similarities between german and american culturesimilarities between german and american culture

Traditionally, you have a very secure position, work hard from eight to five, and then lock the door, go home, and forget the Arbeit until the next workday. Thus, focusing on the similarities between the cultures of such European countries as Germany, the Netherlands, and France, it is significant to note that the issues of religion are similar for these countries. This sense of orderliness is very different when it comes to American culture. Site contents copyright 2022 by How To Germany ApS, Online Advertising and SEO Market in Germany, German SEO and Web Translation - 8 Steps to Success, Road Map for International Companies Wanting to Enter the German Market, 3 Currency Strategies to Help SMBs Slash Costs, The German Retirement and Pension System - Basic Facts, How To Get German Retirement Contributions Refunded, Investing in European Mutual Funds for US Citizens under FATCA, Housing Finding, Renting, Buying, Selling, Temporary, Temporary Furnished Rental Apartments in Munich, 7 Differences Between Corporate Housing and Hotels, Making the Most Money from Your Property Sale. Northeastern Nebraska, the home of my parents and grandparents, was then, and still is, a heavily German American area. IvyPanda. This site has been created with a vision to further the success of our consumers by sharing findings and views in the senior professional careers space. The result of this history was a shared sense that only a clearly defined society with clearly-defined state powers and individual liberties could ensure survival and well-being. 0000001420 00000 n The Dutch people are similar to Germans in their orientation to tasks resolving, but women are traditionally perceived as housewives. Many supermarkets are open 24/7 so we can go shopping whenever we feel like it. HTn1W0M@Ep&_Z\>C^RgH#Dd4(b0.2|LpKA#{0kU@Y6T`Mx$8fu}#CIne~v USGId` WebGermans communicate honestly with each other, whereas Americans would feel deeply offended in similar situations. When asked whether their country should or should not use military force to defend a NATO ally in the event of a potential Russian attack, six-in-ten Americans say their country should defend that ally, while an equal share of Germans say their country should not. All in all, German Americans have been influential in almost every field in American society, including science, architecture, business, sports, entertainment, theology, politics, and the military.

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Germans are about twice as likely to say they prefer a close relationship to the U.S. over China (50% to 24%), while Americans are almost equally divided (41% prefer Germany, 44% say China). Cultural differences are most prevalent when it comes to working on projects. Paying Medical Expenses/Health Insurance Claims, Using German Government Health Insurance (GKV), Tips on Health and Household Insurance Before Arrival, Tips about German Statutory Health Insurance, The Top 6 Things You Should Know About German Hospitals, Doctors and Healthcare, Relocation Companies - What They Can Do for You, Moving to Germany: four tips for a smooth transition into your new life abroad, SoFA, Diplomats and Other US Government Employees, Christmas Markets of Germany's Historic Cities. Experteer GmbH is an online recruitment marketplace headquartered in Munich, Germany. See the bottom of this page for a complete list of topics.

If youre an American planning to move to Germany, be prepared to accept that rules arent to be questioned and should be strictly followed. When in doubt, have the respect to address someone formally.

But in Germany,cash is still king. This point of view is simply conventional and unfair. Afterwards, one dimension of Trompenaars will be examined defuse and specific communication. "9/11": the cultural icon of our fearful, belligerent age.

