German: 7–10 Sequence / Levels 7 and 8 / Understanding / Language variation and change
Content description
Recognise some of the common variations in German as it is used in different contexts and locations by different people
Elaborations
using appropriate forms of address and greetings/salutations for peers and teacher, depending on gender (Lieber/Liebe… and Dein/Deine/Eure … in a letter) and social status (Guten Morgen, Herr Schiller; Hallo, Tim!) of participants, and recognising the effects of inappropriate choices, for example, greeting peers with Guten Morgen, Frau Mary!
observing telephone interactions in film clips and real life and practising telephone etiquette when answering mobile phones in comparison with the family landline (surname only) and ending phone call with Auf Wiederhören
noticing that in public announcements and/or on the phone certain words are pronounced differently or varied slightly to ensure clarity, for example, zwei/zwo, Juli (pronounced as Julei)
recognising different registers, such as the different words for ‘you’, for example, Was machst du, Peter? Was macht ihr, Kinder (Klasse 7)? Setz dich, Peter! Setzt euch Kinder! Kommen Sie bitte herein, Herr Berger!
being aware of some regional variations in language, such as in greetings (the Swiss Grüezi and Austrian Servus) or the lack of the Eszett in Switzerland
comparing written and spoken modes of a particular language function such as an invitation, noticing language structures used and varying levels of formality
comparing the concept of diversity in accents, dialects and vocabulary in German-speaking communities with similar diversity in the use of English within and beyond Australia
