business, and from the UKcommunity in B-W to an outdoor recep-tion in honour of the Queen. Oesterlewelcomed his guests on the lawns andforecourt of Celesio AG, the company he

heads, declaring that two things lay closeto the heart of every English person: theroyal family and football.

“It’s a nice coincidence then,” saidOesterle, “that the official 80th birthday of the Queen should be celebrated inthe same month as the football WorldCup in Germany.”

Elizabeth II was actually born on April21, 1926 but her birthday is always offi-cially celebrated in the United Kingdomin June.

Queen’s 80th celebrated in Stuttgart

UK Honorary ConsulFritz Oesterle (left)and B-W PremierGünther Oettinger(right) in London

Mondays Music & movie quiz

Tuesdays Live Jazz music

W ednesdays General Knowledge Quiz

SaturdaysDarts tournament

The George & Dragon English PubIn Hotel Le MeridienW illy-Brandt-Stra§e 30

70173 Stuttgart0711 2804969w w w.gandd.info

Photo: C

elesio AG

Photo: C

elesio AG

, Queen’s birthday celebration in S

tuttgart

accents magazine6 News and Events

How can you tell when lawyers are lying?Their lips are moving. Why did the lawyercross the road? To sue the chicken on the other side. And there are plenty morewhere that came from – in the UnitedStates, at least.

In America, lawyers are a favourite topicfor jokes. But that’s not the case in Ger-many. The legal profession here enjoys ahigh level of respect, according to US lawyers working in Baden-Württemberg.

As increasing numbers of small andmedium sized Baden-Württemberg firmsengage in trans-Atlantic trade, they arefinding they need the advice of US lawyersto guide them through the thicket of foreign regulations. The same goes for USfirms wanting to set up business here.

“When an American manager steps offthe plane he or she often doesn’t knowanything about how to set up shop here,how to employ people, how to market pro-ducts. It’s the same for German companiesinvesting in the US. And so you become a business advisor as well as a legal advi-sor,” says Stuttgart lawyer Nicolaus Susta.

Susta is in a perfect position to comparethe two legal systems. The 35-year-oldgrew up near Hamburg but studied Englishin Virginia and law in New York. He speaksboth German and English fluently and hasworked as an attorney in both Germany andthe US. At the Stuttgart law firm WahlertRechtsanwälte he’s set up an alliance witha law firm in the United States.

“In America there is more litigation andstill a bit of a Wild-West attitude when itcomes to the law, based on the motto thatif the law won’t help, we’ll argue for new

law. In Germany, it’s more like: ‘Well, youcan’t pursue this course because of A, Band C.’ It’s based more on predictable rulesand regulations,” says Susta.

US attorney Tim Smith, 38, who set uphis own law firm, Lungershausen & Smith,in Böblingen five years ago, puts it thisway: “American lawyers take a moreadversarial approach to legal disputes. It’sdrummed into you from your first day oflaw school. German lawyers have a diffe-rent mindset. They adopt a problem solvingapproach from the beginning; it’s about finding compromises to reach an amicablesolution. It’s like we’re both made of the

same hardware but have had completelydifferent software installed in our brains.”

US lawyer, Michael Hixson, chose towork in Baden-Württemberg after first holidaying here.

“It was refreshing to encounter a so-ciety that, unlike America, was not overtlyprudish or religiously conservative. Apartfrom that, the working hours are shorterhere, there’s more vacation, and a morecohesive sense of community and tradi-tion,” he says.

Hixson, 31, now works for the law firmGroßmann & Associates in Gerlingen, nearStuttgart. He grew up in Tennessee andstudied and worked in the US before hisvacation in Stuttgart in 2003. He later cameback here to work. He agrees that Germanyand the United States have quite differentlegal cultures.

“Germans are very risk averse. Theywant the outcomes of their business decisions to be predictable, and prefer notto allow the unpredictability of the legalsystem to determine outcomes. They’re bigon insurance – they insure against risk rat-her than go to court. And lawsuits are notused here so often as a means of rectifyingwrongs in the system.

“In the US, you don’t rely on the govern-ment to fix things, you seek legal redressto right a perceived wrong. Government isseen as reactionary and the courts are view-ed as a forum for progressing society.”

Says Timothy Smith: “The US litigationsystem could be viewed as a possible avenue of wealth distribution in society.Real pessimists would say it’s nothing buta lottery.”

“Different software in our brains”

US lawyers in Baden-Württemberg

More work for USlawyers in Baden-Württemberg –Michael Hixson (left)and Nicolaus Susta

Culture and fun in English – The Metropolitan Club

By Nichole Martinson

Smuggling out possessions under hoopskirts to avoid detection by the duke’shenchmen; highly-charged lovers’ quar-rels fuelled by a high intake of Riesling;searching for horses and lodging forNapoleon’s army – these are the ingred-ients of great stories, and some of thetrue-life tales of world-renowned authorswho once strolled through Stuttgart’scobblestone streets.

Victor Hugo, Samuel Beckett, HansChristian Andersen and Arthur Rimbaud –among many other writers – have all visit-ed Stuttgart. You can relive their experi-ences by taking part in a Writers Tour ofStuttgart, in English, organized by one ofthe city’s most active international clubs,

the Metropolitan Club. On a particularly gray, rainy day in

August, we wound our way through theAlte Postplatz, where the 19th centuryFrench writer Stendhal once found shel-ter and horses for Napoleon’s men. InRotebühlplatz there’s a furniture store on the spot where French poet Rimbaudmay have laid his weary head after alovers’ tiff and too much wine. On Bären-straße, fair maidens aided the famedwomanizer Giacomo Casanova, saving hisbelongings from repossession by hidingthem under their skirts.

The Writers Tour is just one of a rangeof social events organized by the Metro-politan Club in recent months. Winetours, water skiing, bowling, bike ridingand film night events, as well as trips to

the zoo, the opera, and the Black Forestwere also on the program.

The Metropolitan Club Stuttgart wasfounded shortly after World War II tofoster relations between the UnitedStates and Germany. But it’s evolved intoan international club which now aims toprovide foreigners with an understandingof regional culture and history.

New members are eagerly accepted, but one does not have to be a member to attend one of the club’s outings orevents. For the full schedule of activities,see the Club’s website: www.metclub.de

The Writers Tour was conducted by

Literatur-Spaziergänge Hahn & Kusiek

www.litspaz.de

Photo: C

hrys Rynearson

Nearly 140 years after its founding, Stutt-

gart’s first English church, St. Catherine’s,

has finally received a full-time priest.

Melissa Martin reports.

In 1864, a wealthy English woman, Cathe-rine Masson, travelled all the way fromLiverpool to Bad Cannstatt to luxuriate in a health spa. This was the first in a chain of events, which included a booked outSpanish class and a funeral in Texas, thatled to the 51-year-old Reverend KennethDimmick becoming a full-time priest at St.Catherine’s Anglican Church in Stuttgart.

St. Catherine’s is a unique institution setup for English visitors to south-west Ger-many in the late 19th century. They camebecause of English links to the Württem-berg royal family or, as in the case ofCatherine Masson, for health reasons.

When Masson died in 1865 she bequea-thed her dowry to found an Anglicanchurch in Stuttgart. It was consecrated in1868. St. Catherine’s was destroyed duringWorld War II and rebuilt by Stuttgart’s OldCatholic congregation. Today the buildingbelongs to the Old Catholic Church and theAnglicans use the premises as guests.

St. Catherine’s Anglicans have always

had to ‘share’ priests with other congre-gations, so they’re delighted to finally haveFather Dimmick, a Texan Episcopalian.

A year ago, Dimmick was looking for anew challenge in his ministry. He thoughtof going to Japan, or maybe Russia. Then,at a funeral in Texas he heard of an openingin Düsseldorf. Dimmick had served withthe US military in Germany and alreadyspoke good German. He’d first studied thelanguage after the Spanish course at his

high school was booked out. He applied forthe Düsseldorf job, went to the interview in London, but was turned down.

The very next day, St. Catherine’sposted its job advertisement for a full-timepriest. Dimmick applied, and when St.Catherine’s offer and a Japanese job offerarrived on the same day, he choseStuttgart.

Father Dimmick’s full-time position at St. Catherine’s signifies a bold commitmenton the church’s part to increase member-ship. Services are in English and the con-gregation is very international. Additionalchildren’s activities and a choir are planned.

St. Catherine’s is a strongly liturgicalchurch, which means that the congregation,including the children, play an active role in the service. “We aim to appeal to thesenses,” says Dimmick. “We want to helpworshippers to experience God with theirears, eyes, brain, heart – and even theirtear ducts from time to time.”

St. Catherine’s Anglican Church

Katharinenplatz 5, Stuttgart

(U-Bahn: Olgaeck or Rathaus)

www.stuttgartanglicans.de

Appealing to the senses

Baden-Württemberg newcomer, Father Dimmick

News and Events 7accents magazine

By Harvey Utech

Germany has developed into one of themost stable democracies in the world sinceWorld War II. But the transformation didn’tjust happen overnight.

Germans found themselves isolated im-mediately after the war. They were lookingfor fresh ideas to help them rebuild theirbroken society. In Heidelberg, Americanauthorities established the Amerikahaus in1946 to provide war-weary Germans withphysical shelter and – through a well-stocked library – with literary and politicalfood for thought from across the Atlantic.

“Our purpose in those days was to openthe doors in Germany to democracy, andthe movements it had spawned in theUnited States”, says Jakob Köllhofer, direc-tor of the Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut(DAI), the successor to the Amerikahaus.“Sixty years later we’re still involved in thisexchange.”

The DAI is one of four German-Americancultural institutes in Baden-Württemberg.The others are in Stuttgart, Tübingen andFreiburg. They each run a library, offer Eng-lish courses, provide information on study-ing in the US, and organize a rich program

of cultural exchange.The DAI Heidelberg’s cultural program

includes an impressive list of invited speak-ers over the years, among them T.S. Eliot,Thornton Wilder, Oliver Sacks, JaneGoodall, Joanne K. Rowling and Nobel Prizewinners such as Günter Grass and DerekWalcott. Köllhofer quotes a former DAImember as saying: “At the DAI I met allthe famous Americans I would never havemet in the United States.”

