Investigation Into Anglo-German Stereotypes (ePub)

Seminar paper from the year 2001 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,0 (A), University of Münster (English Seminar), course: Intercultural Communication and Learning, 42 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Relations between peoples and nations are often based on a distorted picture and on stereotypical views the people have of each other. Amid changing patterns and trends in the Anglo-German relations, this is a phenomenon that has been remarkably constant. Being partners in the European Union, the Anglo-German relations are probably better than ever before. However, ignorance or superficial knowledge, stereotypes and prejudices determine the image these two peoples have of each other to a large extent. The following assignment will show how the latter assumption holds true for pupils of various age groups in England and Germany. The submitted project deals empirically with the formation of opinions and with stereotypes of students from England and Germany. A theoretical part discussing the concept and the functions of stereotypes will be placed in front of the fieldwork description in order to provide the scientific background necessary for an objective analysis. Having defined the term stereotype, a short outlook into the field of national stereotypes, their variability and the implications of stereotypes and the media will be presented. As the sources of the students' information proved to be significant in our investigation, some influential factors on the formation of stereotypes will also be introduced. The practical part will then investigate the stereotypical views revealed in the questionnaires that were distributed to English and German students. Furthermore, these results will be contrasted to a foreign perspective of young adults from different cultural inheritances who came to Germany some time ago. [...]