Germany

Germany is the custodian of a vast historical and cultural heritage. Moreover, few countries are as strongly connected into the world economy as Germany. Germany is located at the very heart of Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, separated by a brief border with Denmark. It shares borders also with: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. Spoken by the citizens of economically developed countries like Austria, France, Switzerland, German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union.

:: Background of Germany ::

As Europe’s largest economy and second most populous nation, Germany is a key member of the continent’s economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards.”

:: Geography of Germany ::

Location: in Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands, Poland and south of Denmark. Land boundaries are also Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland.

Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E

Area:
total: 357,021 sq km.
Land: 349,223 sq km;
Water: 7,798 sq km.

Area – comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 3,621 km; border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km.

Coastline: 2,389 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm; exclusive economic zone: 200 nm ; continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (fohn) wind.
Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south.

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m; highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Natural resources: coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.13% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 66.27% (2005), irrigated land: 4,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards: flooding

Environment – current issues:
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU’s Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive.

Environment – international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements.

:: People of Germany ::

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.8% (male 13,292,961/female 12,690,711)

Population: 82,369,552 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 5,826,066/female 5,524,568)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 27,763,917/female 26,739,934)
65 years and over: 20% (male 6,892,743/female 9,622,320) (2008 est.)

Median age:
total: 43.4 years
male: 42.2 years
female: 44.7 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.044% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: 8.18 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 10.8 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births; male: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births; female: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.1 years; male: 76.11 years female: 82.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 43,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths: fewer than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
Religions: Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%
Languages: German

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write;
total population: 99%;
male: 99%; female: 99% (2003 est.)

Geography of Germany: Important Geographical Information about Germany

Germany is strategic located on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea. Extending 853 kilometers from its northern border with Denmark to the Alps in the south, it is the sixth largest country in Europe. Because it lies at the very heart of Europe, Germany shares borders with more European countries than any other country on the continent.

Administrative Division: 16 states (Länder): Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen.

There is a fascinating variety of landscapes packed into this country. “A plain dotted with lakes, moors, marshes, and heaths retreats from the sea and reaches inland, where it becomes a landscape of hills crisscrossed by streams, rivers, and valleys. These hills lead upward, gradually forming high plateaus and woodlands and eventually climaxing in spectacular mountain ranges”.

Northern Germany: the Northern lowland of Germany is drained by rivers like Elbe, Weser, Oder, Rhine, Ems, Havel. The land along the Frisian coast is marshy and there are also large areas of wetlands along that part. Northern Germany also has intriguing glacier formed lakes that date back.

Central Germany: the central uplands of Germany are mostly hilly and rugged. The ancient mountains have been formed by ancient volcanic activities. The Rheinish Uplands are divided by two deep and dramatic river valleys: the Moselle and the Rhine.

Southern Germany: between the Central German Uplands, the Alpine Foreland and the Alps lies the geographical region of the Southern German Highlands. The Alpine Foreland is spectacular with its rolling green hills and stunning glacial lakes. The German Alps create a dramatic scenery. The narrow fringe of mountains runs along the border with Switzerland and Austria from Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west to Salzburg in the east.

Professional Translation Organizations & Associations in Germany

Below is a list of the major translation organizations and associations of Germany. Day Translations seeks to be involved with translation organizations to improve the knowledge and awareness of the importance of translation and interpretation in our constantly changing, global world.

:: List of Organizations ::

AKAD Die Privat-Hochschule Stuttgart

Assoziierte Dolmetscher und Übersetzer in Norddeutschland e.V.

ATICOM Fachverband der Berufsübersetzer und Berufsdolmetscher e.V.

Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer

Dept. for Translation and Interpretation of the Ruperta Carola University of Heidelberg

Fachakademie für Fremdsprachenberufe

Fachbereich Sprachen der Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz

Fachhochschule Köln, Fachbereich Sprachen

Fachhochschule Köln, Studiengang Übersetzen und Dolmetschen

German Chamber of Trade and Industry

German Courts

Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Studiengang Literaturübersetzen

Hochschule Magdeburg-Stendal, Fachbereich Fachkommunikation, Diplom-Fachübersetzerin/Fachübersetzer

Humboldt Universität zu Berlin. Fremdsprachliche Philologien

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg Philosophische Fakultät Fachbereich Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften

Qualitätssprachendienste Deutschlands

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Institut für Übersetzen und Dolmetschen

Sprachen und Dolmetscher Institut München

Studiengang Gebärdensprachdolmetschen, Fachbereich Sozial- und Gesundheitswesen, Fachhochschule Magdeburg

Studiengang Technikübersetzen, Fachhochschule Flensburg

tekom – der deutsche Fachverband für Technische Kommunikation und Informationsentwicklung

Translation and Interpreting School, Germersheim (Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz)

Universität Bonn, Seminar für Orientalische Sprachen

Universität des Saarlandes. Fachrichtung 8.6. Angewandte Sprachwissenschaft sowie Übersetzen und Dolmetschen

Universität Hildesheim, A-Studiengang Internationale Kommunikation und Übersetzen

Universität Leipzig, Institut für Sprach- und Übersetzungswissenschaften

Verband der Konferenzdolmetscher im Bundesverband der Dolmetscher und Übersetzer

Information about the German Flag: Colors and Meaning of the Flag of Germany

The flag of Germany is a tricolor consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colors of Germany: the top stripe is black, the middle stripe is red and the bottom stripe is gold. On May 9, 1949 the black-red-gold flag was adopted as the federal flag for the Federal Republic of West Germany. In 1990 East Germany was reunited with the Federal Republic.

