Kindersprache

I think we all can agree that children all around the world have a tendency to say exactly what's on their mind and that is one of the best things about being around children. Since they are young and still developing opinions and experiences, they see the world with an open-mind and have an appreciation and curiosity that adults can only dream to have.

What I have come to find, enjoy, and love about studying abroad and learning a new language through immersion are the reactions and the statements that I have heard from children. Ever since I have studied a foreign language, the children have been the hardest for me to understand, but lately they've been more comprehensable. Maybe because they are just speaking more clearly, but maybe my German is actually getting a little better. After the "Creme Seife" incident, its been hard to congratulate myself for any new achievement this week...(see below)

The first memorable experience I had hearing a child in Dortmund was before Christmas. It was definitely the cutuest and the most remarkable of any Kindersprache that I've heard so far...

A few weeks before I would return home for Christmas, Susan and I were browsing the Christmas Market stands for the best bratwurst to chow down on for some dinner. We had once seen advertisements for a one meter wurst and had also heard its stories of gloriousness so we decided it was time.

After paying and recieving my "hot dog" big enough for Ghengus Khan himself, I layered it with mustard and ketchup and ate pleasurably next to the stand. At this instant, while I was taking my 4th of 20 bites, a small child appeared. He had the same bratwurst as me, but he was probably a sixth of my size. He was snug in his puffy winter coat and stood next to his father by the stand. I was already enjoying the situation until he said:

"Das ist das bestes Bratwurst meines Lebens!" - "This is the best bratwurst of my entire life."

Now, it won't have the effect as it did that day, but try to picture a little kid with a hot dog longer than his torso and then making this statement! It was so clear and outspoken that I can never forget it.


The second occurance I had hearing a child was more direct, but not quite as high on the cute scale, although close...

Like many ficticiously ambitious people, I decided to go for a run and get some exercise on New Years Day. (I hate to say that the rate of occurence of this running has dwindled...) At the end of my run, while struggling to make it the last 1/4 mile, I noticed a family walking toward me on the sidewalk. Embarassed that I likely looked like a fool for being so out of breath, I sped my pace a little bit.

While passing the family, a little girl (likely daughter) yells, "Frohes neues Jahr!" or "Happy New Year!".

I quickly replied, short of breath: "Danke, du auch!".

This probably wouldn't have been so cute if I heard it in English or if I was walking home from class, but it was what I needed at the right time. From this point until the steps of my apartment building, I ran proudly and swiftly, embracing the girl's greeting.


The third encounter and the cause for this blog happened just last night, Tuesday January 17th, while returning from Dortmund-Wickede where I help a high school student with his English. This one happened so quickly I wasn't able to embrace the situation and create a good conversation out of it...

Sitting at my seat and looking out the window, I was just merely reflecting on the day and my session with Marinos, the high school student. Not long after the train began moving, a boy with red, curly hair appeared out of nowhere from the first class section and asked:

"Welche Uhr ist es?" - "What time is it?"

Quickly I responded saying these words only, "Zwölf nach Sieben." - "12 after seven".

"Huh," replied the boy.

"Zwölf nach Sieben," I replied again with what I thought was very clear well-pronounced German.

"Kommst du aus Sachsen?" - "Do you come from Sachsen?" (A region in central Germany where they tell kids the people talk funny)

"Nein."

"Kommst du aus Bayern?" - "Do you come from Bayern?" (Another region of Germany where the people really do talk funny and impossible to understand sometimes)

"Nein."

At this moment, the boy left quickly, before I was able to say where I come from or have any further conversation at all. I was puzzled. Did I really speak so differently by saying merely "Zwölf nach Sieben"? Apparently I did, but I actually felt pretty good about it...the boy could have thought I was an American from my accent, which most adults pinpoint within 30 seconds.

But what I was actually upset about was that I didn't have any further conversation with him. I was on the train and he was on the train, the perfect place to have a conversation. I had never really had a conversation with a kid, just a few sentences here and there, but nothing really substantial. I've had numerous long conversations with adults, but they were mainly the same thing... about where I come from, if I like Germany, and why I'm here.

The goal is to find out what the kids think: how they view Germany, the United States, and even if they differ from the older generation. Since kids are so willing to say exactly what they think and their opinions are less developed, I might be able to get a more clear and simple answer to cultural situations in Germany.

Either way, I didn't get what I was looking for, but it did make me reflect on my situation in Germany a little more. I have been here for nearly five months and had basically no discourse with children, the people who might be the most interesting to talk to...

I would have to open myself up to more situations and hope that one will stumble into a conversation, even if its only a few more sentences. Maybe they will just ask me about McDonalds or famous people like some older people, but I'm sure it will be interesting.