German: 7–10 Sequence / Levels 7 and 8 / Understanding / Language variation and change
Content description
Recognise that German and English are related languages and that German is an important European and global language
Elaborations
noticing that German and English share many words, for example, Computer, Bus, Taxi and Auto, and understanding that this is a result of historical events as well as the dynamic nature of languages
recognising that English and other languages have borrowed German words, for example, Hamburger, kaputt, Kindergarten, Glockenspiel and Mischmasch, and comparing how these words are pronounced by German and English speakers
understanding that English grammar used to be more similar to German grammar but that English has changed, for example, recognising the link between the Middle English ‘What thinkest thou?’ and Was denkst du?
recognising that the German language continuously borrows and adapts words and expressions from other languages, including English, for example, das Internet, die App, häppi, joggen, shoppen, simsen/texten, Stopp! and Sorry!
recognising that German is an official language of the ‘DACHL’ countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) as well as in Belgium, Luxembourg and South Tyrol
