Earth's many languages... Many!

[knightkrawler]

It is.
And the language is even madder. Like I said, nobody except for professors in mathematics uses the word orthogonal in Germany,
not spoken and not written.

[Big Bene]

In Germany, you only get to be told what diagonal is shortly before puberty.
Orthogonal is a different matter. You don't need that word, or hear it, for that matter. I had to look it up a few years ago.

That's simply not true, at least not universally. I learned the word "diagonal" just as any other word of the German language sometime in early childhood, and used it and heard it used all the time.
"Orthogonal" on the other hand is not a word in everyday-use, but still I learned it in my youth, don't remember where, and used it (and heard it used, too) whenever apropriate.

Also, German is not half as mad a language as English.
After all, English developed from medieval German, but all kinds of influences, mainly French, completely destroyed any connection between spelling and pronouncing. Twisted like a barrel of ghoti hooks.

[Goblin-King]

German is by far one of the easiest and most logical languages in my opinion. For the record I'm native Danish and speaks both English and German.
And nobody uses the word orthogonal in Denmark either

[TMU]

I'm a native Finnish, and I speak only Finnish and English. I should speak Swedish also but I just don't care about the language

[knightkrawler]

In Germany, you only get to be told what diagonal is shortly before puberty.
Orthogonal is a different matter. You don't need that word, or hear it, for that matter. I had to look it up a few years ago.

That's simply not true, at least not universally. I learned the word "diagonal" just as any other word of the German language sometime in early childhood, and used it and heard it used all the time.
"Orthogonal" on the other hand is not a word in everyday-use, but still I learned it in my youth, don't remember where, and used it (and heard it used, too) whenever apropriate.

You know how I came to know the word "diagonal"? HeroQuest. Asked my parents...
I also exaggerated a little by "before puberty".
But "orthogonal"? I have seen it in written form maybe two times, and never heard anyone say it out loud ever.

Also, German is not half as mad a language as English.
After all, English developed from medieval German, but all kinds of influences, mainly French, completely destroyed any connection between spelling and pronouncing. Twisted like a barrel of ghoti hooks.

True dat. But I was referring to the German people and their use of language. Bureaucracy, jargon, idiolects, sociolects... all the stuff of nightmares.
The German written language is so far off from what most people I know speak - or think - it's not even funny.

The language closest to having a writing system that actually denotes sound after sound in letter after letter?
Czech.

Almost all other languages in that respect? MAD!
Especially English and French.

[Big Bene]

The German written language is so far off from what most people I know speak - or think - it's not even funny.

The people I know all speak high German with very little traits of regional accents. Well, at work there are one or two who sport a thick dialect, wich I can understand, but frankly I find it annoying.

The German version was translated by an evil sloppy prick.

"Beispiel der all hat" - legendary.

[chaoticprime]

My actual last name is "Herbst" and I don't speak any German outside what few words and phrases English has adopted.

[knightkrawler]

The people I know all speak high German with very little traits of regional accents.

Rheinfränkisch, eh? You're lucky they avoid speaking it...
I was born in Saarland and speak a fluent Moselfränkisch which is one of the thickest dialects within the German language in the sense of a lack of mutual understandability with other dialects or high German.
But I've grown up in Upper Palatia, where people (and me) speak another unintelligible dialect.
High German speakers are frowned upon in the lower and middle classes IF they have grown up here though it's not a problem for anyone. It's a regional cultural pride thing.
I can manage High German, Moselfränkisch, Oberpfälzisch, and General American.

[Big Bene]

High German speakers are frowned upon in the lower and middle classes

Yes. I experienced this in school. Which teached me a hearty loathing of those bumpkins taking pride in their ignorance and not knowing their own first language.

[Sjeng]

I can manage High German, Moselfränkisch, Oberpfälzisch, and General American.

The Netherlands have many many dialects as well. It varies from an accent to almost an entirely new language.
In the northwest they talk "high" Dutch with the hard throaty G's and American R's. Horrible.
In the east they have a funny accent, elongatong o's.
In the top north they speak Friesch, which has similarites with German too.
In the south they have soft G's and R's, and way in the southernmost bit of Limburg lies the beautiful city of Maastricht, with it's own magnificent dialect, which of course yours truly speaks.
I can manage almost every Dutch dialect, provided they articulate clearly enough. Friesch is a tad more difficult. Can't speak it.

And then English, some German, a wee bit French, a few words Spanish. Just enough for having a vacation there