Köllhofer is proud to point out that thesecond speaker he brought to the DAI,after he joined in 1977, was Rudi Dutschke,Germany’s most famous left-wing activistof the 1960s and 70s. Dutschke was in-spired by the US student protests of thatera. He’s typical of the speakers the DAItries to attract: progressive thinkers whoare not afraid to speak their mind.

The DAI started as a library and the library remains the main attraction withinit’s elegant home in downtown Heidelberg.The library boasts over 17,000 English language books, videos, DVDs, and over100 newspapers and magazines. Apartfrom English courses for adults, the DAIoffers English instruction for students, anda program for younger children (4 -14 years)

called the OWLS – One World LanguageSchool – program.

In its 60th anniversary year, the DAI hasorganized an ambitious program of lectu-res, readings, seminars, exhibitions, filmnights and festivals for people of all ages.On Sunday, November 25, 2006 it’s organ-izing a major celebration for its “Circle ofFriends.” This event will take the form ofan “Open House.” Anyone with an interestin the DAI is welcome to attend.

“We are proud of what we have achiev-ed in 60 years,” says Köllhofer. “But thereis still much work to do. We are lookingahead and hope to be able to intensify discussion and dialogue on the importantissues of the day.”

Fostering German-American relations

DAI Heidelberg turns 60

Father Dimmick(above) says raisingmembership at St. Catherine’s “has a lot to do withtrust”

Housed in a statelybuilding in the centre of Heidelberg: the Deutsch-AmerikanischesInstitut

Feature

“Updates werden gedownloadet”

Dirty Denglish

accents magazine8 Feature

Sorry, happy, meeting, ticket, manager,

know-how – they’re all words commonly

used in everyday German which have

been borrowed from English. Deutsch

is mixed with English to create Denglish

– much to the annoyance of some

Germans. Is the German language being

destroyed by Denglish? Accents investi-

gates.

Jürgen Klinsmann hasn’t helped at all. Thenational football coach of Germany’s 2006World Cup team lives in Huntington Beach,California, with his American wife and twochildren. He might have been Germany’sfootball darling this summer but he didn’twin any prizes for his eloquence with theGerman language. His thick Swabian accentwas one problem (for the rest of Germany)but his occasional use of English terms in spoken German made him the brunt ofmuch ridicule. SWR3, a local radio station,produced comedy skits with a Klinsmann

character using words like coach, team,tricks, feeling, favourite, power and con-nections instead of their German equiva-lents. For those trying to fight the culturalbattle to keep English terms out of every-day German, Klinsmann is not the best role model.

Spearheading that cultural battle is theVerein Deutsche Sprache (Society for theGerman Language), a club set up in 1997whose mission is to rally against the infil-tration of English into everyday German.

“Sale, card, highlight, bike, counter, ser-vice point – these words and many othersare muscling their way into the Germanlanguage,” argues the Society. “Germany’s linguistic independence and cultural identityare at risk.”

The Society says it’s not opposed toEnglish per se but it’s against a mishmashof English and German. In most cases aperfectly normal German word can be usedinstead of an English import.

Another category of Denglish words arises because of differences in Germanand English syntax and grammar. This leadsto the creation of pseudo-English verbs likerelaxen, texten, gemanagt, gedownloadetand gejobt. Other Anglicisms have taken oncompletely different meanings in German.An Oldtimer in Germany refers not to a per-son but to a vintage car, a Shooting refersnot to a gun battle but to a photo shoot.Germans talk about a Drive-in and meanwhat Americans call a drive-through. ABeamer is the nickname the English give to a BMW car; Germans are talking about a video projector. And a Handy is known as a mobile phone or a cell phone in Englishspeaking countries.

Denglish owes its existence in part tothe predominance of English in the worldof pop music, the computer industry andinternational business. But it is the use of Denglish in German advertising and marketing that annoys the Society for the

Feature 9accents magazine

Denglish

A cause for concern?

The Institute for the German Lang-

uage in Mannheim is a non-university-

affiliated institution for the study of

the contemporary use of the German

language. Andreas Fischer spoke with

Dr. Annette Trabold, a linguist, who

heads the Institute’s public informa-

tion department.

What is your Institute’s view on the

use of Denglish in the German lang-

uage?

The expression Denglisch is loaded – itimplies that English words are alreadyover-used in German. In fact, a look atofficial listings of German words revealsthat between 1880 and 1986 the pro-portion of Anglo-words in the Germanlanguage rose from 1.36 to 3.46 per-cent. At first glance, Anglo-terms standout in advertising, sport, the computerindustry and in business. But you haveto differentiate between words thatstand out in advertising and the media,and those that find their way into every-day usage. Personal observations arenot necessarily representative of overalltrends.

Where the use of foreign words hinders proper communication it mightbe better to use German alternatives.However, a lot of foreign words havefound their way into regular German:Magazin is Italian, Gitarre is Spanish,Alkohol is Arabic, tapezieren (to wall-paper) is French, Humor and Sport andFilm are all English. All of these wordshave become part of the German lang-uage and are no longer seen as foreignbut completely natural.

At what point then does the natural

use of English words in German

become “Denglish” or, if you like,

unwanted?

When English terms are not used todescribe something new – in mostcases that’s the reason for borrowingforeign words in the first place. Or if anEnglish term causes misunderstandingsand the thing or matter-at-hand can justas easily be described in German with-out a loss of meaning. But as I said, theterm “Denglish” is, in itself, a loadedexpression and can reflect an individualimpression. Others might draw the lineelsewhere. Many people feel threat-ened by change and feel the same wayabout the development of language or,rather, newness in language.

What are the reasons for the popular

use of English words in place of

German ones?

If products with English or Americannames didn’t sell so well, advertiserswouldn’t use them. Many people wouldsimply rather buy a “City Shirt” thansomething called a Herrenoberhemd. Inorder to appear less provincial and moresophisticated people sometimes preferusing English words. Second, lots of people like to demonstrate how well-travelled and international-in-outlookthey are by dropping English words andexpressions into their conversations nowand again.

You also get young people diff-erentiating themselves from adults, notonly through their clothes and theirbehaviour, but also through the way theyspeak. Using English terms is a part ofthat. Sometimes, English terms mightbe used in politics for strategic reasons,to cloud over a controversy – exactlybecause no one understands them. Recently, we had the term “Job-Floater”– no one had any idea what it reallymeant. At other times, Germans simplyuse Anglo terms without even thinkingabout them, they are just part of naturalvocabulary.

What are the longer term consequen-

ces of the constant use of Denglish, in

your view?

So-called Denglish words come and go,like any trend. What I view as more problematic is occurring in the sciencesnowadays where German is not used at all. Everything is written down in Eng-lish. Developing thoughts in your ownlanguage is always better than writingthem out in a foreign language. Thetrend away from Latin as the languageof science led to a better understandingand involvement of the general popu-lation in the sciences. English is nowbecoming the only official language ofscience and, once again, broad sectorsof the population are being shut out ofdebate.

How do you expect the use of

Denglish to develop?

You cannot predict how a language willdevelop, but languages are changing allthe time. If the German language – thevocabulary, the grammar, the style of itsuse – didn’t change at all, then we mightstill be speaking a cultivated form ofmiddle-high German from the year 1200.

German Language most of all. The Society points to surveys which

show that the majority of Germans do notunderstand the real meaning of English slogans and marketing phrases used bycompanies in Germany. Examples include;“Be inspired” (Siemens mobile), “There’sno better way to fly” (Lufthansa) and“Every time a good time” (McDonald’s).

Perhaps this is why media and market-ing experts speak of a trend in advertisingaway from Denglish and back to German.In recent years, the clothing chain C& Achanged its slogan from “Fashion forLiving” to Preise gut, alles gut; the televi-sion channel Sat 1 swapped its “Poweredby emotion” slogan for a German one; and even that quintessentially Americancompany, McDonald’s, dropped its Englishjingle for ich liebe es – although in Austria,McDonald’s uses the English equivalent“I’m lovin’ it.”

The perfumery chain, Douglas, arousedparticular confusion with its English slogan“Come in and find out,” according to onesurvey. Many Germans thought this was an invitation to enter a maze. It was takento mean: “Come in and find your way outagain.” Douglas has now changed its slo-gan to Douglas macht das Leben schöner,which translates roughly as “Douglasmakes life beautiful” – this is the com-pany’s slogan in the USA. A Douglas spokesperson, Tanja Stephani, told accentsmagazine that the slogan “Come in and

Photo: C

hrys Rynearson. E

nglish in a shop window

in Stuttgart

find out” was not scrapped because of aback-to-German trend or because of custo-mer confusion.

“We didn’t receive any complaints aboutour former English slogan. Studies have infact shown we have one of the best-recog-nised brand names in Germany – and this isin no small part due to our previous Englishslogan,” said Stephani.

Are Germans really all that confused orannoyed by Denglish?

Some defenders of the German lang-uage, such as the Institute for the GermanLanguage, in Mannheim, are not overlyconcerned about the consequences ofDenglish on German.

“You have to differentiate between

words that stand out in advertising and themedia, and those that find their way intoeveryday usage,” says Annette Trabold, a linguist at the Institute. “Languages aredeveloping and changing all the time. Manypeople feel threatened by change (in a) language or, rather, newness in language.”(See “Denglish: a cause for concern?”, previous page.)

A passing fad or here to stay?

Accents decided to investigate the pre-valence of English words and expressionsused in German shop windows on Stutt-gart’s main shopping street, Königsstraße.Of the 126 shops on both sides of Baden-Württemberg’s premier shopping and pedestrian zone, 65 of them (52 %) usedEnglish words, slogans or expressions toattract customers inside.

However, the most frequently usedEnglish word was “sale.” In 22 of the 65shops with English words, “sale” was theonly English word used. A week after ouroriginal survey, with the end of the officialsummer sale period, a recount revealedthat 43 shops (34 %) of the 126 shops onKönigsstraße used English expressions.

