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The Awful German Language (1880)

(faculty.georgetown.edu)
198 points nalinidash | 1 comments | 16 May 25 04:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.215s | source
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hoseyor ◴[16 May 25 09:42 UTC] No.44003441[source]▶
Rather odd hatred of German considering that English is in effect a regression of German (yes, I know, that simplifies it, but it’s true), i.e., a simplification.

It’s a typical kind of lashing out by hubristic people who reject complexity they cannot master with vigorous anger; kind of like how a child may call math stupid out of frustration. It’s probably a symptom of the jingoistic era, especially in trust-fund-baby-country called America.

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1. russellbeattie ◴[16 May 25 10:57 UTC] No.44003858[source]▶
LOL.

You're criticizing a satirical book excerpt written by Mark Twain in the middle of the 19th century. It is not meant in any way to be taken seriously, nor does it reflect modern American culture as a whole. Around 70 million Americans speak a second language.

The reason we're talking about it ~150 years later is because it resonates with anyone who has tried to learn a second language, especially one as complex as German.

You might want to keep your pompous kneejerk anti-American sentiment in check until you educate yourself a bit more.