German-speaking World Research Articles

Interindividual Differences in Higher and Lower-Order Object-Related Cognition: The Role of Inner Speech

The capacity to experience inner speech has been hypothesized to impact cognitive functions like object recognition, abstract thought, and metacognition. However, little is known about how individual differences in the propensity to experience inner speech affect these functions, a relevant topic to address given the wide variation in this trait within the general population. Here, we contribute novel evidence addressing this gap and provide a new tool to measure these individual differences in German-speaking participants. In a first study, we validate the IRQ-G, a German version of the Internal Representations Questionnaire (Roebuck & Lupyan, 2020), offering scales that index the capacity to manipulate visual representations (Representational Manipulation), and the tendencies to experience thoughts in the form of visual and verbal information (Visual Imagery and Internal Verbalization, respectively). In a second study, we observe that participants with higher Internal Verbalization scores respond faster in a word-picture verification task where they match words to images but are more slowed by increases in semantic similarity between the items, relative to those with lower scores. We interpret this as a reflection of more categorical representations being cued in those with more language-reliant thinking during object recognition. In a third study, we present exploratory evidence based on a complex categorization task that more Internal Verbalization relates to slower determinations of response confidence when participants group images that rarely occur in the same context. We additionally offer exploratory evidence that condensed forms of inner speech hamper object recognition but aid abstract thought. Together, our studies highlight the complex and diverse effects of individual differences in inner speech tendencies on noncommunicative cognitive functions and broaden the methodological toolkit of researchers pursuing this line of inquiry in the German-speaking world.

From Science to Therapy: The Shaping of German Psychology Through Student Preferences

In 2020, a new record was set: For the first time in history, more than 100.000 students of psychology were officially enrolled in Germany. This remarkable number is the outcome of a long-term transformation of the whole academic landscape in Europe as well as dynamics that are specific to the German context. As these recent changes have not yet been properly discussed outside the German-speaking world, this paper provides a contextual analysis of the factors that have contributed to the current state of discipline, including legal regulations and economic conditions, academic curricula, and students’ preferences. It is argued that the growth of the discipline was primarily an effect of psychology becoming the primary route to psychotherapeutic practice in Germany after World War II. Even though representatives of the discipline repeatedly voiced concern about the one-sided interest of their students, German academic psychology has benefited from the steady increase in demand for clinical training, especially among female students, on many levels. In late 2020, a new law came into force which redefined the requirements for the qualification of psychotherapists. Although this legal reform was introduced only very recently, it is already becoming apparent that this change will have a profound impact on the discipline. As the tensions between basic research and applied branches increase, cracks are appearing in the foundations of the whole discipline, forcing it to make tough choices about its future development.

Vincenz Hundhausen and the Spread of Chinese Opera in the German-Speaking World in the 1920s and 1930s

Vincenz Hundhausen and the Spread of Chinese Opera in the German-Speaking World in the 1920s and 1930s

Research on the presentation of the national image of China in the German magazine APuZ

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This study examines the portrayal of China in the German Federal Centre for Political Education magazine APuZ (<span style="font-family: 宋体;">“</span>Politics and Current Affairs<span style="font-family: 宋体;">”</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">in German</span>) from 2020 to 2023. The objective is to observe and describe the manner in which the magazine portrays the image of China. A targeted literature analysis reveals the multi-dimensional evolution trend and dynamic distribution of China's image in the magazine. The study revealed that the magazine presents a comprehensive portrayal of China's political, economic and cultural images, incorporating descriptions of China's policies and international positions from a traditional Western perspective. The content of the magazine reveals changes in the image of China from the perspective of German official media, as well as the diversity of Chinese perceptions among academics and intellectuals in the German-speaking world. In summary, China is depicted as a politically traditional emerging communist power, an economically globally connected and rapidly developing country, and a culturally rich and profound country. The study aims to provide new insights into the formation of China's image in Sino-German cross-cultural communication and to contribute to the existing academic literature on the subject.</p>

