The Dilemma of English and German

So, this is weird. There is no good way of saying this: but YOU are the problem.

The reasons for starting this blog

As I mentioned, I want to get back to writing. I love writing for clients and I hope to start another novel. So I thought, I’ll have this blog as a place to collect some thoughts and snippets. I don’t want to litter your Social Media feed, but if you feel like it, you can pop in and read a post while sipping your coffee.

But after only a few days, a problem became obvious: I got complaints „There is nothing on your blog in English!“ and I realised: I like you all!

Who are my favourite readers?

Some of you read German, some English. Some both. It is impossible for me to chose favourites! So, in which language to write?

I started in German as it is my mother tongue and I believe that my grammar is okay. Of course, I could write in one and Google translate into the other language. Whereas I suspect that it won’t be a big loss to literature, I am not keen on it yet. I worry that a mechanical translation would result in headaches. Like hearing my thoughts gurgled in a distorted echo chamber.

Should I speak for Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?

And I notice that I think differently and about different things in both languages. It is not that I am a totally different person, but as many smart people have already observed: words shape our minds. We say it every day: „I was lost for words“, „I can’t express…“. And that is certainly true. Journalists point to this usually with words like „Gemütlichkeit“ or „Zeitenwende“. (I’d like to add „Kehrwoche“) to express the difficulty in capturing some concepts in another language.

However, I like to think that I am more agreeable and polite in English. Good for you!

The fleeting nature of thoughts

I could write about something and then rewrite it later in another language. But here is the snag, my posts are a snapshot of my thoughts in the moment. Not sure, if I would reach the same conclusions on all my questions on different days. Just like the answer to „your favourite food“ can vary with circumstances, so can my outlook on life be affected by the most pathetic or heroic little moments.

So how?

One of my favourite expressions in Singapore was the frequent „Then, so how?“ in our office. The last syllable must be a howl to contain all misery caused by indecision.

I would say for now, I post alternating in German and in English and we will see where that takes us. If no one ever reads either of them, I’ll simply stop. Wither away. Silence. That, at least, is the same in any language!