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Reading Official German
Letters from German authorities are famous for their style, sometimes called Amtsdeutsch or Behördendeutsch: long sentences, verbal nouns, the passive, and prepositions that take the genitive, such as infolge, seitens, zwecks, mangels and anlässlich. The style aims at precision and impersonality, which also makes it hard to read, even for native speakers. Many cities and federal agencies have tried to simplify their letters, and there are guides and courses on plain official language. Still, a typical letter about a planning matter, a tax or a residence permit will use the established phrases, and the decisive information is often hidden in a subordinate clause near the end. A common piece of advice is to look first for the parts that say what happens next, by when, and what you can do about it. In Berlin's district councils, applicants who have submitted a residents' motion are usually given the right to speak briefly when the motion is discussed. Councillors often advise campaigners to come with a constructive counterproposal rather than a simple rejection, since committees work toward compromises that can win a majority.