Culture and the German Language
From About.com
Learning a language also means learning a culture (or cultures). Language and culture go together. You can't have one without the other. Here is an introduction to the many interesting topics related to Germanic culture in Austria, Germany, and German Switzerland.
Geography
Germany is not the only German-speaking country. German is either an official language or the main language in seven European countries, and a minority language in several others. Learn more about Germany and the other countries where German is spoken.
Names and Genealogy
Many families around the world have a Germanic heritage and/or a German family name. Here are some resources for learning more about German names and tracing your Germanic roots.
History and Trivia
European and world history is also German, Austrian, and Swiss history. Learn more about the history of German-speaking Europe and the interesting trivia concerning the people and events in that history.
- Famous Germans, Austrians, and Swiss
- Germanic Trivia and Historical Myths
- German Inventors
- More German History and Trivia
German Cinema
At one time Germany was Hollywood's biggest competitor, and there are still many connections between Hollywood and Germany. Some of Hollywood's biggest directors were and still are German or Austrian. Marlene Dietrich and Arnold Schwarzenegger are only two of the famous German-speaking actors who have made it big in Hollywood. Austrian and German films have also won Oscars, the most recent being Austria's Die Fälscher (The Counterfeiters, poster on left).
German Literature
Both modern and classical authors writing in German have made important contributions to national and world literature. Learn more about Goethe, Grass, Handke, Kafka, Mann, and the many other notable authors of German literature. German-learners also enjoy reading and learning from German translations of Shakespeare, Harry Potter, and other English-language literature.