The transcription of German words is not soin demand, as in the study of English, since the equality "letter = sound" is observed more often. However, discrepancies are still possible, so knowing the notation of sounds is necessary.
The need to study transcription
Why do we need transcription and, in particular,German transcription? Pronunciation of words on the letter can be noted in different ways. The easiest way is to label sounds with adequate Russian letters. This approach can be found in many sources, for example, the famous transcriptor from the studio of Artemy Lebedev works on this principle. This is convenient: no need to learn additional characters. But this method has a serious drawback - it is not accurate enough. Not all sounds of a foreign language are in Russian; accordingly, it is not always possible to choose a suitable letter. Below we look at all the sounds of the German language in the official transcription and features of their pronunciation. As an example, the German words with transcription and translation are given.
Vowel sounds
In German there are:
- Three diphthongs - their transcription is sufficientvague, in different sources, you can find different notation. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, in fact, they represent one long sound with special dynamics and coloring.
- 16 monosounds differing in longitude-brevity.
Long and short sounds can be grouped in pairs.
Sounds are briefly read in the following cases:
- The syllable ends in consonants (no matter how many, at least one, at least three).
- Before the combination of "ck" and "tz" in the next syllable.
Warning: there are exceptions, in this article we do not consider them.
Vowel sounds are shown in the table below.The transcription of German words illustrating the rule is attached in two versions - according to the MFA system (international phonetic alphabet) and Russian letters (just remember the disadvantages of this method):
Sound transcription | What letters are displayed on the letter | Features of pronunciation | Examples: The word [transcription] (approximate equivalent in Russian letters) is a translation. |
[a] | a | It looks like a Russian "a", the differences are minor. | Alter [altɐ] (alter) - age. |
[ɛ] | e, ä | The sound is similar to the Russian "e", but there is no complete identity. If you want to speak without an accent, you should train it separately. | Kennen [‘Kɛnən](kennen) - to know. |
[ə] | e | Also similar to "e", but much less expressive. Listen carefully to the word Ende. This sound is often found at the end of words, in rapid speech it can even fall out. | Ende [ˈɛndə] (end) - the end. |
[ɪ] | and | Slightly shorter than the Russian "and." | Fisch Yufɪʃ] (fish) - fish. |
[ɔ] | about | Similar to the Russian "o", only pronounced more briefly. | Dorf [dᴐrf] (dorf) - the village. |
[œ] | ö | There is no analogue in Russian.Newbies often reproduce it as "e", which is a serious mistake. Completely different muscles are used for these sounds, use the help of a phonetist if it is impossible to put a sound on the basis of audio materials. | Schön [ʃœn] (schön) is beautiful. |
[ʊ] | at | A brief, "explosive" sound, similar to the Russian "y". Attention to the lips - they do not stretch forward, only the little ones are rounded. | Mutter [ˈMʊtər] (Mutter) - mother. |
[ʏ] | ü, y | The sound is very remotely similar to the Russian "u", rather, it is intermediate between [ɪ] and [ʊ]. | GlüCentral Committee [glyk] (glitch) - happiness. |
How to determine vowel length
The sound should be read for a long time if one of the following features is present:
- Doubling the vowels.
- Unreadable “h” after vowel.
- The combination of "ie", which reads like a long "i" - [i:]
Sounds are read for a long time in an open syllable, that is, ending in a vowel, and conditionally closed, that is, this syllable can become open when the word is changed (Tag - Tage).
