Globalization and the Future of German: With a Select Bibliography

by Andreas Gardt (editor), Bernd Hüppauf (Editor)

Is the world en route to becoming a linguistic colony of the United States? Or is this dramatic view an exaggeration, and there is no danger to linguistic diversity at all? The German language is at the center of an intensive debate on this issue. Its position in the world is under increasing pressure due to the growing importance of (American) English as the language of globalization. The articles in this volume deal with the national and international position of German in relation to English, language policies, the future of German as a language of science, German in the USA, and the intellectual and aesthetic dimensions of encountering a foreign language. They present critical assessments addressing the dangers for the future of languages other than English, as well as positions which perceive the growing importance of English as a challenge and resource rather than as a threat.

387 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a significantly large percentage of the U.S. population having at least some percentage of their ethnicity traced back to Germany, it seems odd that advanced German language studies have been declining over the past decade or more. This, along with Germany's significant place within the European Union. This book is an excellent and comprehensive analysis of this matter.