All in Communication
The simple question ‘How are you?’ can cause consternation in Germany. Is it really a question or another example of dishonest and superficial English communication? Honesty is seemingly prized by Germans in communication, but is this the case in all areas of German life?
A new child is reason to celebrate…except in #Germany. Here I'm not ‘Dad’ I'm ‘Papa’. It's fine for a character in Grimm’s Fairy Tales, but I've no intention of kicking in the doors of a gingerbread house. What do you do when you're forcibly rebranded?
Are the Muppets racist, are radical students taking over, should we be worried by the arrival of wokeness to Germany? Reading the German media recently has been a journey in borrowed language and arguments from across the Atlantic, but what could this mean for Germany going into September’s election?
Dating in Germany is full of pitfalls, even more so when you’re trying to find a match online. Our new contributor, Shariya Dilini Algama takes us through her own experiences of what to expect and why so many of her matches seem more interested in her nationality than in their comparability.
Formality in any culture is a minefield. In Germany they have rules that make things easier, but only if you can deprogram your own native culture. What’s different about formality in Germany and why might British humour create more trouble than laughs?
Receiving feedback in Germany is an extreme sport, especially if you’re not prepared for the unvarnished truth. Are Germans refreshingly honest or simply lacking in tact?
The economic influence of the US on Europe is well known, but often the Germans I speak to dismiss the cultural importance of the US. How much impact does US culture have on Germany and why might some choose to ignore it?
Random strangers correcting each other is just a part of the everyday in Germany. Unsolicited advice on all manner of topics can be surprising, especially for more indirect cultures, like the British. What drives the German society of auto-correction?
In Germany they say order is essential, which can sound restrictive, but does create clarity. How does the German desire for order effect daily life and why does it often create conflict with native-English speakers?
According to surveys of expats, it’s hard to settle in Germany and difficult to make friends here. How is German unfriendliness measured and why might it be so difficult for migrants to make friends?
Germany has a reputation as a country dominated by rules. That might not be completely true, but there are a lot of rules both official and unofficial, but what do you do if you have no idea what the rules are?
It's easy to get confused in Germany, but it’s often just as easy to cause the confusion. Why might saying thanks to the bis driver seem odd and how did ordering chips in a restaurant lead to a minor international incident?
Denglisch and grammar mistakes are not the only causes of miscommunication in Germany, communication culture plays a massive part too. In part 2, we see why, for the British, “sorry” really isn’t the hardest word and how a simple question about a pop song can lead to serious embarrassment.
Language learning and mistakes go hand in hand, it’s a big part of the learning process. With the rise of English as a global language, and hybrid language like Denglisch, the mistakes can become more fantastic. In the part 1 of 2 blogs, we look at some of the lesser known examples of German to English mistakes.
Learning German is often easier with context, but sometimes you might wish you hadn’t. Is a mother’s mouth really so important and why is mother cake something you might prefer to leave uneaten?
How early is too early to start swearing? From German radio turning the air blue at 7AM to small children shouting expletives while playing in the park, Germany has a different relationship with choice language than the UK or USA. What are the rules, when is it OK and won’t someone please think of the children!?
