Becoming One Nation: Explorations into Language Use and Identity Formationof Germany⿿s Post- and Pre-unification Generations

Vogel-Langer, Anja

ISBN 10: 3639083849 / ISBN 13: 9783639083842

Published by VDM Verlag, 2008

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9783639083842

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Becoming One Nation: Explorations into Language Use and Identity Formationof Germany?s Post- and Pre-unification Generations
• Publisher: VDM Verlag
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3639083849
• ISBN 13: 9783639083842
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Many scholars have discussed the ways in which formerEast and West Germany are not reuniting, but how the wall inpeople⿿s minds remains while the remnants of the actual wall havelong been destroyed. The author of this book thus approachesthe question of Germany⿿s unity by looking at its future - thechildren that were born post Germany's reunification.Through a discourse analyses in 10th grade historyclassrooms of former East and West Berlin high schools, this bookaddresses matters of national identity and unity from a linguistic anthropological standpoint. Based on Michael Billig⿿stheory that national identities are inculcated through every-daybanal interactions, student-teacher communication isexamined through the lenses of language socialization and languageideology. Here, the speakers⿿ use of pronouns and greeting practicesand the juxtaposition of the local Berlin dialect to theGerman standard language are analyzed in their power to create ashared national identity.This book gives new insights to anyone interested inGermany's reunification process from a micro-analytical, bottom-up perspective.

About the Author

Anja Vogel-Langer received her Ph.D. in Anthropology at theUniversity of California, Los Angles. Her interests are in language ideology, identity,education and language socialization. She is currently developing a researchproject on the every-day life in Cuba. Dr.Vogel-Langer is employed at the CaliforniaState University of Long Beach.