German Language Course Research Articles

An effect of one German-language course on English.

After completion of a college course in German, students judged the acceptability of novel sound sequences as potential English words. For sequences that are permissible in English and impermissible in German (e.g., /skurn/), the judgments of the students of German did not differ from those of control subjects. But sequences permissible in both languages (e.g., /plor/) were rated as more acceptable by the students of German than by the control subjects. This finding was interpreted as showing that even a limited experience with a foreign language can affect the student's native tongue. Results are also reported of perceptual identifications of sound sequences in the two categories mentioned as well as of sequences permissible in German and not in English and of sequences permissible in neither language.

German Culture in English Lecture Courses

SINCE the growing trend of offering, on the undergraduate level, elective English lecture courses dealing with phases of German civilization has run parallel to soaring enrollment in German language courses, we can construe this development as a sign of expansion and initiative. It is not as though we are delaying a retreat forced upon us by dwindling registration. Freshmen and sophomores fill many sections of lower division courses, a generous sprinkling of juniors and seniors leave few empty places in upper division courses, and there is even an increase of graduate students to gladden our hearts. What is the motivation then for transmitting to students unable to understand German the fruits, sweet and bitter, of German culture?