Transcription of German words with long sounds:
Sound transcription | What letters are displayed on the letter | Features of pronunciation | Examples: The word [transcription] (approximate equivalent in Russian letters) is a translation. |
[aː] | a, aa, ah | The technique of pronouncing is the same as when playing a similar short sound. Many have difficulty with longitude. Imagine saying two brief sounds. | Jahr [jaːɐ̯ / jaːr] (yar) - year. |
[ɛː] | ä, äh | Similar to the short, only longer. | Gären [gɛ: rən] (geren) - wander, ferment. |
[eː] | e, ee, eh | Errors are frequent with this sound. | Lehm [leːm] (lem) - clay. |
[iː] | i, ih, ie, ieh | Tense, long, distinct sound, similar to a short one, only longer. | Hier [hi:] (hie) is here. |
[oː] | o, oo, oh | Similar to the short, only longer. | Vogel YuˈFoːɡəl] (Vogel) is a bird. |
[øː] | ö, öh, oe | Difficult for the Russian-speaking sound. There is no analogue in Russian. His pronunciation can be achieved by reproducing the correct [eː], at the end slightly rounded and stretching his lips (not too hard!). | Löwe YuˈLøːvə] (left) - the lion. |
[uː] | u uh | Tense, long, distinct sound. | Huhn [hu: n] (hung) - chicken. |
[yː] | ü, üh, y | Similarly short - do not compare itRussian u, such a pronouncement will not just give you a foreigner, but will sound very alien to the German ear. Try saying [iː], rounding the lips, as for [uː]. | Tür [ty:] (tur) door. |
Their transcription is vague, in sourcesYou can find different designations. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, in fact, they represent one long sound with special dynamics and coloring. Also cited for example the most common Russian-German words with transcription in the column to the right.
Transcription | Mark on the letter as read | Examples: The word [transcription] (approximate equivalent of Russian letters) - translation |
[aɪ̯] or [ai] | Ei, reads like "ah" | Rammstein [ramʃtain] (ramstein) - the name of the group, arbeiten [‘Arbaetən] (arbeiten) - to work, reisen (reisen) - to travel, weit (white) - far. |
[aʊ̯] or [au] | ay | Frauchen [fra͡ʊçən] (frauchen) - mistress, brauchen (need) aus (aus) - of, auch is also, too. |
[ɔʏ̯] or [ᴐy] | eu / äu, separately “e” denotes the sound “e”, and “u” denotes the sound “y”, but together they read as “Oh”. | Läufer [‘Lᴐøfǝɐ] (loifer) - runner. bedeuten (to be) neu (Noah) - new, heute today träumen (trimen) - to dream. |
Consonant sounds of the German language and features of their pronunciation
В немецком языке 23 согласных звука, почти все they are easy to read, the strict correspondence “sound-letter” is almost always observed, you can easily find an analogue in Russian, so that the transcription of German words from this point will not cause any special difficulties. The simplest consonant sounds are listed below. Also given is a transcription of German words for example:
- [b] - corresponds to the Russian "b". The letter displays: b, bb. Examples: Besser YuˈBɛsɐ] (besser) - better.
- [d] - corresponds to the Russian "d". The letter displays: d, dd. Examples: Dame Yudaːmə] (lady) - lady.
- [f] - corresponds to the Russian "f". The letter displays: f, ff, v, ph. Examples: Apfel YuˈAp͡fəl] (apfel) - an apple.
- [g] - corresponds to the Russian "g". The letter displays: g, gg. Examples: Gebraten [gəbra: tən] (hebraten) - fried.
- [m] - corresponds to the Russian "m". The letter displays: m, mm. Examples: Kahm [kbut:m] (cam) - mold.
- [n] - corresponds to the Russian "n". The letter displays: n, nn. Examples: Gären [gɛ: rən] (geren) - fermentation.
- [p] - corresponds to the Russian "p". The letter displays: p, pp, b. Examples: Mappe YuˈMapə] (map) - portfolio.
- [k] - corresponds to the Russian "k". The letter displays: k, ck, ch, g. Examples: Kamm [kam] (cam) - comb.
- [s] - corresponds to the Russian "c". The letter displays: s, ss, ß. Examples: Straße YuˈƩtraːsə (shtras) - street.
- [t] - corresponds to the Russian "t". The letter displays: t, tt, th, d. Examples: Schritt [∫rit] (stritt) - step.
