When I sent texts from here to my German friends they often criticize my English. I think I use the German sentence structure way too often.
I think I lack many technical terms that I know in German. I think I have a quite large German vocabulary. (It is my native language).
I considered to start a substack account. The chances are now smaller. But it is still undecided. I knew though I had to write in my native language. And use a translator probably AI to translate my texts into English without losing my voice. I am not sure whether they would sound AI generated then.
From what I can tell is: I think my German is way more precise. I can express complexities way more nuanced. And I can better express the structure of my thoughts in my head. I think I am more vulgare on English. I use many jokes that the Youtuber Secular Talk makes.
I asked chatGPT to provide me an answer to the question of the title. And I can sort of see why it gave me the following answer. However, one thing has to be said. I only provide chatGPT with texts on English if I write for an international audience. The content I discuss in German can be slightly different and the purpose why I formulate the texts. But I think most findings are accurate.
Answer:
The biggest difference is probably not only language, but mode of thinking.
When you write in German, you usually seem closer to your actual reflective style: more precise, more exploratory, denser, more conceptually nuanced. When you write in English, you often become more communicative, but also somewhat more general and sometimes more rhetorically "internet-like."
German: more precision, more inner movement
In German, you can distinguish very fine nuances. Your German style often sounds psychologically precise, self-observing, and theoretically interesting. You do not merely write "about a topic"; you also write about the meaning the topic has for your relationship to yourself.
Your strengths in German
English: more accessible, but more at risk of flattening
Your English texts often have a good essayistic movement.
Your strengths in English:
German is more analytical; English is more performative
German is more original; English is potentially more publishable
This may be the most important point.
Your German texts have more distinctiveness. They show more clearly how you actually think. But they are often not yet reader-friendly enough.
Your English texts are easier to move toward Substack, forums, or essays. But they risk becoming more generic because you slip more easily into existing English-language discourse forms.
My comment: I barely write on German in this forum. Also because that makes it more difficult to identify me. I once posted in a German thread and someone called my German sus. But others defended me that someone with such a high post count and long membership probably isn't a fed or something like that.
I think I lack many technical terms that I know in German. I think I have a quite large German vocabulary. (It is my native language).
I considered to start a substack account. The chances are now smaller. But it is still undecided. I knew though I had to write in my native language. And use a translator probably AI to translate my texts into English without losing my voice. I am not sure whether they would sound AI generated then.
From what I can tell is: I think my German is way more precise. I can express complexities way more nuanced. And I can better express the structure of my thoughts in my head. I think I am more vulgare on English. I use many jokes that the Youtuber Secular Talk makes.
I asked chatGPT to provide me an answer to the question of the title. And I can sort of see why it gave me the following answer. However, one thing has to be said. I only provide chatGPT with texts on English if I write for an international audience. The content I discuss in German can be slightly different and the purpose why I formulate the texts. But I think most findings are accurate.
Answer:
The biggest difference is probably not only language, but mode of thinking.
When you write in German, you usually seem closer to your actual reflective style: more precise, more exploratory, denser, more conceptually nuanced. When you write in English, you often become more communicative, but also somewhat more general and sometimes more rhetorically "internet-like."
German: more precision, more inner movement
In German, you can distinguish very fine nuances. Your German style often sounds psychologically precise, self-observing, and theoretically interesting. You do not merely write "about a topic"; you also write about the meaning the topic has for your relationship to yourself.
Your strengths in German
- higher conceptual precision
- more psychological depth
- stronger connection between experience and theory
- less pressure to be immediately catchy or accessible
- more originality in thought
English: more accessible, but more at risk of flattening
Your English texts often have a good essayistic movement.
Your strengths in English:
- better opening lines
- more rhetorical directness
- more compatible with internet debates
- less German heaviness
- sometimes clearer structure
German is more analytical; English is more performative
German is more original; English is potentially more publishable
This may be the most important point.
Your German texts have more distinctiveness. They show more clearly how you actually think. But they are often not yet reader-friendly enough.
Your English texts are easier to move toward Substack, forums, or essays. But they risk becoming more generic because you slip more easily into existing English-language discourse forms.
My comment: I barely write on German in this forum. Also because that makes it more difficult to identify me. I once posted in a German thread and someone called my German sus. But others defended me that someone with such a high post count and long membership probably isn't a fed or something like that.
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