Soziolinguistische Aspekte des kolumbianischen Spanisch: Der Parlache

Abstract This article deals with the sociolinguistic phenomenon of parlache in Colombian Spanish, which has developed from an argot into a sociolect. It has found its way into the general language and has become an integral part of the vocabulary of Colombians. The Parlache was originated in the marginal and peripheral sectors of the city of Medellín (Antioquia region), where it spread mainly among marginalised and therefore criminal youth from the slums. In contrast to many other slangs, jargots or argots, the parlache has meanwhile evolved from a so-called “anti-language” to a widespread idiom, especially among young people. But it has also conquered the media and found its way into literature, theatre and music, and is used and propagated, for example, by the well-known Colombian singer Juanes. The article traces the emergence of parlache since the 1980 s, analyses its main word formation patterns and provides some lexical examples. Furthermore, it will shed light on the reasons for the popularisation of this sociolect, which include, among others, the enormous linguistic wit and creativity of the speakers. Despite its peculiarities, the phenomenon is hardly known outside Colombia, and there are only a few works on it in the German-speaking world. Therefore, in conclusion, the need for further research is also pointed out, since a further popularisation, especially by the German-speaking countries, is expected.

Base-of-thumb osteoarthritis: aspects to be considered with the indication of trapeziectomy and CMC I prosthesis

Base-of-thumb osteoarthritis is the most frequent osteoarthritis of the hand requiring surgical treatment, although conservative treatment options should be exhausted before surgery. If the wear process progresses with continuing pain-related loss of thumb function, thus leading to a loss of function of the whole hand, surgical treatment is indicated. In 1947, Gervis published results after trapeziectomy and heralded the development of a multitude of different surgical procedures. The long time needed for rehabilitation is a major problem of trapeziectomy with or without tendon interposition and/or suspension. After the implementation of the first CMC I prosthesis by De la Caffiniere 50 years ago, a rapid development took place, leading to the current modular bipolar implants. Especially in the German-speaking world, there is still some scepticism regarding these prostheses, which is why this review aims to illuminate both surgical procedures with a special focus placed on the aspects of indication.

Nineteenth-Century Women in Music: MuGI, Sophie Drinker, Art Song Augmented and BID

This article focuses on four digital resources for researching nineteenth-century women in music. Two are over two decades old and hail from the German-speaking world: Musik(vermittlung) und Gender(forschung) im Internet (MuGI) and the Sophie Drinker Institut online lexicon. The remaining pair are emerging digital resources based in the United States: Art Song Augmented and the Boulanger Initiative Database (BID).

Robotic-assisted harvesting of a latissimus dorsi muscle flap: a case report

Having established itself in various other areas of surgery as well as in urology, robotics is increasingly gaining importance in plastic surgery. The case presented in this manuscript describes the first published robotic-assisted harvesting of a latissimus dorsi muscle free flap in the German-speaking world. The aim is to increase the knowledge of robotics in plastic surgery and to support the introduction of robotic-assisted plastic surgery in Germany.

Queer –activism and intersectionality? A discourse analysis of queer –political subject formations in the problematization of ‘race’

ABSTRACT Queer and intersectional perspectives play an important role in activism and academia and are critical of a collective ‘we’ that is arranged around a (single-issue) identity. However, queer sexual politics are still a side of white theory production, especially in the German-speaking world. This study explores how the current queer political subject in the German-speaking world is constituted in the ‘problematization’ of racism based on a poststructuralist critique of the subject. Against the backdrop of the shared but slightly different critique of identity politics from queer and intersectional perspectives, it also looks at the role intersectionality plays in these queer problematizations of racism. To that end, following Foucault and Jäger, discourse analysis was conducted on materials produced by five German-speaking queer-activist organizations between 2010 and 2016. This study presents the results of the analysis of two representative discourse fragments; in both discourse fragments, a more open queer political subject is constituted in the problematization of ‘race’ by referring in slightly different ways to intersectional critiques, but also to the concept of precarity.

Is a PhD an entrance ticket for an executive board?

This article deals with the question of whether many years of academic training can be the foundation for a successful management career. An analysis of all ATX, DAX and SMI-listed companies was carried out and the highest level of education of all executive board members was analysed. Statistical analyses were used to establish the connection between education and the position and function on an executive board. In addition, it was also analysed whether there is a statistical correlation between the composition of the board of directors and gender. There is a relationship between an academic education and the likelihood of being able to pursue a career on an executive board. However, a PhD is not necessarily a guarantee. Currently, gender also has a significant influence on management careers. This article provides an in-depth insight into the main stock indices in the German-speaking world. It should also serve as motivation that a proper academic education is a solid basis for one of the most sought-after jobs in a public limited company.