- [v] - corresponds to the Russian "in". The letter displays: w, rarely - v. Examples: Möwe [mø: və] (meve) - seagull.
- [z] - corresponds to the Russian "z". The letter displays: s. Examples: Saat [za: t] (sat) - sowing.
- [ʒ] - corresponds to the Russian "g". The letter displays: g, j. Characteristic for borrowed words. Examples: Genie [ʒeˈniː] (wives) is a genius.
- [ʃ] - corresponds to the Russian "sh". The letter displays: sch, s, ch. Examples: Staat [ʃtat] (staat) - the state.
- [l] - corresponds to the Russian "l". The letter displays: l, ll. Examples: Holl [‘Hœlə] (hele) - hell.
- [j] - corresponds to the Russian "y". The letter displays: j, y. Examples: Jacke [‘jakə] (yakke) - jacket.
- [h] - remotely corresponds to the Russian "x", rather, it resembles the sound of breathing during exhalation. The letter displays: h. Examples: Husten [‘hu: stən] (justen) - cough.
Разумеется, при их произношении есть особенности, for example, the sound [b] is not as sonorous as in Russian, the sound [p] is more expressive and pronounced with aspiration, and [l] is an intermediate sound between soft and hard Russian "l". A few more examples in the figure:
Complex consonants
Separately, in the table we consider more complex consonant sounds, the transcription of the words of the German language, suitable for example, is attached:
Sound transcription | What letters are displayed on the letter | Features of pronunciation | Examples: The word [transcription] (approximate equivalent in Russian letters) is a translation. |
[r] [ʀ] [ʁ] [ɐ] | r, rr, rh, er | Some sources can be foundlikening this sound to the Russian "p". But this is a very strong simplification. In fact, the sound is very complex, causes difficulties for most students. The last sound - [ɐ] can often be found in the endings of words. This reduced [r] is an indefinite vowel sound remotely similar to the sound between Russians "a" and "e". | Rabe [‘Ra: bə] (slave) is a raven. |
[x], [χ] | The letter combination ch after the vowels a, o, u and diphthong au. | These are two different sound techniques, although they are heard the same way. Similar to the Russian "x". | Lachen [ˈlaxən] (lahen) - laughter. |
[ç] | ch, g | This sound is also similar to the Russian "x". Attention: both sounds are not the same as in the Russian "x", and differ from each other. | Furcht [fʊrçt] (furcht) - fear. |
[ŋ] | ng, n | Beginners often confuse it with the sound [n], similar to the Russian "ng", but these are different sounds. To get [ŋ] try sending the air stream to the nose while saying “n”. | Singen [ˈzɪŋən] (singen) - sing. |
Below we consider the most important common differences in pronunciation:
- Consonants sound more intense and expressive.
- Do not relent.
- Voiced consonants are not as voiced as in Russian.
- At the end of words, stunning voiced sounds are possible: Hund [hunt], Dieb [di: p] is a thief.
- Aspiration - this is a common term in medicine in phonetics that means aspiration when making sounds.
- Double consonants are pronounced as one: Kasse [kasə], Lassen [lasən].
Affricates of the German language
Combinations of sounds (affricates - that is, combinations of sounds that have a certain similarity in pronunciation):
- [p͡f] - similar to the Russian "PF". The letter is denoted as pf. Examples: Pflücken [pflykən] (pfluken) is an option.
- [t͡s] - it looks like a Russian "TC", often read and pronounced as "c", but this is not true, although the sound of "c" really dominates. The letter is designated as z, tz, c, t. Examples: Trotz [trots] (trots) - despite.
- [t͡ʃ] - similar to the Russian "h". However, it sounds harder. The letter displays a combination of tsch, tch. Examples: Kutsche YuˈKʊt͡ʃə] (heap) - coach.
Once again a brief overview of all sounds is in the table below.
Using this material as a reference, you withoutLabor can learn reading in German. From practice - 1-2 lessons are required to explain the theory. Most students read German well in a week.
