Why Study German?
German is one of the major languages of the world and is the most-spoken language by native speakers in the European Union, as well as the second most-spoken overall (after English). Its importance in European business makes it a critical communication tool for global commerce. In the English-speaking world, German is the third most-taught language after French and Spanish.
German in the World
Germany's more than 80 million inhabitants make German the most-spoken mother tongue in Europe. The language also has official status in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg (with significant numbers of German-speakers in numerous other European countries as well as in southern Africa's Namibia).
The popularity of German in the European Union has made it an essential language for international economic and cultural exchange. Germany's status as Europe's main economic engine and a global exports leader guarantees the language will continue to play a critical role in today's global marketplace.
Early forms of German provided the basis or played a significant role in the evolution of many modern languages, such as English (with its German-based vocabulary), Italian, Dutch and Danish. Modern German originated not as a spoken language but in written form, and is considered a pluricentric language due to its various regional variations.