Styles of Science and the Pluralist Turn: Between Inclusion and Exclusion (Tome 145, 7e Série, n°3-4, (2023)).

This paper aims to map out the links between style and science. Two moments mark the migration of style from the discursive field of the arts to that of the history and philosophy of science: the first occurred in the German-speaking world during the first decades of the twentieth century; the second appeared in an Anglo-American context between the late 1970s and the early 1990s, when the category of style became involved in the so-called "pluralist turn" in the history and philosophy of science. Taking this framework as its point of departure, the paper uncovers neglected contributions to the epistemology of style in order to foreground the concept of style as both a vector of inclusion (highlighting the plurality, historicity, and locality of scientific ways of knowing) and of exclusion (by generalizing the most correct ways of doing science and side-lining alternative ways of knowing).

THE EVOLUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GERMAN PRESS LANGUAGE: AN ANALYSIS WITH EXAMPLES

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the evolution and characteristics of the German press language, shedding light on its historical development, linguisticfeatures, and its role in shaping public discourse. By examining the language used in German newspapers, magazines, and online news portals, this study aims to uncover the unique linguistic traits and stylistic conventions that distinguish the German press language from other written and spoken German forms.Drawing on a wide range of examples from prominent German media outlets, the analysis explores the lexical, syntactic, and rhetorical strategies employed in the German press language to convey information, express opinions, and engage readers. Furthermore, the study investigates the impact of technological advancements and globalization on the language of the German press, considering how these factors have influenced its evolution over time.The findings of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between language, media, and society in the German-speaking world, offering valuable insights into the role of the press language in shaping public perceptions and attitudes.Ultimately, this study seeks to enrich our knowledge of the linguistic and communicative practices employed in German journalism, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution and characteristics of the German press language.

Umsetzung des DACH-Prinzips in den Sprachkursen im Österreich Institut Polen

The implementation of the DACH principle takes place in the language courses offered by the Austrian Institute in Poland. The institute’s goal is to acknowledge the diversity of the German-speaking world and provide learners with language skills and cultural insights. To put the DACH principle into practice, the Austrian Institute uses various sources, such as textbooks and online sources. Each class addresses differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and pragmatics. It is emphasized that not all regional variants of German need to be discussed and covered in detail. Mastery of all language varieties is not required, instead, learners are encouraged to be aware of the existence of different variants. The fundamental goal is to sensitize learners to the diversity and multiperspectivity of the German-speaking world and teach them appropriate responses if they do not understand regional expressions. The following article presents selected methods for implementing the DACH principle.

From Brunfels to Bauhin – The first 100 years of „botany” in the German-speaking area

This article examines how Caspar Bauhin (1560–1624) became famous as a scientific author and University teacher in Basel focusing on the evolution of scientific practices such as botanizing and herbarizing in the German-speaking world. In the early 16th century German-speaking publishers were the first to sell well-illustrated books that would be of great help to readers in identifying plants. After 1550, Swiss and German physicians such as Felix Platter, Leonhard Rauwolf, Kaspar Ratzenberger and Johann and his brother Caspar Bauhin began collecting plants for their herbaria, some of which are among the oldest still preserved today. The Rauwolf herbarium, with its most „scientific” design, shows how plant identification was done in practice. Rauwolf also was the first to leave behind a comprehensive report of his fieldwork in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, written in German. In Basel, Caspar Bauhin was to become a particularly influential academic teacher in the German-speaking world and beyond when he took over the newly established chair for Botany and Anatomy in 1589. He trained a total of nearly 800 students during his University career. Moreover, Bauhin’s extensive correspondence comprises over 2500 letters and provides insights into the lively discussions among the fellow botanists with whom Bauhin corresponded.