Examples of English used in shop windows included: Designed for desire;Selected lines on sale; Long sleeve; Adoptme; Trendstore; New collections, fall winter; and the ubiquitous Coffee to go.Some of the more curious expressions,

from a native-English-speaker’s perspec-tive, were: Euroeyes, Crazy lenses; Fashionis back home; and Look for nice price.

The Institute for the German Languagetakes a pragmatic view of the use ofEnglish expressions in German advertising.

“If products with English or Americannames didn’t sell, advertisers wouldn’t use them,” says Annette Trabold. “Many people would rather buy a ‘City Shirt’ than something called a Herrenoberhemd.”

Trabold argues that all languages arecontinually adopting ‘foreign’ words, andGerman is no different.

“Humor, sport, film and thriller areEnglish words that have now become anatural part of the German language,” shesays.

Maybe the word “sale” should be addedto her list. Or perhaps the final word shouldbe left to the late Dutch entertainer andcomedian, Rudi Carrell, who worked formany years in Germany.

“When I first came to Germany I onlyspoke English,” he said. “But in the mean-time the German language has adopted so many English words that I now speakfluent German!”

Additional research for this story:

Andreas Fischer, Helen Klimmek

and Anastasiya Zagorni

Used in shop windows acrossGermany: “sale”appears to havebecome naturalGerman

Photo: C

hrys Rynearson

Arts and Culture

Irish jig and American square

Folk dance is booming

accents magazine

By Stuart Marlow

Popular touring dance shows like River-dance and Lord of the Dance have madeIrish dancing known to a wider public inGermany in recent years. That’s one of thereasons that Áine Halpin’s Irish dance classes, which she started in the Stuttgartregion in 1994, have grown steadily inpopularity.

Halpin has remained in touch with therich traditions of Irish dancing. She begandancing as a four-year-old in County Clare,and won dance prizes throughout her child-hood at the local and county level. Sincearriving in Stuttgart with a marketingdegree in 1992, she has run a highly pop-ular dance school, founded a performancegroup in 1996 called Fáinne (“Ring” inGaelic), and has now become an associatemember of the Dublin-based World Govern-ing Body of Irish Dance.

One of the reasons the tradition of Irishfolk dance is still alive and strong, saysHalpin, is because of competitions. Theyare a driving force behind the popularity ofIrish dance in Germany.

“From my own school, I have noticedthat some of the dancers have really uppedtheir game when they saw what the com-petition was like here, and worked hard toimprove. In Ireland, Irish dance is highlycompetitive. Some girls and boys as youngas ten or twelve are performing at the high-est possible standard. But on mainlandEurope there are Irish dance competitionsaimed at all standards – from beginners toadvanced. There’s no reason why anybodystarting off could not become competitiveat their level.”

Some of Áine Halpin’s own studentswere awarded prizes at this year’s MunichOpen Feis (competition.)

“However, it is important to state that anumber of my dancers are not really inter-ested in competition,” says Halpin. “Theydance purely for the pleasure of it – it alsohelps them keep fit!”

Performance groups like Halpin’s Fáinnehelp to keep ancient folk traditions alive.But there are always new influences indance, so that even the most traditionalforms of dance are constantly evolving.

How does Halpin see the balance betweentradition and change?

“All art forms are continually evolving,and Irish dance is no different in that res-pect. Riverdance and other shows havebrought a whole new demography to Irishdance and had a positive influence. But inIreland you can still go set-dancing at a ceílíand see hundreds of people dancing inexactly the same way they would have ifRiverdance had never happened.”

Keeping traditions alive means recruitingyoung people. What kind of people inBaden-Württemberg are interested intaking up Irish dance?

“Every type! It is quite surprising howvaried it is,” says Halpin. “I have childrenfrom the age of 5, as well as teenagers and adults up to the age of 60 who want to begin learning Irish dance. Some haveconnections to Ireland, most do not. Mosthave seen the international shows, and thatis what has sparked their interest.

“It can be daunting at first but once thebasics have been mastered, progress ismore rapid, and a number of dances can belearned without any problems.”

American folk dance

If Irish dancing sounds too energetic, youmay wish to take up a closely relateddance activity with a proven track record in the United States of helping to reducestress and the risk of heart attacks, and of promoting well being – square dancing.

Square dance has become an extremelypopular pastime in Baden-Württemberg.There are 30 square dance, round danceand clogging clubs in the greater Stuttgartregion, at least 11 in the Mannheim-Heidelberg region, and 15 more clubs in the Baden region.

American folk dance originally built up afollowing in south-west Germany with thehelp of Americans linked to the US militarybut the clubs have flourished locally underGerman management despite the closingof many American bases and the loss ofmany U.S. dancers and callers. People froma wide range of backgrounds are attractedto square dancing. The Vaihingen-based

Arts and Culture 11

More popular thanever: square dancingclubs in B-W nownumber more thanfifty

Photo: E

ckart Moltrecht

Stories spawned by classics

Recommended reading

Writers often use classic works of lite-

rature as a basis for new stories. The

following two novels draw on two very

different, especially-revered books to

create entertaining stories in each case.

Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro

Harper Collins, 390 pages

Louise is browsing in a second-handbookshop when she discovers a bookthat becomes her personal Bible, helpingher to come to terms with her own life aswell as the consequences of her actions.The ‘discovery’ is Genevieve AntoineDariaux’s (real) 1964 classic on style, A Guide to Elegance. Tessaro’s story realistically captures the insecurities ofmodern-day women who have a predilec-tion for self-help books. She has cleverlyused the skeletal framework of MadameDariaux’s book, with alphabetical chapterheadings – ‘Accessories’, ‘Beauty’,‘Comfort’ etc. – while underneath eachheading she quotes from Dariaux.(Beauty: “… While beauty, in its purestphysical form is nature’s gift alone to

bestow, elegance, grace and style areinfinitely more democratic.”) Tessaro’snovel is really a romantic comedy, butone with a serious message: you will notachieve your goals without a lot of hardwork and discipline. By the way, MadameDariaux’s book has been updated to in-clude references to Princess Diana andcell phones. The author’s wry commentsmake for entertaining reading, althoughthe degree of elegance demanded requi-res the discipline of a top athlete.

March by Geraldine Brooks

Harper Perennial, 280 pages

Ever read a novel and wondered whatmight have happened to a character whowasn’t the focus of the story? Mr. Marchis the missing patriarch in Louisa MayAlcott’s classic 19th-century novel LittleWomen, a story about a mother and herfour daughters struggling to survive inNew England while the father is awaywith Union troops during the AmericanCivil War. The shadowy figure of Marchtakes center stage in Brooks’ deeply real-

istic and insightful book, which has won a Pulitzer Prize. March is a man riddledwith self doubt; he has high ideals but heis naive in his approach to human nature.The character was developed as a resultof the author’s extensive research intoLouisa May Alcott’s own father. Later onin the story, Brooks writes from the per-spective of “Marmee”, the mother. Shebrilliantly portrays the character’s aware-ness of their weaknesses, as well astheir resolve to overcome them.

square dance society Broken Wheels haseven recruited students from StuttgartUniversity into its ranks.

Square dancing in the United Statesdeveloped from various European folkdance traditions including Morris dancing,English and Scottish Country Dancing, andthe French Quadrille. Cynics may viewsquare dancers as redneck ‘squares’ stom-ping around in formation to strange com-mands like: ‘Weave those rings’ or ‘Bendthe line’ or ‘Swing your partner do-si-do’.But square dancing is in fact a lively andvery social pastime, which requires a highlevel of skill. One US dance researcher, Phil Jameson, has traced early squaredance calls back to traditional Europeanrural dance forms, which were sanitized by the church but which essentially turned flirtation into an acceptable art form.

The basic square dance involves fourcouples. Each dance sequence starts andends with a formation in which the couplesplace themselves on either side of a squa-re. A key role is that of the ‘caller’, an earlytwentieth-century American invention. Thecaller literally calls out the steps, choreo-graphing the dance sequences. Interest-ingly, square dance ‘calls’ are always inEnglish, no matter what country the danceis taking place in. (In square dance groupsin Baden-Württemberg a good knowledgeof English is not necessary as the steps ofeach dance are explained in German inclasses beforehand.)

One reason for the popularity ofAmerican-style square dancing clubs inBaden- Württemburg may be because thedance has essentially come back to itsroots. It remains a sophisticated and socially integrative dance form that’s set to develop even further, if its growth of thelast few years is in any way indicative.

Irish dance links

www.danceirish.de

www.fainne.de

Square dance links

www.srrs.de

www.eaasdc.de

accents magazine12 Arts and Culture

A rich tradition, alsonurtured in B-W –Áine Halpin’s Irishdance class

Learning for fun

Children’s book reviews

The new school year begins in

mid-September. Here are two

books – each part of a series –

which demonstrate that lear-

ning can be easy and enter-

taining. They could be used as

supplementary material for

history, social science or writ-

ing lessons. Better still, just

read them for fun.

My Side of the Story:

Trouble at the Mill

by Philip Wooderson

Kingfisher, 188 pages

Kingfisher’s series “My Side ofthe Story” succeeds in makingthe subject of history moreaccessible. This book is set atthe time of the industrial revol-ution, and begins from the per-spective of Lizzy, the daughterof a recently unemployed millworker. There is unrest in themill, the workers are beginningto organize themselves, andthey are planning to strike.Wooderson vividly describesthe conditions in which Lizzyand her family live. Just as theaction begins to follow a defi-nite course, Lizzy’s accountstops: the reader has to flip thebook over to hear Josh’s side of the story. Josh is the millowner’s son who’s come homefrom boarding school. He tellsthe same story, which is – sur-

prise, surprise – quite differentfrom Lizzy’s account. This is aclever series which could beused in classrooms or purely forprivate pleasure. Other histori-cal settings in the series are thePlague, the Salem witch hunts,the colonization of America andthe American Civil War.

