I'm scrapping Wozal (it doesn't fit the essence of my story very well) and developing a new primary language for Eartea.

It's going to be very similar to both German and English. Most of the root elements ought to look familiar to English speakers, but the structure, spelling, grammar, and pronunciation should make us think of something close to German. There will be a light (but sometimes noticeable) touch of Gaelic languages.

Anyone, I was wondering if any of you have some ideas for sources about German. If there's anything you really LIKE about German, or really HATE about German, please let me know, because I'm trying to create a language that is pleasant but different.

BTW, if you want to just talk about German, that is also acceptable. Please don't talk about Gaelic languages. (I already have a source anyway-a nice little phrasebook about the modern form of Scottish-Gaelic.)

I HATE gender in any language. I get it with Portuguese, it just sort of comes naturally because of how I learned it, but when trying to learn a new language it just kills me. But then again, that may not have too much of an affect on you and your language.

I like the hard 'h' (usually spelt ch) and the 'w's sounding like 'v's

I don't like how everything in German sounds like a harsh command no matter who says it. Backing off a little from the use of phlegm would be good. I don't know if that makes sense or not...

I think that's a bit of a misconception about German. It's a bit harsh, but really, we don't realize how harsh English sounds compared to most languages.

I don't believe that German distinguishes gender. I'll probably avoid that anyway because it tends to annoy English speakers (not everyone understands the purpose). I do like the hard h, but I will probably be expanding on the whole concept of glottal sounds. (like h)

Any resources?

I think my mom said once that German has gender, but now you're making me doubt myself.

German does have gender, it's just rather inconsistent. Gender in languages annoys me too.

Yes! I knew I was right! Well, my mom was right, but still...

I stand corrected.

May I sit now?

Well, since I don't have any actually useful input here...I'm leaving.

I have been utterly fascinated by the German language, and German culture/history in general, for a long time. Some of my recent ancestors were German-Americans. However, I have yet to pursue my interest... but one day I want to learn German. People (including a German) tell me it's hard. I don't think that will stop me.

I'm using some German words as place and creature names in one of my fantasy worlds, as an alternative to making up names, and I use an English-German dictionary to accomplish that.

Looking forward with fascination to what you do with this idea!

I am around two thirds German, and one quarter Finn.
I know practically nothing about the German language, but I looked at their alphabet once. I noticed that a few letters have their Greek names. I liked the special vowels and the sharp "s" (which I had thought was some sort of "b").
Does German have especially long words?

German and Hebrew cultures are very warm and inviting to me.

Yes. Some regular German words can have around 26 characters. And when you spell out numbers, it gets really long.

In the culture I invented for Royalty in Disguise, there is a country supposedly a precursor to Germany. I call it Veldsuterskein.

Things to remember about germanic influence of tongue:

W says V (Volgedsowulf would be said Volgedsovulf). There is little or no U said you. There is U as in tuber. OO. Speaking of OO, there is some of that, too. Foos. Which reminds me... S says sssss, not zzzz. And of course there is schl, khh (harsh h), and J says Y as in Ya. Or Ja. And there is no C. K does its job instead, and S does the other half. Sometimes there are interesting consonant mixtures, such as FT. Loift.

Hope that is helpful.