Here's a breakdown of their relationship:
Similarities:
* Vocabulary: Many English words have cognates (words with the same origin) in German. This is due to their shared history. Examples include: "water" (Wasser), "brother" (Bruder), "hand" (Hand), "king" (König), "mouse" (Maus).
* Grammar: Both languages have a similar word order (subject-verb-object), use articles (a, the, der, die, das), and have grammatical cases (though German has more).
* Sound System: They have many similar sounds, though some have evolved differently over time.
Differences:
* Vocabulary: While many words are similar, there are also significant differences due to separate historical developments. English has borrowed words from other languages (Latin, French, Greek), while German has maintained a more consistent vocabulary.
* Grammar: German is considered a more complex language than English, particularly in terms of grammar. It has four grammatical genders, four cases, and complex verb conjugations. English has simplified its grammar over time.
* Pronunciation: While there are many similarities, there are also significant differences in pronunciation, particularly in the vowel sounds and stress patterns.
Historical Context:
* Anglo-Saxon influence: English was heavily influenced by the Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) who settled in Britain in the 5th century AD.
* Norman Conquest: The Norman invasion of England in 1066 brought in a large amount of French vocabulary, which impacted English vocabulary and grammar.
* High German consonant shift: This sound change occurred in the early Middle Ages, which created a significant phonetic difference between German and English.
Overall, German and English are closely related languages that share a common ancestor. While there are significant differences in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, the relationship is evident in the many shared features and cognates.