The Art of Basic Conversation: Beer
When I speak with many Germans, they often ask me how Americans picture them. They worry that Americans still see Germans as Nazis. This is simply not the case, especially for the younger generations, including my own. I was only three years old when the wall came down, and my grandfather himself was only a boy during the War. We learned about the Nazi movement in history class, and though we realize it was a terrible thing that occurred, we do not place blame on or associate it with the Germans of today.
On the contrary, when my generation thinks of Germany and its people, we think of things like nice cars, Oktoberfest, great engineering, the recent hosts of the World Cup, and, above all, delicious beer. Certainly there is much more to the German culture than just these things, but these should instill a sense of international pride.
The beer especially is renowned for its excellent quality and envied by us Americans. German monks perfected the brewing process and turned it into an art form. The brewing of beer has become a key part of German culture and traditions, and nearly every city or town has its own brewery. There are also many festivals like Oktoberfest, where beer plays a pinnacle role in the celebration. We have no single word in English for "Gemütlichkeit" that can describe the joy and peace of relaxing in a beer garden.
Unfortunately the US is not as open in this respect as Germany. Beer and all other types of alcohol really have been
met with scrutiny since Prohibition, and even though Prohibition was repealed over 74 years ago, drinking still has a connotation of immorality. This slightly negative feeling towards drinking is made apparent by the strict laws around it. It is illegal
for anyone under the age of twenty-one to drink, and drinking in public is almost always illegal. There are no great American beer halls in the US, and neither is there a brewery in every town.
Furthermore, it is safe to say that American beers like Budweiser and Miller could never live up to the quality of German beers. It would seem that enjoying a Mass with friends and strangers in hall filled with people, is truly a uniquely German experience, and a part of the culture that Germans should pride themselves in.
English |
Explanation or synonym |
German |
picture |
[verb] form a mental image of |
schildern |
see (as) |
regard (as) |
halten (für) |
the wall came down |
Ausruck für: Die Wende |
|
the War |
Nur "the War" bezeichnet den 2. Weltkrieg |
der 2. Weltkrieg |
place blame on |
to blame |
beschuldigen |
associate (with) |
link (to) |
hinzufügen |
on the contrary |
im Gegenteil |
|
recent |
latest |
neu, neueste |
host |
Gastgeber |
|
above all |
most importantly |
vor allem |
certainly |
surely, clearly |
sicher |
just |
only |
nur |
instill |
produce |
einträufeln |
sense |
feeling |
Gefühl |
pride |
Stolz |
|
renowned |
famed, well-known |
berühmt |
excellent |
very good, terrific |
ausgezeichnet |
envy |
[verb] desire, wish for |
begehren |
monk |
Mönch |
|
turn it into |
change it |
ändern |
key part |
wichtiger Teil |
|
brewery |
Brauerei |
|
plays a pinnacle role |
plays an important role |
spielt eine wichtige Rolle |
celebration |
festivities |
Feier |
relax |
ausruhen |
|
open |
unbiased |
offen, tolerant |
in this respect |
on this issue |
in Bezug auf |
scrutiny |
study with a bit of mistrust |
Musterung |
Prohibition |
Verbot von Produktion, Transport und Verkauf von Alkohol in den USA von 1920 bis 1933. |
Prohibition |
repeal |
revoke, cancel, annul |
aufheben |
drinking |
"drinking" kann oft Alkohol trinken bedeuten. |
trinken |
connotation |
undertone, hidden meaning |
Unterton |
immorality |
immoral behavior |
Unmoral |
slightly |
a bit |
leicht / etwas |
apparent |
obvious, clear |
klar ersichtlich |
strict |
streng |
|
law |
Gesetz |
|
furthermore |
in addition, additionally |
darüber hinaus |
safe to say |
man kann mit Sicherheit sagen |
|
live up to something |
etwas erfüllen |
|
enjoy |
appreciate |
genießen |
uniquely |
exclusively |
einzigartig |
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