I was in Germany last year.?

Question

My friends and I were in Munich. Whenever I asked in German for directions or help with something the other person would reply in English, even though I am fluent in German? Just curious.

Answer 1

I am an American living in Munich for quite a long time and have come across this question many times.

someone woh grew up speaking engl will allways be detected as an engl speaker no matter how good there German are. Same the other way around. Its basically because the "R" , "W" and "V" are pronaunced so very differently. Apart from that the correct wording would be das Hotel instead of der Hotel which is also a typical mistake made by engl speakers.

Answer 2

Kat1605nrw is right. In our native language we can always understand if someone is not native-no matter how fluent. The accent, however slight, always gives us away and the natives, when they can, change into English so as to facilitate the conversation.

This is done I guess nowadays reflexively as english is so widespread, however it is probably wrong, because when i.e. a foreigner tries to speak your language, they usually really want to practice and learn it. We should only try to reply slowly, with an easier vocabulary, English is not a panacea.

Answer 3

Hmmmm. maybe because you said 'Wo ist der Hotel Eichhorn'  instead of 'Wo ist das Hotel Eichhorn?'

If people notice that it's not quiet correct was was said and the speaker speaks with english tongue and their own english is fairly good, they like to practice and just speak it.

I have to admit that I do the same

Answer 4

Pretty much what the others said.  Either your accent or your clothing probably gave you away, and the folks who responded were just trying to make it easier for you.  :o)  Also, you may have run into people who , once they realized you spoke English, were just as eager to try out their English as you were to try German.

Me, I had an interesting time last fall, because I ran into the opposite problem.  I'm born & raised in the US-- but I learned my German pronunciation from my Dad, who was a native son of Darmstadt (near Frankfurt).  Even before I visited, I'd had another German immigrant ask me if I ever lived in Frankfurt!!  On the trip, there were several intances when halfway into a conversation, my understanding ran out and I had to say I didn't speak German very well.  Genreally, people were very surprised, although the best  reactio was from a guy I was talking to on a train.  He looked at me in surprise, then blurted out, in English, "You're not Bavarian?!?"

:o)

Answer 5

it's the same when i'm talking in english and my english is fluent cause i'm married to an american and live in tx now. the people just recognize your accent. it's weird, but you will always be able to tell if the one speaking your native language is a native or not.

Answer 6

All police in Germany have good english... We would like go go from Leipzig to Hamburg with a rental car, and we couldnt find the exit from Leipzig (Ilive in Leipzig now) and asked to Polizei and he explain us the way neal 10 min, but from Leipzig to Hambur :D

Ola http://www.turks.us/

Answer 7

People who do this are trying to extend a curtesy to you. The thinking is "hey, this poor person is having a hard time getting their question out in my language, so I'd better change to theirs and help them". Sorry to nitpick, but if you asked for "der Hotel", you shouldn't be surprised they though you might be having a hard time speaking German - it's "das Hotel". Anyway: They are trying to be nice.

Answer 8

It could be a lot of things.  Most likely it's your accent.  And if you can't get the accent down for every area in Germany, they'll notice...  Just like in the US.  I'm in the Midwest, and I can tell when someone's from the south or the east, etc....all by the way they talk.  Also you may look like an American :)

Answer 9

When I was in Hamburg, I noticed the same thing. I just figured my accent was off and it was easier for them to use English than try to figure out what I was saying or decipher what I was mispronouncing! :)