DNS

September 9, 2008 By 1 Comment

DNS stands for two different things:

Domain Name System – not exactly German, but the abbreviation is used all the same.  The Domain Name System is effectively the address book of the internet.  It is the system that converts addresses such as www.germanwordsexplained.com into their equivalent IP addresses, eg. 81.169.145.66

Desoxyribonukleinsäure – known in English as DNA.  The English abbreviation is now more commonly used in German, especially in texts that have been translated.  The older form can often be heard in films that were dubbed in the 1980s or at the beginning of the 1990s.

To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:

(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)

Download the MP3 file | Subscribe to the podcast

Filed Under: Abbreviations, German Words Explained, Podcasts Tagged With: , , ,

ZMP

September 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment

ZMP stands for Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung and is another stage when learning German as a foreign language.  It is set at B2/C1 levels.

It is the level for which the most teaching resources exist, as it is the first certificate that can realistically be used to apply for a job or a study place in Germany.  Starting a business may also require the owner to prove this level of German.

Students do not necessarily have to take the ZMP course in order to take the exam.  There are self-study materials from the Goethe Institute that allow them to practise for the exam.

To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:

(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)

Download the MP3 file | Subscribe to the podcast

Filed Under: German Words Explained, Learning German, Podcasts Tagged With: ,

GEMA

September 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment

GEMA stands for Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte.

The GEMA is responsible for managing the rights of composers, songwriters and music publishers.  As such, it is responsible for collecting the royalties from users of music and re-distributing them to its members, similar to the Performing Right Society (PRS) in the UK.

Using music that is GEMA-registered, eg. at an event or on a website, requires the usage to be registered and paid for.  This is usually straight forward for “traditional” events, however some circumstances are more complicated, as we found out last year in the Monday Podcast.

To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:

(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)

Download the MP3 file | Subscribe to the podcast

Filed Under: German Words Explained, Music, Podcasts Tagged With: , ,

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