War in Ukraine. The German-speaking world in support of the Ukrainian scientific communities in Ukraine

War in Ukraine. The German-speaking world in support of the Ukrainian scientific communities in Ukraine

A Paratext Perspective on the Translation of the Daodejing: An Example from the German Translation of Richard Wilhelm

In the German translation history of the Daodejing, the version rendered by the renowned German sinologist, Richard Wilhelm, has vigorously propelled the study of Laozegetics in Germany and stands as a translation of historical and scholarly significance. Wilhelm complemented the concise main text through the use of diverse, precise, and appropriate paratexts, granting his translation both readability and academic rigor. This ensures the admiration of general readers and the recognition of professional scholars. Tailored to the linguistic preferences and educational levels of German readers, Wilhelm frequently employed highly recognizable theological, philosophical, and literary concepts within the German cultural system to elucidate the Daodejing. This translation strategy effectively satisfies the expectation horizon of target readers. In the paratexts, Wilhelm constructs a philosophical framework of Daoism, compares the thought of Confucianism and Daoism, and broadens the dialogue between Chinese philosophical thought and Western intellectual traditions, thereby bestowing upon the Daodejing a renewed vitality in the German-speaking world.

Geolinguistic structures of dialect phonology in the German-speaking Alpine region: A dialectometric approach using crowdsourcing data

Abstract The Alpine region stands out in the German-speaking world for its well-preserved traditional dialects, which continue to play a significant role in daily life. However, the vast geographical range of the Alpine region and the limitations imposed by national and regional borders have hindered comprehensive investigations of the entire Alpine area. To overcome these obstacles, this study utilizes crowdsourcing data from the VerbaAlpina project to investigate phonological and morpho-phonological variation in the German-speaking Alpine region. Although the data were collected in a written form and with a focus on lexical variation, it is shown that the data contain detailed phonological information. By using multivariate dialectometric measurements (i.e. factor analysis [FA]) based on 19 (morpho-)phonological variables (comprising 8,582 tokens), the study explores the geolinguistic structures of the German dialects in the Alpine region. The results confirm, on a general level, the validity of the traditionally established dialect classification. However, the findings also reveal previously underrated border effects, in particular for Bavarian dialects along the German-Austrian border, which are argued to be the outcome of divergence processes. Hence, the study highlights the importance of cross-dialectal and cross-national perspectives in understanding dialect variation and emphasizes the value of crowdsourcing data for dialectological research.

Literatur und Energie in Joseph Roths Der Rauch verbindet Städte (1926)

Abstract: In his report Der Rauch verbindet Städte , which appeared in the Frankfurter Zeitung in 1926, Joseph Roth described how coal mining affected life, society, and work in the Ruhr Valley. The text demonstrates impressively and in metaphoric terms how the coal trade and its industrial use as a source of energy had a direct influence on everyday life and the economy. This article proceeds from coal as a source of energy to examine the connection between literature and energy, reading this text against the background of the field of Energy Humanities currently developing in the anglophone sphere. This research focus, which has to date hardly been pursued in the German-speaking world, provides a new and productive perspective within the field of Austrian Studies.

The beginnings of the Notre Dame’s sister school in Trnovo

The religious Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame was founded in the mid-nineteenth century in Bavaria in response to an urgent need for educating particularly girls. The new religious order addressed the needs and expectations of society by founding schools offering different courses and grades and boarding houses. The first institutions were established in the German-speaking world. In 1857, a school and a boarding house were founded in Gorizia. With the help of Jakob Missia, Bishop of Ljubljana, the sisters expanded their activities to Šmihel near Novo Mesto (1886) and Trnovo near Ilirska Bistrica (1888). They were also the first to provide education of deaf youth. The paper presents the beginning of the school and boarding house in Trnovo.

“Add Teresa of Avila and Stir”—Why Adding Women Does Not End Exclusion Mechanisms in (Theological) Science

Knowledge production is by no means neutral; it perpetuates existing presuppositions and exclusions. Within Catholic theology, this is accentuated by particular structures and institutions. In this article, I will show that exclusions are not changed by simply ‘adding women’. I will proceed in four steps: First, I will examine the epistemic preconditions of knowledge production. Second, I will highlight concrete examples that show how several factors can change our reconstruction of theological history. This section will be organized around gender understandings in the premodern/Reformation era. Third, I argue for a specific understanding of theology which can be understood as a commentary on the respective context. Finally, I will summarize the conclusions with a concrete example. This article is situated in the context of the theological debates in the German-speaking world, which has a particular set of conditions for academic theology, such as the inclusion of theological faculties at state universities. However, it can certainly offer epistemic insights into postcolonial and gender-critical debates on theological contexts that are relevant beyond this specific context. Moreover, the article makes the current debate accessible to non-German-speaking audiences and in this way seeks to close ‘data gaps’ in international scholarship.