Abstract
The present article first defines the terms language choice, the need for foreign language competence and the need for knowledge about foreign cultures. Then, attention is focused on empirical material, which is discussed against the background of these terms. In order to gather the data dealt with in this article, German and Danish (hotel) managers were presented a questionnaire. Taking the case of German companies/hotels which are in regular contact with Danes, the questionnaire investigates their need for Danish and whether knowledge about Danish culture is required of employees. The German managers were also asked about the frequency of German, Danish and English language use by their employees and about their own language behavior when communicating with speakers of Danish. Also data on Danish language knowledge and knowledge about Danish culture are collected. The present article compares the results of the survey in Germany with the results which were obtained in Denmark: Which need for German and for knowledge of German culture do Danish managers perceive?/How do they rate their own proficiency in German and that of their employees?/How often do they choose German, English and Danish in communication with Germans?
Highlights
The present article first defines the terms language choice, the need for foreign language competence and the need for knowledge about foreign cultures
attention is focused on empirical material
which is discussed against the background of these terms
Summary
Ich bezeichne die Strategie eines Unternehmens, für die Kommunikation mit einem Kommunikationspartner dessen Muttersprache zu wählen, als Adaptation. Mit Standardisierung bezeichne ich die systematische Verwendung der englischen Sprache als Lingua franca in der internationalen Kommunikation durch Nichtenglischsprachige. Die Verwendung der eigenen Landessprache in internationalen Kontakten kann dann Nicht-Adaptation genannt werden (Vandermeeren 1998: 36–38). Ist die gewählte Fremdsprache die Muttersprache des Kommunikationspartners, so wird diese Sprachwahl Adaptation genannt. Ich bin mir aber durchaus bewusst, dass kommunikatives Verhalten in einer Fremdsprache gegenüber einem Gesprächspartner, für den diese Sprache Muttersprache ist, auch von einer in dessen Kulturkreis üblichen Kommunikationsmentalität begleitet werden muss, um Anklang zu finden. Diese Trennung ist sinnvoll, weil kulturelle Anpassung nicht immer mit sprachlicher Anpassung einhergeht. Bei sprachlicher Adaptation ist jedoch in der Regel mindestens ein minimales Wissen um die fremde Kultur vorhanden
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