Reconfiguring Europe - The Contribution of Applied Linguistics - Constant Leung
Use of language: a sign and cause of alienation
Reconfiguring Europe - The Contribution of Applied Linguistics - Constant Leung
Natalie Braber [+]
Nottingham Trent University
View Website
Description
Even 13 years after unification it seems as if the two Germanies have not yet been truly united. Since the end of the German division language has been used to illustrate the social, political and economic changes that have occurred at and since this time. This started initially in 1989 with the slogans used in the demonstrations in many cities of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and can be seen as the first true liberated use of the national variety of German spoken in the GDR. After the initial euphoria of the Wende started to wear off, the divisions between east and west Germans started to show. The asymmetry of German unification is illustrated by the influx of new vocabulary (both from west Germany and neologisms) which affected the former GDR citizens to a far greater extent than their west German neighbours. This alienated the two populations from one another, creating ever greater divides. The continuing division can be seen to exist (and is maintained by many east and west Germans) to this day with the maintenance of GDR vocabulary, ideas and stereotypes furthering the psychological wall which still separates the Germans. West Germans have not been affected by these changes to the same extent. By examining these different attitudes and relationships a clearer light can be shed upon the difficulties confronting the Germans and this may enable a smoother future for Germany.