Question for native-speaking Germans...
 

If I want to say that my vocabulary is limited, could I use the word "begrenzt" for "limited," as in "Mein Wortschatz ist begrenzt."

yes

yes

Or just 'klein'= small.
But using a word like Wortschatz and then confessing one's limitation seem rather odd. A typical reaction by a German would be, 'Sie sprechen sehr gut Deutsch!'

"Mein Wortschatz ist begrenzt." is perfect German and much more elegant than "Mein Wortschatz is klein."

Yes I know. But for someone claiming to have limited German yet coming up with a perfectly-phrased sentence would appear as odd. It's like someone claiming to have limited English saying something like, 'I must beg your indulgence for my limited command of the English language', rather than 'My English is not good.'

Nah, "klein" sounds strange in that respect. I'd go with "begrenzt". Decent German is always better!

"Begrenzt" is a very basic word anyway.

Alec, I've been told many times by Germans that I speak very good German. I always feel like a fraud because my vocabulary really is limited. I read German well, and I understand ordinary conversation, but if the situation gets complicated, I get lost. My knowledge of idioms is especially limited.

I was having breakfast at a little outdoor cafe in Schwäbisch Hall. I ordered, among other things, "ein weich gekochtes Ei." (a soft-boiled egg) A lady at the next table gave me a big smile and said, "Gut gemacht!" (well done) She must have known I was attending the large Goethe Institute there and probably realized also that I was American.

My German grammar is very good, (as long as I know the gender of nouns.) It ought to be, since I taught English for about a hundred years, and I guess my knowledge of English grammar transferred to German.

I hope to attend a Goethe Institute in Dresden next fall. This time I will concentrate on building my vocabulary.

On my travels, I have made the experience that you recognize someone's level of education even if he/she has an extremely limited command of a foreign language. Partly, it is a matter how sentences are structured, partly it is a question of vocabulary. Paradoxically, expressing yourself in a foreign language is easier if you use sophisticated words, like latinisms. Everybody in Europe will understand you if you say "agriculture" but only few if you say "farming".

So, absolutely no need to downgrade to Pidgin German.

"Mein Wortschatz ist begrenzt" would be perfect, for example, for an assessment test at the Goethe Institut, i.e. in a more formal situation or when writing a rather formal letter.

When talking to the ordinary man or woman in the street, you could use a less elaborate approach if you wanted, like "Mein Wortschatz ist noch überschaubar".

Nevertheless, the "begrenzt" version would not be that high-brow that it sounded ridiculous.

Perfect!
A German would say exact that!

SV ((@))

But a German would not have a begrenzten Wortschatz in Deutsch. That is, unless he or she thinks the word "begrenzt" is elaborate. :-). In tat case, he or she would indeed have a begrenzten Wortschatz, right?

After living here for 23 years, I don't believe I have ever even used the word überschaubar,though I know what it means. That would be a high brow word for me! Begrenzt is a much better choice IMO and would be more likely to be used by a non-German speaker.

Peg, I wouldn't guess that you're an American since you ordered weichgekochtes Ei instead of Ruehrei! It's always nice to be complimented on our foreign language ability during travel, but last week I was complimented on my English while ordering Mexican food in downtown San Francisco!

logos
What is wrong with a foreigner using a vocabulary which most probably will also be used by a local?

Is it a privilege for Germans just to use perfect idioms?

Peg - if you make that statement in my presence I would NEVER EVER think of any kind of "elaborate" usage of that phrase on your side!
It's not that foreigners are expected to sound, well, somehow more "limited" than Germans.
You would certainly wonder how "limited" some German's German is ;-)




SV ((@))

>What is wrong with a foreigner using a vocabulary which most probably will also be used by a local?

Nothing. :-) Was my statement too elaborate to be properly understood? ;-)