How to Learn Danish

Danish is the mother tongue of Denmark and also an important official language in the Faeroe Islands and Greenland. This ancient language is also spoken as a first language by almost 20,000 people living in Germany. It is also taught as a primary language in most Icelandic schools and is used as a popular form of communication in many Scandinavian countries. Danish is a charming language and is very easily understood by most native speakers of other Germanic languages.

One of the most influential reasons to learn Danish is to experience a place where everyone around you is constantly happy. In regards to a recent international study that took into account 110 countries, Denmark’s citizens are the second happiest in the world. This content country was tied in the poll with Sweden and Finland, and behind only Scandinavian sister, Iceland. The massive density of Scandinavian countries at the top of this list is no coincidence. There is nothing special in the water, these people have become masters in living with one another and focusing on the brighter aspects of life. A trip to Denmark is sure to change the way you look at the world and make you an all around happier person.

Knowledge of the foundation of the Germanic family of languages dates back to Scandinavian tribes in 200 AD. In approximately 1200 AD, Danish became distinct enough that it was officially recognized as a unique language. This Germanic language, spoken by Vikings, will prove to be an attractive new language for people fascinated by Nordic mythology or the conquests of the Vikings. Once a speaker is fluent in Danish, he or she can converse with speakers of both Norwegian and Swedish.

The famous work of Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, provides philosophy buffs with a great reason to learn Danish. Kierkegaard is an influential mind who became well known for his discussion of man’s relationship to God and the emergence of Existentialism.

There have been many major accomplishments from Danish speakers in science as well. The experiments of Tycho Brahe drastically advanced knowledge of our solar system’s movement, and Danish scientist, Niels Bohr’s work on the structure of atoms won him a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1922. From its beginnings as the native tongue of the Vikings to its current influence as the home of the happiest people on Earth, Danish speakers have consistently made an impact on the world.

While the spoken language is fairly simple and easy to learn, the writing and grammar aspect of Danish can be slightly troublesome. Rosetta Stone’s interactive framework provides a great tool for teaching vocabulary and understanding the grammatical aspect of the language. With a vocabulary consisting of 200,000 words and 12,500 expressions, Rosetta Stone will prepare you to become conversationally fluent by practicing in your free time. With the help of educational tools, Danish can be learned relatively easily compared to most other languages for native English speakers.