Communication is everything. Nowadays communication is involved in every part of our life. Interactions and interrelations between different people is the basis for social competences, politics, economy, education and many things more. Since we live in a global world we always have to deal with lots of different cultures. And every culture has its own understanding of communication, does use different communication systems. Above that every single human being of a cultural system has its own personality and values. We need a common basis where we can establish competent behaviour. We have to have a look at the collusion to avoid irritations and misunderstandings.
Normally intercultural communication deals with differences/ problems between members of different cultures. But this aspect can be transmitted to the communication within one country. A special part of this topic is the situation in Germany under the aspect of communication and cultural differences. Germany has a special position in Europe caused by its history. The separation between East and West is still a topic to refer to. The collusion and the similarities are partially smaller than expected after 16 years of the reunification.
In the following essay different aspects of communication and intercultural behaviour shall be applied to Germany’s current situation. Reasons and possible explanations are given and in the end Germany’s real position is identified and proposals for solution of still existing problems are given. All the information given are based on general scientific methods and ideas concerning communication and culture as well as on personal experiences and a survey implemented by the authors of this essay. The meaning of culture is higher than normally thought. We need “bridges for understanding”, as Richard von Weizsäcker mentioned it in his book of the same name. This concerns not only peoples from all over the world but also the inhabitants of Germany. Only by understanding the culture and the way of communication of his neighbour one is able to create harmony, freedom and liberty.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Communication and Culture in Germany
2.1. Communication
2.2. Culture
2.2.1. Cultural conditioning of the individual
2.2.3. Ethnocentrism
2.2.4. Cultural Identity
2.3. Intercultural Communication
2.4. Language
2.5. Non verbal communication
2.6. Values
3. Reasons
3.1. History
3.2. Politics of the 1990’s
3.3. Role of the media
3.4. Other reasons
4. Current Situation
4.1. Prejudices
4.2. North - South - East - West
4.3. Positive changes
5. Prospectus and approach
6. Conclusion
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this essay is to analyze the communication challenges within Germany resulting from its history of division, investigating how these cultural and systemic differences continue to impact interactions between citizens from the former East and West.
- Theoretical foundations of intercultural communication and culture.
- Historical and political reasons for the ongoing communication gap.
- The role of mass media in shaping national perceptions and stereotypes.
- Current social dynamics, including prejudices and economic disparities.
- Prospects for future unity and strategies for improving social dialogue.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4. Language
Language is he most important and most obvious part of communication. At first glance this is no problem in Germany because we all speak German. So we all should be able to understand each other. Superficially this is right. But language is more than words or vocabulary. The meaning behind the words, the expressions and the use of language is more important. Language is not only the external medium for communication between people but also the internal medium for thinking, expressing feelings and ideas and representing the environment. Without language any individual and cultural exchange would not be possible. In our case we do have a common language, but not only one language. The language of the West differs from the language of the East. Language is directly linked with culture. It is a “symbolic guide to culture” (Reisinger/Turner, 2003, p.9) and it is influenced by social and political surrounding. The “Ossis” and “Wessis” belong to different cultures and grew up in different systems. That is why misunderstandings between East and West can occur. We have different systems, therefore different experiences and sometimes a different language. Some cultural aspects of the East differ a lot from the West. For instance when talking about one topic (education of children) an “Ossi” would use other words, expressions, emotions or gestures to describe the situation and to point out his/ her point of view. His/her opinions could be completely different from those of a “Wessi” simply because the “Ossi” have made other experiences, have had another education and other values. The probability that Ossis and Wessis do not agree is higher than the same probability of two Ossis or two Wessis.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the essay, highlighting the necessity of understanding communication as the basis for social interaction and introducing the specific problem of the internal German communication divide.
2. Communication and Culture in Germany: This section establishes the theoretical framework, defining key concepts like communication, culture, and cultural identity while explaining how they influence human behavior.
3. Reasons: This chapter analyzes the historical, political, and media-related factors that led to the development of distinct cultural sub-groups in East and West Germany.
4. Current Situation: This part examines the modern state of German society, focusing on existing prejudices, economic disparities, and the evidence of positive changes in unity.
5. Prospectus and approach: This section offers actionable strategies and a forward-looking perspective on how to overcome communication barriers through knowledge, experience, and the adoption of meta-communication.
6. Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the essay's findings, asserting that while cultural differences persist, Germany is successfully moving toward a unified identity, especially among younger generations.
Keywords
Intercultural Communication, Germany, Reunification, Ossi, Wessi, Culture Shock, Language, Social Psychology, Media, Prejudices, Identity, Globalization, Political History, Sociology, Social Interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the communication difficulties within Germany stemming from the country's historical separation and the resulting cultural differences between the Eastern and Western populations.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
Key topics include communication theory, the history of German separation, the influence of media on public opinion, socioeconomic disparities, and the psychology of cultural identity.
What is the central research question?
The authors seek to answer how and why communication remains complex in Germany, and whether the country has truly overcome its internal division 16 years after reunification.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The essay combines general communication theory and social science concepts with personal experiences and data gathered from a specific survey conducted by the authors.
What does the main body address?
It covers the theoretical definition of culture, the historical reasons for the East-West split, the role of 1990s politics and media, and an analysis of current prejudices and economic indicators.
What keywords characterize the work?
The core keywords include Intercultural Communication, Reunification, Cultural Identity, Social Psychology, and German national unity.
Why are "Ossis" and "Wessis" specifically mentioned?
The terms represent the distinct social identities that formed in the East and West due to differing political and economic systems, which the authors identify as a source of communication friction.
How does the 2006 Soccer World Championship relate to the conclusion?
The authors use the event as a landmark example of how Germans collectively acted as one nation, signaling a positive shift in national sentiment and overcoming historical alienation.
- Quote paper
- J. Tucholka, Anna / Wanke, C. / Schaffner (Author), 2007, The effect of the German separation on the communication in Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/71032