The colors of the German flag are associated with the republican democracy formed after World War II, and represent German unity and freedom: not only the freedom of Germany, but also the personal freedom of the German people.According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the German flag represent the following:

Yellow – a symbol of generosity
Red – hardiness, bravery, strength and valour
Black – Determination

:: Meaning of Coat of Arms ::

The coat of arms of Germany is a symbol of Germany; the coat of arms feature an eagle. The colors of the coat of arms are similar to those of the flag of Germany (black, red and gold). It is one of the oldest extant state symbols of Europe and is one of the oldest insignias in the world. Official depictions of the eagle can be found not only in the federal coat of arms but also on the federal institutions flag, the standard of the President of Germany and official seals. These are designs by various artists of the Weimar period and differ primarily in the shape and position of the wings. A similar representation is found also on the Euro coin.

Famous German People: German Artists, Scientists, Leaders, Musicians, Politicians and Athletes

There is a category of people who changed the past, shaped the modern world and build the future! They are the greatest achievers and the most influential people worldwide. There are many German celebrities, writers and philosophers, singers and actors, world famous composers, politicians, who made a great contribution to the development of our civilization. We are happy to present to you some aspects of a culture rich in diversity. Germany…simply inspiring!

:: List of Famous People from Germany ::

Albert Einstein

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

Born in Ulm, Germany, Albert Einstein (1879–1955) is one of the most famous scientist and mathematician who contributed to our understanding of the physical reality. He won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect”. Einstein, also called 20th century Genius, was the embodiment of pure intellect.

Claudia Schiffer

Germany is not only the land of scientists and writers, but also the land of some of the most beautiful women. Claudia Schiffer is a living catwalk beauty, a supermodel who seems to merge perfectly with the breathtaking landscapes of Germany. Claudia was the highest paid model in 1992 after signing a contract with Revlon and she graced the covers of more than 500 magazines, among them: Elle, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Playboy etc. Being contracted also as an Angel for Victoria’s Secret, this top model caused quite a sensation all through the years!

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

“Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men”

Born on 28 August 1749 in Frankfurt am Main, Goethe is Germany’s “greatest man of letters”. Poet, novelist, playwright, courtier, and natural philosopher, one of the key figures in Western literature, Goethe fascinated the entire world with his exceptionally prolific and versatile writing style. Goethe gained early fame with The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774), but one of the peaks of world literature, his magnum opus is the poetic drama in two parts, FAUST. His influence on German philosophy is immeasurable, having major effect especially on the generation of Hegel and Schelling. He also made important discoveries regarding plant and animal life and evolved a non-Newtonian and unorthodox theory of the character of light and color.

Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel

Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) is the exceptional German inventor of the diesel engine, an engine with great efficiency. Diesel engine allowed trains and ships to operate more efficiently with oil instead of coal. Diesel engines are now days an integrant part of the mechanical landscape and contributed to the progress of the automotive industry. Rudolf Diesel will always remain in our memory as one of the major inventors in the field of internal combustion engines.

Michael Schumacher

“The greatest driver the sport has ever seen, Schumacher the end of an era”, states the official website of Formula One. Born in Hürth-Hermülheim, Germany, Michael Schumacher, seven-time world champion is not only the most popular driver among Formula One, but also an ambassador for UNESCO and a spokesman for driver safety. Schumacher had exceptional ambition, confidence, intelligence, motivation, dedication and determination. It seems that his great achievements are unlikely to be ever surpassed.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Bach, the greatest composer of the baroque era, was to music what Newton was to science. “The works of the German composer and organist Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) are the ultimate expression of polyphony. He is probably the only composer ever able to make full use of the possibilities of art available in his time” His most famous works of intellectual depth, moreover, technical and artistic beauty, are: Brandenburg concertos; the Goldberg Variations; the English Suites, French Suites, Partitas, and Well-Tempered Clavier; the Mass in B Minor and many others.

Otto von Bismarck, “The Iron Chancellor of Germany”
“Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war”

Bismarck dominated Germany and Europe in the second half of the 19th century. Under the leadership of the “Iron Chancellor”, Germany grew from a weak confederation of debilitated states to a strong, unified and feared empire. He won legendaries triumphs and the revolution that he carried out in order to a achieve an unified empire is by historical importance comparable to the French Revolution.

Jeanette Biedermann

Voted in 2006 by the magazine FHM “The sexiest woman in the world”, Jeanette is both a natural German beauty and a very talented solo singer. She was awarded several times in Germany “Best Female Act”, “Best German Act”. Jeanette’s pop rock music fascinated young people all over the world.

Marlene Dietrich

Is the first German actress, singer and entertainer who flourished in Hollywood. What was it that made Marlene Dietrich so famous? For sure her unique way of reinventing herself throughout her career. She was mysterious, glamorous, original, beautiful, and smart. And far ahead for her time. She was a fashion icon to the top designers as well as a screen icon that later stars would follow. Marlene’s first American film, Morocco, directed by von Sternberg, earned an Oscar nomination. The Blue Angel, Shanghai Express, Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress and The Devil is a Woman are some of the famous movies in which she acted.

Levi Strauss

The great father of blue jeans, Levi Strauss, was a German entrepreneur, born in 1829. In 1873, Levi Strauss and Nevada tailor Jacob Davis patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength, and the world’s first jeans – Levi’s® jeans – were born. Today, the Levi’s® trademark is one of the most recognized in the world and is registered in more than 160 countries. “Four core values are at the heart of Levi Strauss & Co: Empathy, Originality, Integrity and Courage”.