Traces: Roll Call

by Malcolm Rose

Kingfisher, 213 pages

Luke Harding is a forensicscientist and investigator – atjust 16 years old. How is thispossible? Well, what seems tobe an unrealistic fantasy, at firstglance, turns out to be a fan-tastic surprise. Luke lives in a parallel world where southernEngland is a dangerous slumzone and the north is wealthy.There’s merely a hint of socialcustoms and problems; it’sexciting to read as you’re leftguessing as to how this parallelworld came to be. Murder andmayhem are interwoven withreferences to technical jargon.It’s a book aimed at cell phone-and I-pod-carrying youngsters.Roll Call is the third in a seriesof five books. The last two willbe released this autumn. It doesn’t matter which book youstart with; it’s highly likely you’llend up reading the lot!

accents magazine

Writing competition winners

The winners of our under-18writing competition, launchedin accents 09 earlier in theyear, are Julia Zimmermannand Annelieke Overbeeke.Their winning essays aboutwatching English-languagefilms in the cinema can be

read online, under:www.accents-magazine.deThey each win two freetickets to the Corso Inter-national Cinema in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. Our thanks to the Corso for supporting thecompetition.

accent on…

accents magazine14 accent on…

Balingen

Quiet charms and loud surprises

Sixty kilometres south of Stuttgart,

Balingen is nestled into the Swabian Alps

in what is known as one of the sunniest

regions in Germany. Steve Trevallion

discovers the town’s attractions.

The sun blesses Balingen, so they say, and they are right. My shirt clung to myback as the train pulled into the station.Balingen’s quiet hills sloped around theedges of the town like a rolling green tablecloth. Before the end of the day I was totreat myself to the charms of both townand country.

In 2005, Balingen celebrated its 750thanniversary but the town is actually around1500 years old. It was given a town charterby the Counts of Zollern in 1255 whichbasically meant they could have a market.The new town became established on theleft bank of the River Eyach. However, theoriginal timbered town was destroyed byfires down through the centuries. The last

great fire, in 1809, was the worst, causingthe town’s walls to collapse. What we see of Balingen today stems mostly fromrebuilding since 1809.

The visitor information centre on the cor-ner of Friedrich- and Färberstraße is simplebut there’s plenty to read about the town in English. Make sure you pick up a copy of“A Walk Round Historic Balingen” whichwill tell you all you need to know about thiscompact Swabian town.

Across the street from the informationcentre, looming above the market stalls, is the tower of the main Protestant church,the Stadtkirche. It’s the most visible and,because of its sonorous peal of six bells,the most widely heard symbol of the town.Visitors can climb to the viewing platformfor a panoramic view of the town and thecountryside. Wandering along Friedrich-straße I found a “sulphur water well” I’dread about. It serves as a reminder of amedieval tradition in Balingen of taking

sulphurous baths. Unfortunately, it seemsto have little connection to the Balingen of today, so you just take note of it andmove on. A well hidden gem, however, is the Siechenkapelle (Lepers’ Chapel),situated next to the present hospital onTübinger Straße. The chapel was intendedfor ‘special invalids’ (lepers) who, isolatedfrom the inhabitants of the town, livedthere in an infirmary.

I made my way towards a bend in theriver to get a look at Balingen’s picture-postcard attraction: the Zollern Castle. Amajestic stone tower at the water’s edge isthe only remaining tower of the four cornertowers which once fortified the town walls.Today, the castle houses a unique collect-ion of weights and scales. Those interestedin the history of the area can also pop intothe Zehntscheuer (an old tithe barn) nextdoor. It houses exhibitions and displays onBalingen’s past. (“Animals of the Ice Age”is the current exhibition, running until early

November.) The castle’s former servantshall has been used as a youth hostel since1921. A very pretty place to stay.

The hostel is situated in a corner oftown which is known as “Little Venice.”The description is rather laughable, I’mafraid to say. I mean, the real Venice andBalingen’s Little Venice both have waterbut the similarities seem to end there.

A quiet country town?

Balingen is not just another pretty littleGerman town to walk around in. EveryJune it plays host to the “Bang Your Head”heavy metal music festival. It certainlyseems brave for such an unassuming townto be hosting an event that drags morethan eighteen thousand metal fans to itevery year! I did ask around, but most ofBalingen’s inhabitants seemed to have noidea who or what Leatherwolf, Whitesnakeor Death Angel were. Unbelievable, I know. “Bang Your Head” is not Balingen’s onlyattraction associated with loud noise. Thetown is also home to the driver traininggrounds for the German automobile club(ADAC) in Baden-Württemberg.

For those of you who don’t fancy loudcars and head banging, Balingen holds an inviting number of other attractions tooccupy your time. The Stadthalle hoststheatre and opera performances of inter-national standing. The Municipal Hall isbest known for its art exhibitions, featuring

work by artists such as Picasso, Monet andChagall.

I also wanted to discover the surround-ing landscape so I took a bus out of towntowards those 1000-metre-high rolling hills.Excellent cycling and hiking paths leadthrough meadows, across open country,into forests or up to the barren Alb plateau.The views from the top are marvellous. The Hohenzollern Castle, north of Balingen,is truly impressive to look at, perched atopone of the many wooded slopes in thedistance. It is ever so peaceful, and I guessthis is where many of the locals comewhen the crowds of long-haired, black-clothed heavy metal fans tumble into town.

I made my way back down into townand as I sat waiting for my train home Itried to think of a way to sum up Balingen.

There’s a quite pretty, semi-circular,stone weir in town, on the mill-stream partof the Eyach River. It was a costly con-struction, built to replace a wooden weirwhich was battered by catastrophic flood-ing in 1895. The investment in a more solid weir seems justified when you look at how high the water marks are furtherdownstream near the Tanners’ Gate. Thesemarks bear witness to what a raging tor-rent this quiet river can become. I see thisas a perfect metaphor for Balingen itself. It may not hold the charm of Venetianalleyways but for a sense of change andthe unexpected it is worth a visit. (SeeBalingen Tips on page 21).

Above: The EyachRiver, Zollern Castle in the background. Left: A scene fromBalingen’s rejuvinatedtown centre

Music

Stage

Exhibitio

On tour in the regionGayle Tufts: Miss AmerikaSep 18, 8:15 pm, Theaterhaus,Stuttgart, www.theaterhaus.com;Sep 19, Kulisse, Weil der Stadt, 07033 80102;Sep 20, d.a.i., Tübingen, www.dai-tuebingen.de;Sep 21, PZ-Forum, Pforzheim;Sep 22, Kunstverein,Tauberbischofsheim;Sep 23, Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof,Heidelberg, www.karlstorbahnhof.deSep 24, Tollhaus Karlsruhe, www.tollhaus-karlsruhe.deSep 26, Turmtheater Regensburg,www.dombrolit.de

Music

BühlLost Highway (USA) BluegrassNov 14, 8 pm, Schütte-Keller, www.schuettekeller.deFreiburgGolden HorseSep 2, 8 pm, Jazzhaus, www.jazzhaus.deHeilbronnCara, Irish musicOct 6, Altes Theater KarlsruheThe SubwaysSep 25, Substage, Kriegsstraße 15, www.substage.deKrusty Moors Oct 17, Scruffy’s Irish Pub LudwigsburgKarl Frierson –The Voice of De PhazzSep 24, 8 pm, Scala, www.scala-ludwigsburg.deB.B. King The Final Farewell TourSep 10, 8 pm, SAP-ArenaReichenbachAngelo Kelly & BandI’m Ready Tour, rock.Sep 9, 9 pm, die halle, Kanalstraße 10, www.diehalle.deBoo Boo Davis Blues BandSep 16, 9 pm, die halle, see address aboveCharlie A’Court Canada, Bring on the Storm Tour. Oct 2, 9 pm, die halle, see address above SchorndorfAmusement Parks on FireSep 16, 9 pm, Manufaktur,Hammerschlag 8, www.club-manufaktur.deCasiotone for the Painfully Alone& The Dead ScienceSep 17, 9 pm, ManufakturPeaches & Planning to RockSep 19, 9 pm, ManufakturStuttgartEuropean Music Festival:Ways to MozartSep 3 -17, www.bachakademie.de Mogwai, popSep 5, 8 pm, LKA Longhorn,Heiligenwiesen 6, 0711 4098290, www.Lka-Longhorn.deBlind Guardian, rockA Twist in the Myth Tour, special guest: Astral Doors.Sep 9, 8 pm, Messe CongressCentrum B Stuttgart-Killesberg,www.messe-stuttgart.deThe Slackers + Argies Sep 13, 9 pm, Landespavillon,SchillerstraßeArlo Guthrie &

TübingenElderly GracePhoto exhibit by New York photographer Chester Higgins Jr.Sep 19 - 29, Tue - Fri 9 am - 6 pm,d.a.i., see address aboveA Lifetime for Architecture: The Photographer Julius Shulman Opening Oct 6, 8 pm, Oct 10 - Dec 12, Tue - Fri 9 am - 6 pm,d.a.i., see address above

Stage

HeidelbergChildren of EdenOct 1 and 2, performance timeTBA, special family matinee, Roadside Theater, Patton Barracks,06221 175020, www.roadsidetheater.comUS Army Festival of One Act PlaysEurope-wide event with workshops,guest performances, and awardsceremony, all free to the public. Oct 6 - 8, performance time TBA,Roadside Theater, see address aboveEveryone misses Richard! Oct 6 - 8, performance time TBA,Roadside Theater, see address above84 Charing Cross Road Award-winning Readers Theaterproduction. Oct 20 - Nov 4, performance time TBA,Roadside Theater, see address aboveStuttgartLes MisérablesThe beautifully renovated KelleyTheatre re-opens with this “Broad-way in Concert“ production! Opening night is Oct 13, please check www.kelleytheatre.de for additional dates and times, Stuttgart Theatre Center – Kelley Theatre, Kelley Barracks, Vaihingen, 0711 7292825, general public welcome

