Germany might be engulfed by a fresh debate about spelling reform, but for many newcomers to the country one of the biggest problems is still coming to grips with speaking the language. 

Indeed, grappling with some of the more, shall we say subtle features of the German language, is one of the more trying parts of life for new arrivals in Germany.

Just when you think you have got the hang of it, the whole confidence thing can quickly unravel after you stumble attempting to pronounce a word or you just can't quite seem to grasp what someone is saying — or even worse they reply to you in English.

How many times have you called someone "du" only to find them responding by calling you "Sie"? Somehow you have to make an embarrassing retreat and get the conversation back onto a more formal track.

Just when you think you've got the hang of it, your confidence can unravel

Getting the hang of the formal and informal is especially difficult because continental European societies tend to be a little more formal than the English language world. One recent French Prime Minister was supposed to even require that his wife used the formal form of address when she addressed him.

Although considering the growing informality of English-language society, some people living in Europe find being able to turn on a formal means of address as a useful way of establishing some kind of distance in particular circumstances.

There was a time in Germany when using "Sie" was fairly standard practice and that you only ever called a small circle of family and friends (including pets) "du". But this has dramatically changed in recent years as German society has grown somewhat less formal, especially among younger people.

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