American English words are penetrating the German language: . Some people even think that this invasion from America is a serious danger. Education tried to prevent any changes in the German language for decades with little success. But why, after all, does Germany and the German language become Americanized? A look at the history and relationship between the two countries makes clear the answer.
Table of Contents
I. Historical facts
A. German-American relation after WW II
1. Marshall Plan
2. The Germans thankfulness
a. America Mania, English vocabularies
3. America’s supremacy
a. English as language of commanding
II. Vocabulary
A. Innovations created by the youth
1. Young people like to travel
2. High School, AuPair, exchange program
III. Advertising
A. “Creation“ of English words
1. The Deutsche Bahn
2. German magazines
3. Airlines, firms
4. Cosmetic industry
IV. Entertainment
A. Hollywood
1. Titanic
B. Movies made for TV
C. CNN and MTV
D. Soap operas
1. Sometimes hard to translate
E. German talk-shows based on American ones
F. The toys-making industry
1. “The Muppet Show“ and “Sesame Street“
2. Barbie
V. Clothing and look
A. Blue Jeans
1. Levi Strauss
B. Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang, Donna Karan, Tommy Hilfiger
C. Harley Davidson
1. First motor bike in the 1930s
2. Heavy machines with a non-interchangeable sound
3. Status symbol, part of American Dream
VI. Acquiring American standard
A. Elvis Presley
1. His image changed when becoming a soldier
2. Germans only adopted what they wanted
B. Americanization as a conception with a process
C. Birth of global-culture
1. The youths are changing society
2. Germans are adopting two times as many vocabularies than the French
VII. Food and Beverages
A. Coca-Cola
B. McDonald’s and Burger King
C. Bagel Stores
D. Sports Bars
E. American Restaurants
F. Brunch in Traditional Restaurants
VIII. Enno von Lowenstein’s article
Objectives and Key Themes
The work examines the pervasive influence of American culture and language on German society, analyzing the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of this "Americanization." It seeks to answer why Germany has become so heavily influenced by American models, practices, and vocabulary.
- Historical evolution of German-American relations post-WWII
- The linguistic impact of American English on German
- Transformation of German advertising and consumer trends
- The role of American media, entertainment, and lifestyle icons
- The shift in youth culture and social habits in Germany
Excerpt from the Book
Americanization of entertainment in Germany
Americanization of entertainment in Germany is a fact with no doubts. No modern society was able to avoid this. Hollywood is dominating the movie section, especially in breaking records in the production of movies. The latest and most fascinating example is the movie “Titanic“; a blockbuster around the world. American companies are the most important sources delivering movies “made for TV“ (Wenzel 7) for private television channels. CNN, the dominating international news channel is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and MTV, the most important music channel, belongs to the American Viacom Concern.
Germany first adopted American shows like “Fury“, “Bill Cosby“, “Dallas“, or “Bonanza“ before she started to produce her own daily and weekly soaps. Nevertheless, a lot of Germans can not imagine living without “Al Bundee“, “The Simpsons“, or “Beverly Hills 90210“ nowadays. Shows like these are sometimes hard to translate and it can not be avoided that English vocabularies are adopted as German words. American talk shows have only served as ideas for German producers. As they could not be translated, German TV channels created their own German-style talk shows, based on American examples.
Summary of Chapters
I. Historical facts: This chapter traces the origins of German-American relations following the Second World War, focusing on the Marshall Plan and the subsequent "America Mania."
II. Vocabulary: This section investigates how the German language has integrated English terms, largely driven by youth communication and international travel.
III. Advertising: This chapter highlights the deliberate use of English terms in branding, marketing, and the cosmetic industry to appeal to modern German consumers.
IV. Entertainment: This analysis explores the dominance of American media, including Hollywood films, television soaps, talk shows, and the toy industry, in the German market.
V. Clothing and look: This chapter discusses how iconic American products like Blue Jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles became status symbols representing freedom and the "American Dream" for Germans.
VI. Acquiring American standard: This section examines the broader sociological process of global-culture adoption, highlighting the role of cultural icons like Elvis Presley in shifting German societal attitudes.
VII. Food and Beverages: This part focuses on the spread of American culinary culture, ranging from the early introduction of Coca-Cola to modern fast-food chains and sports bars.
VIII. Enno von Lowenstein’s article: This final chapter presents a concrete example of how Americanized language has permeated professional environments, specifically in the German media industry.
Keywords
Americanization, Germany, German language, Cultural influence, Global culture, Media industry, Consumerism, American Dream, Advertising, Youth culture, Vocabulary, Post-WWII, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Globalization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work explores the widespread influence of American language, culture, and consumer practices on German society, tracking this phenomenon from the post-WWII era to the present.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
Key areas include the impact on the German language, the influence on media and entertainment, changes in advertising strategies, shifts in fashion and lifestyle, and the adoption of American food culture.
What is the core research objective?
The study aims to analyze the extent of "Americanization" in Germany and identify the historical and social reasons why German society has so readily adopted American influences.
What methodology is employed in the work?
The author uses a historical and descriptive analysis approach, referencing post-WWII developments, sociological observations of youth behavior, and examples from media, marketing, and consumer goods.
What is analyzed in the main body of the text?
The main body examines specific sectors—linguistics, television and movie entertainment, the fashion/biker scene, consumer brands, and fast-food—to illustrate the depth of cultural penetration.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Americanization, German language, consumerism, global culture, American Dream, media, and youth culture.
How did the Elvis Presley phenomenon specifically affect the German perception of Americans?
The arrival of Elvis as a disciplined, uniformed soldier challenged the German perception of Americans as merely "nonchalant," prompting a complex shift in how German youth sought to emulate American style.
How is the "Americanization" of the German professional language illustrated?
The work uses an article by Enno von Lowenstein, which demonstrates a German professional environment so saturated with English terminology—such as "Warm-up," "Top-Leuten," and "Lead"—that it reflects a profound shift in modern business communication.
- Quote paper
- Sabine Krieg (Author), 1998, Americanization of Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/19671