German-American DayFall concert and the awarding of thefirst Franz-Steiner Prize. Oct 26, 7 pm, Neues Schloss, Weißer Saal,registration at the DAZ required0711 228180TübingenAmerican Night – Impressions of New OrleansLouisiana Funky Butts Brass Band,readings, guided tours of PeterGranser’s exhibit and Cajun cuisine,Sep 15, 8 pm, KunsthalleJazz and Classic DaysMusic festival in the entire city,Oct 21- 28, www.jazzklassiktage.deOne World Native AmericansPresentation with Guillermo ChavezRosette, Linda M. Velarde, Rosa O. Navarro and Four Suns, Oct 25,8:15 pm, d.a.i., Karlstraße 3, www.dai-tuebingen.de

Exhibitions

HeidelbergLori van Houten: Field Notes –Recent Works on PaperOpening Sept 22, 7 pm, Exhibit Sept 22 - Oct 18,Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut(d.a.i.), Gallery Upstairs, Sofien-straße 12, www.dai-heidelberg.deStuttgartRobert Fass: As Long as We Both Shall LivePhotography, drawings, and paint-ings. Sep 12, opening 6 pm, DAZ,Charlottenplatz 17, www.daz.org

EventsEvents

In the regionEuropean Heritage DayVisit historical sites and monumentsin your area, Sep 11, www.tag-des-offenen-denkmals.de(in German)NüfringenGreat Aussie BBQThe German Australian FriendshipClub, Sep 16, info 07032 330975Stuttgart38th Penny Bazaar by the GermanAmerican Women’s ClubThe don’t-miss annual fundraisingbazaar of the GAWC StuttgartOct 11-12, 9:30 am - 6:30 pmOct 13, 9:30 am - 12:00 pmMiss Black Germany 2006Oct 14, 6 pm, VersammlungshalleStuttgart-Freiberg, www.missblackgermany.de5th Stuttgarter KulturnachtArt, music, theatre and more with a free shuttle bus to all venues,Oct 22, www.lift-online.de

accents magazine16 accents choice

accents

choice

Galye Tufts: Miss AmerikaA mix of stories, stand-up and music. “Fun für Germans,Americans and everybodyin-between”. On tour in B-W,www.gayle-tufts.de

Lecture

topics, Carl-Schurz-Haus,Eisenbahnstraße 62, 0761 5565270,www.carl-schurz-haus.deHeidelbergDiscussion group with Dr. Steven Bloom Wednesdays, 6 pm, d.a.i., library, Sofienstraße 12,www.dai-heidelberg.de English-Language VideoDiscussion GroupTuesdays, 6 pm, d.a.i., library, see address aboveReading poeZone4Sep 26, John Haskell American Purgatorio;Oct 3, Zadie Smith On Beauty;Oct 12, Charles Simic My NoiselessEntourage, and Ranjit Hoskote Die Ankunft der Vögel8 pm, d.a.i., Great Hall, see address aboveIn Search of Major PlaggeLecture by Michael GoodOct 10, 8 pm, d.a.i., Great Hall, see address aboveKarlsruheDEF English Conversation Circle 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7:30 pm, Moltkestraße 20, Room 4LitNight in EnglishReading and discussing literature1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month,7:30 pm, American Library, www.american-library.dePoetry PleasePoems read and discussed inEnglish. 4th Tuesday of the month,7:30 - 9 pm, American Library, Tom 0721 3540477StuttgartThe Empire Study GroupA popular study group by LaurenceStallings and Scott Stelle.View topics on www.daz.org.2nd Friday of the month at 5 pm,DAZ, Charlottenplatz 17, 0711228180. Next dates: Sep 8, Oct 13Film: United 93 (2006)Special showing of PaulGreengrass’s film about the 9/11terrorist attacks. Discussion follow-ing film. Sep 11, 7 pm, Corso Kino,Stuttgart, in cooperation with theDAZ. Info 0711 228180Meet the Author Sep 25, John Haskell American Purgatorio;Oct 5, Michael Good In Search of Major Plagge;Oct 23, Askold Meinyczuk What is Told;7:30 pm, DAZ, see address aboveGet Registered to VOTE!In the Midterm US ElectionsAn informative evening for Germanand US citizens with local Demo-crats and Republicans expressingtheir opinions. Voter registrationand other services provided by theUS Consulate General, Frankfurt.Sep 29, 6 pm DAZ, see address aboveConversation CircleEvery 3rd Friday of the month from6 to 7 pm, Stammtisch at 7:15 pm. Conference Room, DAZ, see address aboveTübingen Writer’s Club With Carolyn Murphey Melchers, Oct 13, 2 - 4 pm, d.a.i., see address aboveBook DiscussionOct 13, Alice Munro: Runaway6:30 - 8 pm, d.a.i., see address above

Zebrahead Oct 25, 9 pm, Die Röhre, see address aboveCracker Oct 26, Laboratorium, see address aboveJurassic 5 Oct 27, 8 pm, LKA Longhorn, see address aboveU.F.O. with Andy ParkerNov 1, 8 pm, LKA Longhorn, see address aboveOn tour in the regionAcoustic Eidolon and Thomas LoefkeOct 20, Freudenstadt;Oct 21, Lauchheim, SchlossKapfenbuch, with SWR-Radio;Oct 22, Welzheim, 3 pm;Oct 22, Asperg, Glasperlenspiel, 7 pm;Oct 23, Ludwig Schlaich School,7:30 pm;Oct 24, Murrhardt, Erich Schumm Stift, 6 pm;Oct 25, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Cafe Spielplatz, 8:30 pmLuka BloomSep 23, Tollhaus, Karlsruhe;Sep 24, Feuerwche, Mannheim Crooked Jades: Americana Rootsfrom San FranciscoOct 13, 8:30 pm, Club Bastion,Kirchheim Teck, www.club-bastion.de;Oct 14, 8:30 pm, Wirtshaus Konfetti, Neustadt, www.kulturverein-wespennest.de;Oct 16, 8:30 pm, Jazzkeller,Tübingen, www.jazz-keller.com;Oct 17, 8:30 pm, Spitalkeller,Offenburg, www.361grad.de;Oct 26, 8 pm, Schütte-Keller, Bühl,www.schuettekeller.deJoshua Kadison solo on pianoSep 3, 8 pm, Konzerthaus, Karlsruhe;Sep 4, 8 pm, Theaterhaus, Stuttgart;Sep 14, 8 pm, Jazzhaus, Freiburg;Sep 19, 8 pm, Festhalle Harmonie, Heilbronn;Sep 25, 8 pm, Stadthalle, TuttlingenSteve Harley & Cockney RebelOct 13, 8 pm, Lehenbachhalle, Winterbach;Oct 15, 8 pm, Festhalle, Karlsruhe-DurchlachPaddy goes to Holyhead Sep 14, Festhalle, Leingarten;Oct 7, JUBEZ, KarlsruheThe Kooks, rockSep 15, 9 pm, halle02, Heidelberg;Sep 17, 9 pm, Die Röhre, Stuttgart;Radio 4, punkSep 22, 9:30 pm, Karlstorbahnhof,Am Karlstor 1, Heidelberg;Sep 24, Schocken, StuttgartEagle*Seagull, Indie rockSep 26, Substage, Karlsruhe;Sep 30, Schocken, StuttgartRoy Sexsmith Oct 16, 9 pm, Die Röhre, Stuttgart;Oct 18, 8 pm, Jazzhaus, Freiburg; Tickets can be bought by callingEasy-ticket service 0711 2555555,www.easyticket.de orSWR 1 ticket service 0180 5929211

Lectures/Discussions

FreiburgOpen DialogEvery other Wed, 6:30 - 8 pm,please check website for dates and

Hans-Eckardt WenzelSep 16, 8 pm, T1 Theaterhaus,Siemensstraße 11, tickets 0711402070, www.theaterhaus.comRadio BirdmanSep 22, Universum, Pfaffenwaldring45, www.universum-stuttgart.deFlipsyde, hip hopSep 25, Röhre, Willy-Brandt-Straße 2/1, 0711 2991499, www.roehre-konzerte.deJan DelaySep 26, Zapata, www.zapata.de Seachange, Indie rockSep 24, Schocken, Hirschstraße 36,www.club-schocken.de Bif Naked Sep 28, 9 pm, Die Röhre, see address aboveBilly Talent, punkOct 5, KongresszentrumLiederhalle, Berliner Platz 1- 33, www.liederhalle-stuttgart.deBarrelhouse Jazz GalaA Night in New Orleans 2006Part IIOct 6, 8 pm, Liederhalle, Mozart-Saal, see address aboveI Love You But I’ve ChosenDarkness, Indie RockOct 17, Schocken, see address abovePanic! At the Disco Oct 18, 9 pm, Die Röhre, see address aboveJoseph Parsons Oct 20, Laboratorium,Wagenburgstraße 147, www.laboratorium-stuttgart.deCorinne Bailey RaeOct 22, 8 pm, Liederhalle,Beethoven-Saal, see address aboveLondon Philharmonic OrchestraOct 23, 8 pm, Liederhalle,Beethoven-Saal, see address aboveIrish Folk-Festival ‘06Tribute To The Galway HookerBoatsOct 24, 7:30 pm, T1 Theaterhaus,see address aboveINXSOct 24, 8 pm, LKA Longhorn, see address above

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accents choice 17accents magazine

Special Film Showing:United 93 (2006)At the CORSO-Kino inVaihingen we will showPaul Greengrass’s film about 9/11. Opendiscussion after the film.Sep 11, 7 pm

Robert Fass: As long as we both shall liveA unique photographicstudy of long-married couples in the US. Sep 12, 6 pm

Get Registered to VOTE!Midterm US ElectionsA special event forGerman and US citizens in cooperation with the US Consulate General, Republicans Abroad andDemocrats Abroad.Debate, voter registration,Sep 29, 6 pm

Deutsch-Amerikanisches ZentrumJames-F.-Byrnes-Institute.V. Charlottenplatz 1770173 Stuttgart0711-228180www.daz.org

Les MisérablesThe Kelley Theatre has beennewly renovated and re-openswith this smash-hit musical in celebration of more than 25 years of first class English-speaking theater in Stuttgart.Oct 13th, see listing p. 16

