My favorite foreign languages

I have always loved English. It's not my native language, but I don't have problems with reading patents and other technical and educational literature. I learned American English, but I would like to learn British English, too. I know the difference between "who" and "whom" (many native speakers don't), and can pronounce the TH sounds. Surprisingly, the English language is soft and calming for me. But I want native English speakers to use simple English so everyone could understand them.

When you are learning a new language, it's very important to think in it. For example, imagine the phrase "I have a large library" in a different language.

My French knowledge is very horrible. French is an elegant language. It's not surprising that French was popular among the German upper class people (even Frederick the Great) in the 18th century, the Romanian upper class people in the 19th century, and the Russian upper class people from the 18th to the 19th centuries. Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace has 2.52% of text in French.

My German knowledge is also very horrible, but a bit better than French. German is an elegant language. And mighty, too. When you say "Soldaten, mir nach!" ("soldiers, follow me"), it's normal to expect "jawohl!" ("yes, sir" or "yes, ma'am") as a reply. However, I don't think that German is a harsh language. Imagine the phrase "ich liebe dich" ("I love you") in the most pleasant voice.

But I don't like modern Denglish. I oppose the German orthography reform of 1996. I support the German linguistic purism. It should be "ein Rechner", not "ein Computer".


The Argonnerwaldlied (Argonne forest song) was created by Hermann Albert von Gordon in 1914 or 1915.

The lyrics in German:

The first verse:
Argonnerwald, um Mitternacht.
Ein Pionier steht auf der Wacht.
Ein Sternlein hoch am Himmel stand.
Bringt Grüße ihm aus fernem Heimatland.

The second verse:
Und mit dem Spaten in der Hand.
Er vorne in der Sappe stand.
Mit Sehnsucht denkt er an sein Lieb.
Ob er es wohl noch einmal wiedersieht.
Repeat two last sentences.

The third verse:
Argonnerwald, Argonnerwald.
Ein stiller Friedhof wirst du bald.
In deiner kühlen Erde ruht.
So manches tapfere Soldatenblut.
Repeat two last sentences.

My translation to English:

The first verse:
Argonne forest at midnight.
A sapper stands on watch.
A little star stays high in the sky.
Brings him greetings from the homeland far away.

The second verse:
And with the spade in the hand.
He stands in the trench at the front.
He thinks with a yearning about his love.
If he probably meets her again.
Repeat two last sentences.

The third verse:
Argonne forest, Argonne forest.
Soon you will be a quiet cemetery.
In your cold earth lies.
So many brave soldiers' blood.
Repeat two last sentences.