[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Name translations +

[JMPerl47 at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/15/2006 11:23:16 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
otto at schienke.com writes:

Now that  you can speak German, go for it.  


I just love this list. When I started my genealogy hobby (HAHAHA), I joined  
it, thinking my relatives were from Volhynia. By the time I figured out they  
were from the Berlin area, I was hooked and have remained on the list because  
it's so informative and I learn so much and I just love the way everyone 
helps  each other out and has these wonderful discussions.
 
Anyway, I spent 3 weeks in Germany recently. Before I went, I got some CD's  
to learn a few useful phrases in German. Which was nice, I suppose. But I 
would  have been so much further ahead to learn the German pronunciation of the  
letters, as Otto recommends, because I couldn't even sound out the German words 
 when I was trying to talk to someone with limited English.  For example, we  
say Berlin, they say Bearleen. The vowel sounds make all the difference in 
the  world.