Work

Kids

www.danceirish.deTübingenQuilting Bees: A Forum for Patchwork Quilters3rd Thursday of month, 3 - 5 pm,d.a.i., see address aboveNext dates: Sep 21, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 14

Kids

FreiburgTell Me a Story!Reading by Bill Wilson (USA)Check carl-schurz-haus.de for dates,5 - 6 pm, Carl-Schurz-Haus, see address above

Librari

Clubs &oolsEmerg

sulates

Emergency

Police 110Fire Department 112Ambulance & EmergencyMedical 19222Poison Hotline 0761 19240English Speaking PoisonControl 06131 232466Doctor for House Calls 0711 2628012

Consulates/Embassies

Australia030 8800880, Wallstraße 76-79,BerlinCanada 0711 2239678, Lange Straße 51,StuttgartIreland030 220720, Friedrichstraße 200,BerlinNew Zealand 030 206210, Friedrichstraße 60,BerlinSouth Africa

International School of Kreuzlingen Konstanz 0041 71 6722727Hauptstraße 27, Kreuzlingen,Switzerland, www.iskk.chHeidelberg International School 06221 7590600, Villa Heinstein,Wieblinger Weg 9, Heidelberg, www.hischool.deInternational School Ulm/Neu-Ulm0731 3793530, Beyerstraße 45, Ulm,www.is-ulm.deEnglish for preschoolers and first graders in Freiburg0761 1378177 Cathy Plog, plogs@t-online.deLittle English House English and art for kids 3 and upwww.littleenglishhouse.deHelen Doron Early EnglishLearning English with fun andgamens, www.hdee.de

Libraries

Children’s English Library e.V.0711 3582215, Etzelstraße 25-27,Stuttgart, Tue 4-6 pm, Fri 3-6 pm,Sat 2-5 pm, www.celstuttgart.deDeutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum Charlottenplatz 17, Stuttgart, Tue-Thu 2-6 pmDeutsch-Amerikanisches Institut TübingenKarlstraße 3, Tue-Fri 1-6 pm,Thursdays 1-8 pmKarlsruhe American Library0721 72752, Kanalweg 52, Tue-Fri 2-6 pm, Wed 10-12 am, Sat 10 am-2 pm,www.amerikanische-bibliothek.de

accents magazine18 accents guide

Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut HeidelbergSophienstraße 12, Mon-Fri 1-6 pm,Wed 1-8 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pmCarl-Schurz-Haus FreiburgKaiser-Joseph-Straße 266, Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, 3-6 pm

Clubs & Organizations

Deutsch-Amerikanisches Zentrum/James-F.-Byrnes-Institut e.V.0711 228180, Charlottenplatz 17,Stuttgart, www.daz.org70173: English Spoken Stammtisch12:00 pm at Restaurant Plenum inthe B-W Landtag Building, contactAndrea.Krueger@wm.bwl.de fordates. Open participation. Founders:Andrea Krueger & Dr. Peter Mendler(both of the B-W Ministry of Eco-nomic Affairs) and Rainer Wieland(Member of the European Parliament) Stammtisch TRANSATLANTIKOnce a month at Plenum RestaurantStuttgart, info at DAZ 0711 228180Metropolitan Club e.V.Social, educational & cultural eventsfor all nationalities, www.metclub.deStuttgart Conversation Club0711 8892252 Ed Wilson, 35 years and up, www.metclub.deConversation Group StuttgartFor native and non-native speakers,Pádraic Ó Leanacháin 0711 2737740,www.englishcom.deBaltimore BeautiesQuilting bee at the DAZ, Stuttgart,every 3rd Fri of the month, 9 -12 am, 0711 243242 Judy Ehmer

030 220730, Friedrichstraße 60,BerlinUnited Kingdom0211 94480, Yorckstraße 19,DüsseldorfUnited States of America069 75350, Gießener Straße 30,Frankfurt

Schools & Preschools

International School of Stuttgart e.V. 0711 7696000, Sigmaringer Straße257, Stuttgart, www.international-school-stuttgart.deBotnanger Kinderbetreuung Bilingual Kindergarden 0711 6993404 Gina Kussi,Griegstraße 18, StuttgartInternationaler MontessoriKindergarten e.V. 0711 93150510, Sulzgrieser Straße 114, Esslingen, www.montessori-esslingen.deEducCare Bilingual Kindergarden0711 6581447, Hasenbergstraße31/2, Stuttgart, www.educcare.deEnglish for Kids!0711 6491537 Conny von Scholley,www.spielendsprachenlernen.deEuropean School Karlsruhe0721 680090, Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 1, KarlsruheEnglish GardenEnglish and music lessons, 07618866181, Hasenweg 34, FreiburgOberlin Kinderuniversität0761 85648, Am Mühlbach 13, Freiburg, www.oberlinkinderuniversitaet.de

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guide

Children’s English LibraryHalloween PartySpooks, goblins, and fairieswill have their say again atthe CEL’s annual fundraisingevent. Food, fun, and games,Oct 21, 2- 5 pm, www.celstuttgart.de

Talk At Eight: Discussion Groupon Current Issuesby Laurence Stallings. Oct 13, 8:15 pm, d.a.i., see address aboveThe One-Dimensional Empire: The Leveling-Down of RealityA popular study group by LaurenceStallings and Scott Stelle, viewtopics on www.dai-tuebingen.de.Oct 27, 6:45 pm, d.a.i., see address above

Workshops

HeidelbergWorkshops at the German-American Institut (d.a.i)Visit the website for a list of current workshops on TOEFLexams, conversation, job hunting,and orientation for newcomers. www.dai-heidelberg.deStuttgartWorkshops at the German-American Center (DAZ)Visit the website for a list of current workshops on writing, quilting and dances. www.DAZ.orgThe Society of Children’s BookWriters and IllustratorsMini-conference with writers, illustrators, editors. Sep 23, 10 am -5 pm, Stuttgart InternationalSchool, info cjmcnanie@yahoo.comIrish Ceílí Halpin School of Irish Dance.Irish dancing taught every 3rdSaturday of the month from 4 -7 pm, Saal, Bürgerhaus Botnang,

KarlsruheStorytime in English!Children aged 2 - 5 years. Every 2ndand 4th Wednesday of the month at 4 pm, American Library, www.american-library.deStories for Kids ages 6 and upSep 29, 4 pm, The Klondike cat,

American Library, see address above Hogwart’s Library Halloween NightFor kids ages 10 and up. Sign uprequested, 0721 72752, Oct 27, 8 pm - 12:30 am, American Library,see address aboveStuttgartListen inStory and activity for kids 3 - 6 yearswith parent. Sat 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Sep 30, Oct 14, Children’s EnglishLibrary (CEL), Etzelstraße 25-27,0711 3582215, www.celstuttgart.deKid’s English classes at the CELFor native and non-native speakers,all ages. Dates and times: www.celstuttgart.deCEL Halloween PartyFrightfully fun for families, folks,and fairies! Food, games, and tombola. Oct 21, 2 - 5 pm, CEL, see address aboveSunday Stories: Autumn TalesActress Greta Redmond (NEAT New English American Theater)tells stories for kids, 4 and up. Oct 22, 3 pm, kkt, Kissinger Straße 66a, 0711 563034, www.neat-theater.deHalloween for KidsCelebrate with spine-chilling storiesand many other activities. Oct 31,3 - 5 pm, DAZ, see address above,register by Oct 26 at 0711 228180TübingenEnglish Story Time for kids ages 4-6 with AnneCrutchfield, 1st Wednesday of themonth, Next dates: Oct 4, Nov 8,Dec 6, 4 - 5 pm, d.a.i., see address above

accents forumOur informal get-together for readers and contributors.

Friday, September 1st, 7 pmat o’reilly’s Irish pub,Reuchlinstraße 27, Stuttgart,next door in the beer garden. If it rains, we’ll meet inside.

Friday, November 10th, 7 pm location to be announced

accentsmagazine

Theate

Political

siness

ygroups

Reli

English-Speaking Circle Starzachand Landkreise Freundenstadt,Tübingen & Zollernalb07478 8290 Kevin MacInerney-MaySchorndorf English Club07181 64440 Marion RubeDeutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Heidelberg06221 60730, Sofienstraße 12,www.dai-heidelberg.deGerman-British Society, Freiburg, Heidelberg, and Stuttgart0761 4098804 Dr. Susanne Press,06221 864761 Prof. Manfred Liedtke,0711 66721255 Dr. Christoph Selzer,www.debrige.deGerman-English Friendship Club e.V. Karlsruhe0721 7569503 Rose Schrempp,info@def-karlsruhe.de, www.def-karlsruhe.deInternational Women’s Club Karlsruhe e.V.Annemarie Frenzel, Postfach110448, 76054 KarlsruheVerein Deutsch-AmerikanischerFreundschaft Pfullendorf07552 6249 Dr Gary AndersonCarl-Schurz-Haus Freiburg0761 5565270, Eisenbahnstraße 62,www.carl-schurz-haus.deAnglo-German Club e.V. Freiburg07661 1324, Wehrlehof Straße 11,Oberried, peleube@hotmail.comFreiburg English Club0177 6553688 Terrence Barrwww.freiburg-english-club.orgNetwork of English-Speaking Women e.V.07664 962450 Candice Siegenthaler, NesWomen@web.de, www.nesw.deBritish International Villingen-Schwenningen07721 53278 Carol King,www.bivs.gmxhome.deDeutsch-Irischer Freundeskreis (dif) 0711 2361736, www.dif-bw.deRegion Schwaben, Verband der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Clubs e.V.07156 29164 Mi-Kiyoung Wöhler, www.schwaben-vdac.de.vu

