This paper is concerned with the subject of anglicisms. Anglicisms are lexical items, which are transferred into our everyday language use. They are surrounded by a constant debate about their necessity. While linguists mostly appreciate their advantages, linguistic purists regard them as a threat and try to remove or limit them.
Through analyzing a survey, this study presents the attitudes towards anglicisms in German. Thereby, the influence the participants’ age has on their attitudes is especially focused on. After setting the scene by giving an overview about already existing research on the spread of English, anglicisms in German and linguistic purism, the survey analysis shows that older generations’ attitudes towards anglicisms tend to be more negative. As the paper focused on the social characteristic ‘Age’, future studies could discuss the influence class affiliation or education has on the attitudes towards anglicisms.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Previous research
2.1 The spread of English
2.2 Anglicisms (in German)
2.3 Linguistic purism
3 Methodology
4 Results
5 Discussion
6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This paper investigates the attitudes of different age groups towards the usage of anglicisms in the German language, examining whether older generations demonstrate a more negative stance compared to younger individuals. Through a survey analysis, the study explores perceptions of necessity, annoyance, and the potential impact of English loanwords on the German language.
- The historical and linguistic spread of English as a global lingua franca.
- Categorization and usage of anglicisms (complementary, differentiating, and superseding).
- Sociolinguistic analysis of linguistic purism and language protection movements.
- Quantitative survey data regarding attitudes toward English influence in German.
- Correlation between participant age, gender, and the acceptance of anglicisms.
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introduction
„Die Welle der Anglo-Amerikanisierung schlägt über uns zusammen und droht das deutsche Sprachschiff auf den Grund zu schicken.“ [The wave of Anglo-Americanization breaks on top of us and threatens to sink the ship of the German language.] (Raeithel 2000)
„Die Notwendigkeit einer internationalen Sprache für die Wissenschaft ist unbestritten. Ihre Existenz allein ermöglicht es, daß sich Wissenschaft ungeachtet aller Grenzen in der ganzen Welt entfalten kann.“ [The need for an international language is unquestioned. Its existence enables science, despite all boarders, to spread across the whole world.] (Skudlik 1990: 210)
Such opposing statements, as they were uttered by the German americanist Gert Raeithel and Sabine Skudlik, clearly represent the debate and discourse on which this study is based - the long lasting debate about anglicisms and its adaptation in German.
On the one hand, language is never only communication itself but always also carries national identity and culture. Thus, there are many people who are very protective towards it. The influence of English, which also carries culture, values and social structure, is therefore often regarded as a threat to ones own culture and values (see Fischer 2008: 4). On the other hand, there are also proponents of the use of anglicisms, who do not disregard their manifold opportunities and even think of them as something natural and necessary. These two ‘camps’ can be described as the camp which regards the English influence as language decay and the camp which regards it as language change.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the debate surrounding anglicisms in German and defines the research question regarding age-related differences in attitudes.
2 Previous research: This section provides the theoretical background, covering the spread of English, the definition and categorization of anglicisms, and the history of linguistic purism.
3 Methodology: This chapter details the survey design, the choice of questions, and the method of data collection used to analyze public opinion.
4 Results: This chapter presents the raw data obtained from the 100 survey participants without further interpretation.
5 Discussion: This chapter evaluates the survey results, focusing on the influence of gender and age on the attitudes toward anglicisms.
6 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings and provides an outlook on future developments regarding the role of English in the German language.
Keywords
Anglicisms, Sociolinguistics, Linguistic Purism, German Language, Language Change, Age Differences, Survey Analysis, Language Decay, Lingua Franca, Borrowing, World Englishes, Cultural Identity, Statistical Analysis, Language Protection, Communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the attitudes of German speakers towards the integration of English loanwords (anglicisms) into their language, specifically investigating how these attitudes vary across different age groups.
What are the central thematic areas?
The study centers on the spread of English, the linguistic categorization of anglicisms, the historical development of linguistic purism in Germany, and the contemporary public perception of these influences.
What is the core research question?
The primary research question asks whether older individuals hold significantly more negative attitudes towards the use of anglicisms in German compared to younger generations.
Which scientific methodology does the author apply?
The author employs a quantitative survey method, collecting data from 100 participants via an online platform to analyze correlations between demographic data and language attitudes.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body moves from theoretical foundations—such as Kachru's Three-Circle Model and the history of the 'Verein Deutsche Sprache'—to the empirical analysis of survey data concerning the perceived necessity of specific loanwords.
How is the survey data analyzed?
The analysis utilizes pivot tables to visualize and evaluate the relationships between independent variables like age and gender, and dependent variables such as support for language protection laws or annoyance towards anglicisms.
What does the study conclude about age-related attitudes?
The study confirms that older generations generally demonstrate more negative attitudes towards anglicisms, although this trend is nuanced and not always strictly linear across all age subgroups.
How does this study compare to existing data like Statista?
The author notes that participants in the current study generally perceive the consequences of anglicisms more positively than those in a 2008 Statista study, suggesting a potential shift in public acceptance over time.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nico Röhrs (Autor:in), 2020, The attitudes towards anglicisms in German. A survey analysis focussing on age-related differences, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/983571
