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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:09 am

I have been said that "Schloβstrasse 12" was not correct because Schloss" has two S. But another woman told me three S (with the first one of strasse) was not good either. So what do I write ?

Der französiche Name der Eltern ist Damien X und Marie Y

I had to add "französiche" because it had been forgetten (and there is also the latin one on the act). Is it well writen? It must be The French parents' names are because they have everyone one different name (the mother and the father) but in French it is singular too (one name for one person)

If you don't unsderstand what I hardly try to say in English tell me.

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 9:34 am

Good morning, Flo. Smile

Unfortunately, I am in a hurry right now. Sad

So I will only answer your questions and come back here and explain everything to you later. Okay?

This is correct:

- Schloßstraße 12
- Die französischen Namen der Eltern sind Damien X und Marie Y.

Bye for now.

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:12 pm

Thank you Gabi. I can now write down my letter and send it.

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:02 am

Oh, you have already finished your letter, Flo? I have been waiting for your message containing the text I was willing to translate from English to German for you... Insecure

I have learned from one of your previous postings that you are not learning German (yet). But I promised to explain my short answers to your questions and that's why I am here now. Hopefully, you will not be bored by reading all that.

First of all, let me explain why I asked you to write "Schloßstraße" (in English it's "Castle Street") in your letter's address. I don't know if you have already heard that there is a changing of several rules of the German orthography going on? It's the so-called "Neue (deutsche) Rechtschreibung". That's what makes the spelling of the word "Schloßstraße" a bit complicated and confusing.

In German, we have three ways of writing a "s" sound: s, ss and ß. The new orthography rules say that a vowel pronounced with a short sound cannot be followed by a "ß" anymore. (The letter "ß" may only follow vowels pronounced with a long sound or a combination of two vowels (diphthong)). Vowels pronounced with a short sound are followed by "ss" now. So, according to the new orthography, the correct spelling of the former word "Schloß" is "Schloss".

And there is this to add: In German, we "clue" words together to create new words. So "Schloss" and "Straße" can be put together to form the new word "Schlossstraße". The three "s" in a row look strange, don't they? But according to the new rules you have to write all three of them!

I am assuming that you are extremely confused by now, aren't you? Dizzy

You may ask "Why does Gabi tell me to write "Schloßstraße" when the correct spelling according to the new rules of the German orthography is "Schlossstraße"? Don't worry. The reason is quite simple.

Of course, the new orthography rules are applied to all German words. But it would be way too expensive to replace each and every single sign that contains a name written according to the rules of the old orthography. Think of all the cities, places and streets – and don't forget people whose names are affected! This is why these words are still written the old way. If you will visit "Eppingen" one day and go to the "Stadtverwaltung", you will find out for yourself that the street sign says "Schloßstraße". Of course, "Schlossstraße" is correct, too, but this spelling is not really common.

Last but not least let's talk about " Die französischen Namen der Eltern sind Damien X und Marie Y." This is very easy to explain. You told me that these two people have different names. There are two people who have two names, so this is a plural.

Any other questions? Wink

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:36 pm

Gabi wrote:

Oh, you have already finished your letter, Flo? I have been waiting for your message containing the text I was willing to translate from English to German for you... Insecure

Before you say to me you can help me (and even before you began to write on this forum) I had already asked somebody to help me. But perhaps I am going to ask you for help in futher letters... I was just a little confuse with her translation (she translate as I put it in French but I supposed there was a problem... I felt it... )

I have learned from one of your previous postings that you are not learning German (yet). But I promised to explain my short answers to your questions and that's why I am here now. Hopefully, you will not be bored by reading all that.

I am never bored when the matter is linguistic because it is one of my hobbies. I love it more than learning to speak languages. Thank you very much for your very clear explanation.

Any other questions? Wink

Oh yes just one question more. She changes "Monsieur" at the bottom of the letter and wrote "Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," I suppose it is men and women and I just think if it is correct to wrote that at the Katholisches Pfarramt Eppingen, Pfarrer Knobelspies, because normally catholics priests are not married and there is not women... Is Knobelspies the name of the priest?

Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:36 pm

Don't worry, Flo. Your letter's salutation is absolutely correct!

You are right. The priest's name is "Pfarrer Knobelspies". ("Pfarrer" means "priest".) He is catholic so he cannot be married. But he probably is not the only person working in the "Pfarrhaus". There probably are some employees (male and/or female ones) there, too. Thus:

"Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren," is a very common formal salutation. You use it to address to ladies and gentlemen whose names you do not know greeting everybody who might read your letter.

If you have written the address of the "Pfarramt" like this

Katholisches Pfarramt Eppingen
Pfarrer Knobelspies
Ludwig-Zorn-Straße 9
75031 Eppingen

you have written it for the attention of the priest Pfarrer Knobelspies. It is no private letter, so anybody working at the "Pfarramt" may open and read it, but your original contact person is the priest himself. So, the best way to write your salutation would be

Sehr geehrter Herr Pfarrer Knobelspies,

or when you would also like to greet everybody working in the "Pfarramt" (let's say the whole team):

Sehr geehrter Herr Pfarrer Knobelspies,
sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

I am looking forward to helping you furthermore. Good luck for your project! Smile

Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:45 am

Thank you very much for your help. I shall send my two letters this morning the one to the priest with your new salutation and the other to a Deuch association of genealogy who can explain to strangers how to do. If those two babies are sons of my ancestors as I suppose, then I will must search (tendré que buscar) their marriage.

Now I shall be waiting for their answear... In German, I suppose... (and if they send me the act in gothic letters, perhaps... )

Thank you very much, Gabi.

Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:45 am

My pleasure, Flo. Very Happy