Theater Groups

A.C.T.S. Anglophone Collaborative Theatre of Stuttgart0711 6858370 Stuart Marlow, smarlow@hdm-stuttgart.deKelley TheatreKelley Barracks, Stuttgart, 0711 7292825, www.kelleytheatre.deN.E.A.T. New English American Theater Sophie Kränzle, kkt@z.zgs.de,www.neat-theater.deOutcast International0711 634409, Stuttgart,www.outcast-theater.deAnglo-Irish Theatre Group Tübingen07071 67968 David Hegarty,dave@anglo-iren.de, www.anglo-iren.deThe Round Table Players, AalenEva Schumm, schumm@vhs-aalen.deRoadside TheaterPatton Barracks, Heidelberg,06221 175020, www.roadsidetheater.comTheaterhaus TiG 70621 154976, Theater Trennt e.V.G7, 4b, Mannheim, www.tig7.deThe maniACTS FreiburgUniversity English Department,www.maniacts.de

Kids & Playgroups

English Playgroup Stuttgart-West0711 6361169 Bryan Groenjes, EKiZ Ludwigstraße 41-43, 0-6 years, Wed 4-6 pmEnglish Playgroup Stuttgart0-9 years, www.englishplaygroup.deEnglish Playgroup at the DAZStuttgart0711 228180, 4-6 years on Tue 3 - 4 pm, 2- 4 years on Tue 4 - 5 pmEnglish Playgroup Böblingen07031 287647 Stefanie Spence,0-7 years, Wed 3:30-5 pmEnglish PlaygroupHolzgerlingen/Böblingen area07034 654608 Anita Mayer0-5 years, Wed 9:30-10:30 amEnglish Playgroup Sindelfingen07031 873823 Christine Mitlacher,Feb 2001 - Feb 2003, Thue 3 -4:30 pm, Mitlacher-sifi@t-online.deSt. Georg MKK EnglishPlaygroup in BonlandenTue 3:30-5:30 pm, 0-5 years, Nicki 0711 3270748, 5-10 years, Mhorag Heger 07127 960046English PlaygroupHerrenberg/Nebringen 07032 77452 Erika Laudenbach, 0-5 years, Mon 3-5 pmEnglish Playgroup Calw/Nebringen07051 70712 Susan Rosa, 0 - 5 years,Fri 3 - 5:30 pmMeet, Chat and Playgroup Waldenbuch07157 8561 Elaine Rauhöft, Fri from 4 pm onwardsEnglish on a Friday AfternoonTübingen07071 930466 Günter Henke, Fri from 3:30 pm onwardsEnglish Playgroup in Rödersheim-Gronau (postal code 67127)06231 929616 Mrs I. Smith, Fri 10 am, Luise Koch Kindergarten English Reading Group FreiburgMütterzentrum Weingarten,Krozingerstraße 11, 0761 286803 Amanda Lampert or07666 99126 Fredi Trenkle

Political Groups

American Voices Abroad Tübingenfritz.hackert@arcor.de, www.americanvoicesabroad.orgDemocrats AbroadHeidelberg,06221 3780 Charles Keene, Stuttgart, 0162 9824870 Dennis O’Donohue,www.democratsabroad.orgRepublicans Abroad StuttgartTimothy Smith, tsmith@republicansabroad.de

Business Organizations

American German Business Clube.V. Stuttgart, Heidelberg,KarlsruheStuttgart: 0711 2486078 PeggyStinson, stuttgart@agbc.de,Karlsruhe: 0721 6268760 RaymondJordan, karlsruhe @agbc.de,Heidelberg: 06221 23597 BarrySwanson, heidelberg@agbc.de

American Chamber of Commercein Germany e.V.0711 1667156 Prof Dr Roderich C. Thümmel, Regional Chairperson,www.amcham.de British Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.0711 25540460 Ralf Steppart,Regional Chairperson, www.bccg.deUSAforum Tübingen07071 55970 Bernd Zeutschel,www.usaforum.de

Religious Services

St. Catherine’s Church(Anglican) 0711 7878783 Pastor Kenneth Dimmick,Katharinenplatz 5, Stuttgart,www.stuttgartanglicans.deCity Chapel e.V. Stuttgart0711 6142956 Roland Krumm,Marienstraße 12, www.citychapel.deInternational Baptist ChurchStuttgart-Vaihingen: 0711 6874365 Pastor Jay McFadden; Heidelberg-Sandhausen: 06224 51516 Pastor Richard Blake;www.ibcstuttgart.deSt. Antonius Church0711 4597152 Odilo Metzler,Catholic Mass in English1st Saturday every month, 6:30 pmParacelsusstraße 87, Stuttgart-HohenheimFirst Church of Christ, Scientist0711 6207921 Heinz Clauss,www.christian-science-stuttgart.deUnited Methodist Church Stuttgart: 0711 251984 Dr Hans-Martin Niethammer;Reutlingen: 07121 78546 Harald Rückert; Karlsruhe: 0721 43721 Peter Vesen;www.emk.deChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stuttgart: 0711 3419240 Ralf Gierschke;Mannheim: 06223 809040 Dr Frank Heckmann,www.lds.orgChurch of the Nazarene0711 551147 Mary Schaar, Friedenskirche, Bad CannstattWord of Faith Mission International0711 7560369 Pastor Gift Aigbe,In den Wannenäckern 24, Bad Cannstatt, www.word-of-faith.de Evangelical Students Community Tübingen07071 61928 Heidi AbeEnglish Vesper Service TübingenSun 6 pm, during the universitysemester, 07071 51475, www.institut-urchristentum.orgJewish Observance, Learning & Meditation, Tübingen07071 968590 Martin H. Potrop,SPIRITSHUL@aol.comSt Columban’s Mission Karlsruhe (Anglican) 0721 28379 (Fax also)Rev. Dr. Hanns Engelhardt,www.staugustines-wiesbaden.de/karlsruhe.htm, St.Columban@gmx.deCalvary Chapel Freiburg e.V.0761 7071333 David Pham,www.ccfreiburg.deAnglican Church of Freiburg 0761 904693 Minister Rev RobinStockitt, Katharinenstraße 9,www.anglicans-fr.orgEnglish Church HeidelbergErlöserkirche, Plöck/Schießtorstraße06221 804146

Stuttgart Book Clubwww.StuttgartBookClub.deGerman-American Club 19480711 814270 Eberhard SteinGerman-American Women’s Club Stuttgartinfo@gawc-stuttgart.de, www.gawc-stuttgart.deInternational Women’s Club Stuttgart All nationalities and ages, every 1stWed of the month, 10 am - 12:30 pm,Kulturcafe Merlin, Augustenstraße 72,0711 6566340, www.iwcstuttgart.orgAnglo-Stuttgart Society0711 568113 Günther Jaumann,www.jaumann.de/assBritish Club Stuttgart0711 455464 Alison SeyerleDeutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V.0172 7391495 Peter Alderath, Gasthaus Hirsch, Bernhausen, 1st Wed of the monthAsia Circle International Club07156 29164, asia-circle@web.de,www.asia-circle.deInternational Choir of Stuttgart 0711 769600912 Carola, int_choir_stuttgart@hotmail.comStuttgart Singers07159 44991 Kathy Williams,www.stuttgartsingers.deStuttgart German-AmericanCommunity Chorus0711 463463 David A. BecknerEUCOM HarmonizersStuttgart-VaihingenBarbershop and a cappella, 07146 20677 John GerrishGerman-American Seniors Club0711 2560867 Hildegard GöhrumEnglish Round Table, EsslingenConversation group, 0711 3451344, Claudia Stadelmann, info@bueroservice-jaeschke.deFáinne Irish Dance Group Stuttgart 0711 483901, www.fainne.deIrish Dance Ceili, StuttgartEvery 3rd Saturday of the monthwww.danceirish.deGerman Conversation Group07032 77919 Elena FieresELTAS e.V.English Language Teachers’Association Stuttgart, www.eltas.deInternational Toastmasters Club,Stuttgart, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe,Freiburg, UlmPresentational skills in English, find links to all chapters atwww.toastmasters-stuttgart.de English-Speaking Stammtisch S-Untertürkheim0711 3041337 Derek EvansDeutsch Australische Freundschaft e.V.07031 607521 Jeff Gomes,www.deutsch-australische-freundschaft.deFriends Club International e.V.Böblingen-Sindelfingen07031 806522 Jan W. Boon“Here We Are” International Group Esslingen07163 8580 Alison UnrathEnglish Morning Tea Aidlingen07034 7339 Ellen Zeller, Wed 10 am - 12 pm Deutsch-Amerikanisches Institut Tübingen07071 795260, Karlstraße 3, www.dai-tuebingen.deAnglo-German Club Pforzheim07231 472155 Dr Maurice Claypole,www.agc-pforzheim.dePro Country e.V. Deutscher Country & Western Dachverband07150 33212 Ralf Russig, www.pro-country-ev.de

accents guide 19accents magazine

accents magazine20 Classifieds

Classifieds

Michael B. Hixson, J.D., LL.M.Attorney-at-Law New York/Stuttgart

Amthausstraße 170839 Stuttgart-Gerlingen

Tel 07156 17556-30www.grossmann.biz skype: mbhixson

Business Services

TAX ME NOT – IRS FREE MONEYUS Citizen? Pay German Taxes? Have kid(s)? IRS may owe you a refund! Full range of Professional Tax Services. You must file a tax return even if you don’t owe! 07071 968590 potrop@aol.com

Translations English-German, German-English, Economics/Marketing/Medicine/Certificates, Christine Schwartz, Certified Translator, contact 0711 5779139 or selectranslate@t-online.de

Medical Writing and TranslationsGerman-English, English-GermanKaren Grützner mgruetz@t-online.de

MASSAGE THERAPISTAustralian Therapist, new in Stgt.12 yrs exp & excellent hands!Relaxation, Deep Tissue, Remedial,Aromatherapy & Soft TissueRealignment. Please contactVanessa 0174 6330010 orvanessakreymborg@hotmail.com.Stgt. West, moments from centrum. Sept. offer 30 euros/hr.

Employment

Linguarama Spracheninstitut is seeking qualified native-speaker EFL teachers for business English courses which started in October 2006. Especially those with a technical background are welcomed. Application materials by e-mail.stuttgart@linguarama.com or call 0711 997993-30

Native speakers wantedwith financial /technical /businessexperience and excellent inter-personal and language skills.Freelance work. Contact:andrina.rout@fokussprachen.com

CleverKids EnglishTeachers and District Managersneeded for the greater Heidelberg/Mannheim and Stuttgart areas as well as Baden-Württemberg in general. Freelance positions.Training and curriculum provided.www.cleverkidsenglish.de,07159 408221

Opportunities

Children’s book writer?Illustrator? Published or aspiring, come to the Society of Child-ren’s Book Writers and Illustra-tors September miniconference. Meet writers/ illustrators. Talks by guest editors. Chance to network, form critique groups. 23 Sept. from 10 am - 5 pm at the Stuttgart International School.10 euros members, 12 euros non-members. E-mail for info:cjmcnanie@yahoo.com

Seeking creative craftsman!Experienced craftsman, mechanic,welder seeking a like-minded tech-nically inclined craftsman with aworkshop or an interest in openinga workshop in the Stuttgart area for hobby projects, creative ideas,inventions. I speak English andGerman. Please contactStg-A@web.de

Personal

Seeking Babysitter for our daughters (3yrs and 6 mths).We are a German family moving to Stuttgart-Möhringen. Both ourdaughters are born in England andbilingual (each in her own way!).We are looking for a caring, activeand communicative female to play;read; go swimming; do fun andeveryday stuff 2 - 3 afternoons a week from early September. s_kremer@web.de; 0151 55946114

Babysitter wantedWe are looking for a native speakerwho would enjoy spending timewith our daughter, 8 months, inStuttgart-West (close to S-BahnSchwabstraße). Please contact am.greiner@web.de

Seeking to Rent

Family of 5 seeking to renta 4/5 room apartment in or nearStuttgart-West, long-term. A child-friendly apt. with a yard or a terracewould be ideal. 0711 6361169

Send ads toclassifieds@accents-magazine.deor fax 0711 3102161. One line of text contains approx. 34 characters, including spaces,full-stops and commas.

Personal adsPrice for three lines E 4 Each additional line E 0.90Frame around ad E 5

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Good to Know 21accents magazine

Good to Know

Money Matters

Holiday spending

The summer holidays are over, but it’salways a concern whenever you travel: Do I take plastic or cash with me? Are tra-vellers cheques all that useful nowadays?

Regardless of where you’re travelling,the best rule of thumb is not to rely on justone form of money.

It’s advisable to take at least a smallamount of cash with you – euros, as wellas the currency of your country-of-destina-tion – although the general rule of thumb isnot to take more than a third of your holi-day spending money as cash. If it’s stolen,cash cannot be refunded. It’s often bettervalue to withdraw money from a local ATM once you’re on holidays. Most ATMcards are accepted all over the world.

Travellers cheques remain a safe andsecure alternative to cash. They can beexchanged at banks and currency exchangedealerships and can be used as legal tenderin many hotels, shops and restaurants. A big advantage over cash is that lost or

stolen cheques will be replaced, as long as you remembered to sign them when you first bought them. Of course, travellerscheques require a counter signature andproof of identity.

Credit cards are accepted the world over and are a fuss-free option for holiday-makers. Make sure you save your receiptsso you can account for everything on yourmonthly bill when you return home. With-drawing cash with a credit card is subjectto a fee levied by the card-issuer. Withinthe European Union, however, this feeshould not exceed the standard rate youpay for using the card in Germany.

A handy advantage of credit cards is thatthere are often attractive perks attached to their use. The SEB Bank, for instance,offers its Master Card Gold customers legalprotection for the use of rental cars, inter-national health insurance coverage, and lia-bility insurance, all for a yearly fee of 70euros. Holders of this card are also entitled

Send your comments and questions to:Günther Spieth, Director, SEB Bank Stuttgart. Email:Guenther.Spieth@seb.de

to a 15% reduction on transatlantic flightswith American Airlines, 20% off Sixt carhire, cheaper stays at Kempinski Hotels &Resorts and half-price green fees at 1,800golf courses worldwide. Happy travelling!

Written by Günther Spieth, SEB Bank, for

accents magazine. With over five million

customers and 20,000 employees, SEB is

one of the biggest financial service provid-

ers in northern Europe. www.seb.de

Balingen, in the Swabian Alb highlands,60 kilometres south of Stuttgart, is wortha visit at any time of the year. But thisautumn you can plan your visit aroundone of the many cultural highlights onoffer in the coming months.

An exhibition of works by well-known Alsatian artist Tomi Ungerer willtake place in the Rathaus-Galerie, inBalingen’s town hall, from September 25until November 5.

An extra special highlight in thecoming weeks will be the International

Bagpipe Festival, to be held fromOctober 12 -16. Bagpipe musicians andgroups from 20 European countries

gather for a packed program of concertsfeaturing regional variations on the richtradition of European bagpipe music.

No visitor to Balingen this autumnshould miss the Animals of the Ice Age

exhibition, which runs until November 5.It’s a trip back in time to the world of ourStone-Age ancestors, featuring around 50different life-sized models of animals, bigand small. Featured among them is themammoth (3.5 x 6 metres). A greatattraction for both children and adults.

On the occasion of its 25th anniver-sary, the Stadthalle Balingen presents theopera Carmen (November 24, 25 and 26).A home-made production with internation-

al soloists, the Academia Sinfonica andthe Balinger Opera Choir. And on Decem-ber 2 and 3, don’t miss out on Balingen’straditional Christmas Market. It featuresmore than 140 stands and small huts inthe city centre, offering a variety of giftideas, a special program for children, andChristmas entertainment on the stage infront of the town hall.

Further info

Tourist Information

Färberstraße 2, 72336 Balingen

Tel 07433 170261, Fax 07433 2701004

E-mail stadt@balingen.de

Internet www.balingen.de

Balingen Tips

Cultural variety

Photos: C

ourtesy of the City of B

alingen

Your local post office in Germany is no long-er just a place for mailing letters. It’s a sta-tionery shop and a bank as well. Customer-friendly counters have replaced the glass-window-with-a-hole through which you hadto shout your order of stamps. Most postoffices now have ropes and moveable polesfor people to form an orderly, single queue.In the last few years, German Post (Deut-sche Post) has smartened up its customerservice act to prepare for the more or lessfull deregulation of postal services at theend of next year. But all of this doesn’tmake some of its postal bureaucracy anyeasier to comprehend.

Posting a normal letter anywhere inGermany costs a minimum of 55 cents, or up to 2.20 euros for a larger letter. If itweighs between 1,000 and 2,000 grams (1-2 kg) it gets classified as a “small package”(Päckchen) and costs 4.30 euros. Beyondtwo kilograms, it becomes a “package”(Paket) and is more expensive. This seemsstraightforward enough. However, when itcomes to international postage, the correctcategory – letter, small package or package,air mail or surface mail – can make a big difference in price.

In most English-speaking countries the

name you give to the thing you’re posting –a letter, a box, a package – is often irrele-vant in terms of cost. Not so in the Germanpostal system.

If you dump your mail on the counter you

Letters and packages

Germany’s postal system

By Liz Gaiser

I don’t care what anyone says about themodern, new-age Deutsche Post; it’salways a nerve-wracking experience waiting “in line” at my local post office.

Today there wasn’t really a line, morea congested group of people all looking ateach other suspiciously. They were allthinking the same thing. I was here first.Realistically they couldn’t ALL have beenthere first, but an awful lot of peopleseem to morph into chaotic, illogical thin-kers when it comes to forming a post-office queue. Worse than the post officeis the bakery before closing time, whensome bakeries sell what’s left for halfprice. There’s no hope of a line then.

Cutting in line is actually an art, possi-bly offered as a course at German univer-sities or just handed down from genera-

tion to generation. An experienced cutterstands next to you, never behind you. Heor she inches closer to the counter with-out looking at you. (You have to inch for-ward in sync with them. If they take thelead, you need to cut them off in theirtracks without using words.) When theperson working behind the counter askswho’s next, you’d better be quicker thana kangaroo on hot desert sand. At timeslike this I release the good old NewYorker in me. I walk right in front of thecutter as if they’re not there and asserti-vely shout out my order.

However, waiting among the mass ofpeople in the post office today did haveits advantages. It gave me time to decidewhether I was going to send my parcelas a letter or as a package. Technically itwas a letter. But I’d written so manypages and included so many photos of

my adorable children that I had to pack itin a large, padded envelope.

It turned out that sending my parcel“as a letter” would have cost 14 euros,while the same parcel magically renameda “small package” would cost only 12.90euros. Both options would take 6 - 8weeks. I’m still mystified as to why oneletter can have two different names andtwo different prices.

Someone who once visited New Yorktold me how confused he was when hetried to order fried eggs for breakfast in astreet-side café. He was hit with so manyconfusing questions about having themeasy-over, over-hard, sunny-side-up (or)-down and so on, that he just walkedaway, a nervous wreck. Did he need aspecial guide book just to order eggs?

I guess that every culture has waysand means of mystifying foreigners.

Need to mail a letter?

Get in line!

Labyrinth

might be asked: “Do you want it sent as aletter, a small package or a package?” Thequestion is often confounding because you’re not a postal clerk. But if you’re send-ing anything bigger than a normal letter,make sure you ask for the price of eachpostal option.

Note that anything heavier than two kilo-grams – which will be defined as a “pack-age” – is no longer sent overseas by ship.All “packages” are now flown to their coun-try of destination and then delivered by sur-face or air mail within the country. The for-mer option (air/surface) is not much slowerbut considerably cheaper than the latter(air/air) option. So if you’re sending a Christ-mas parcel back home enquire about priceand delivery-time differences. If you are onlysending newspapers, magazines or bookswithin Germany or overseas, mention this tothe postal clerk as your postage may becheaper.

Deutsche Post offers an efficient serviceby European standards but it’s not the onlypostal company in Germany. Other compa-nies which deliver letters and parcels can befound in the Yellow Pages phone directoryunder Kurierdienst or Paketdienst.

Germany’s postalsystem is to be further deregulatedat the end of 2007

Photo: w

ww

.photocase.com

accents magazine22 Labyrinth