For Americans, a no reflects a negative attitude. For more details, click on any linked topic. Admiral Chester William Nimitz Sr. Texas <> #/;V5"a+fOOB@=) 6Nw4%6D2 L86L h Asm2,Y^`Z=NE n]?uQ!P^/A=U&W/^;8dIeP-s+#AidFHv5M/|_|Xs)Ld}#26cLg*kF^KqG[^2Qm+6liM$6wC HTIn0>(J@P b1=p%Rp@@ng>-7T=~bn(e=HDGd2hS=uw So, the people stayed. U|]R[3eU9UJTxo3K?{mjb7bq KKy`G^-O)65_pF6.l^'k06&Df|`N{,r?% 9SPJWM$! Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. German faces in war-bond posters then looked as monstrous as Arab faces do in today's hate-group caricatures. His father died before he was born. 0000001967 00000 n Not only do kiosks only accept cash, many other businesses are the same, especially restaurants. We can add that the larger portion of this is on a level that we are not aware of. Thus it is no surprise that the two cultures are very similar. Propsting holds a bachelors in English and journalism from Wake Forest University and a masters in art history from the University of Edinburgh. Germans and Americans: surprisingly similar in many waysand completely different in others. The next biggest groups are in descending order English, Italian, French and Polish. <>stream German Culture vs. American Culture 1 Language. endobj A further cultural difference appears in the demands placed on individual members of staff. With it began a period of extreme turmoil and instability, ending only some 35 years later with the founding of the present Federal Republic. While this seemed unnatural to me the first several times it happened, I soon came to realize that the German way of answering the phone was not impolite, but efficient. The American says something like: Sorry, but my hamburger is overcooked. Nearly 1,200 people died, among them 124 Americans. This represents a 7 percentage point increase in positive sentiment since 2017. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, that share is about eight-in-ten. Roughly two-in-ten say China (23%) and Canada (20%) are top partners, but Germany is chosen by only 13% as the most or second-most important partner, in between Israel at 15% and Mexico at 12%. HT[n0)|.%A$O#~KKt)(3Ch;y;Q3gO7^x6 Whereas I may refer to the parents of my friends in the United States as Pat, Dale, etc., I always refer to the parents of my friends in Germany as Frau (Mrs.) Gehring, Herr (Mr.) Diemerling, etc. endobj The 2019 findings come from a Pew Research Center survey conducted by SSRS in the U.S. from Sept. 17-22 among 1,004 respondents and a Krber-Stiftung survey conducted by Kantar in Germany from Sept. 9-28 among 1,000 respondents. Meanwhile, 63% in Germany say that the U.S. would defend a NATO ally in the event of military conflict with Russia. Clear, expert knowledge is called for, not pats on the back and war stories. <>stream But not totally American, I hope. People are expected to be reliable and it is taken for granted that if someone offers to do something, he or she will meet the deadline. When I think of the differences between German and American culture, one of the first things that comes to mind is how Christmas is celebrated. Because of the cultural appreciation for compartmentalizing different aspects of ones life, Germans are not likely to try to form friendships or social relationships with colleagues. WebThe biggest ancestry part of the population of the year 2000 was German ancestry (15.2%), which is followed byIrish descendants (10.8%),African American (8.8%) and English (8.7%). "Those Americans, mein Gott, I'm never completely sure when they really mean what they say.". Ive often had to ask for the menu multiple times or even search for the waiter around the restaurant to be acknowledged. It goes like this: A German and an American are sitting at a restaurant and both order hamburgers. In some ways, German business culture is more regimented than in the United States, and in others, it is far more accommodating of workers. In Germany, its commonplace in summer to sunbathe in the nude in the park, something that is absolutely forbidden in the US. for discounts on goods and Here are a few more in no particular order. It is literally everything you are doing in the presence of the other person. For all countries and organizations where those on the right and left did not see eye-to-eye, the divide is notably wider between Americans than it is between Germans. Pershing, the supreme American commander, was a German American. The German group had a higher percentage of women, 38%, vs. 21% women for the US group, and the American group reported a higher average age (29 vs. 23). German names abound in the US, with Millers and Myers everywhere. Over time my interest shifted to interactive personal communication skills -how well people are able to communicate and get along with each other, especially face-to-face. 0000000016 00000 n

Here, the lines between private life and the office become blurred. In order for a new position to be a springboard and not a stumbling block, it is important to recognize the cultural differences between the German and American working environments.

The Dutch people are similar to Germans in their orientation to tasks resolving, but women are traditionally perceived as housewives. Unless you know someone well, theyre likely to use Sie much more extensively than wed use Mr. or Mrs. in the US. June 18, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/similarities-and-differences-in-the-cultures-of-germany-france-and-the-netherlands/. German teenagers typically finish their high school education at the age of 16, when they decide whether 3 New Year's Eve.

Office 3014 | Campus Box 5145 Most of the time here I end up grocery shopping on Friday nights or during the weekend on my lunch break. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Successful transatlantic communication is not so much the German side rising up to the level of the American side, but both sides finding common ground, a working modus of communication in the Zone. 0000030022 00000 n endobj 0000001399 00000 n endobj Many people only become aware of a different cultural conditioning when they travel abroad and are confronted with different patterns of behavior and ways of seeing things. Not a few became rabid Americanizers and cultural vigilantes. All rights reserved (About Us). Both sides have to work at this. It contains thousands of paper examples on a wide variety of topics, all donated by helpful students. You earn a position in this business culture by achievement in school, certification, lengthy high quality training, and resulting expertise. trailer China (15%), Russia (12%) and the UK (7%) round out the top five. We shake hands, wear business suits, drive cars, watch movies, and drink beer. Register for , There were many similarities and differences that lied between the different countries. The arts and the educational institutions would have been devastated by internment of German American citizens or even just of German nationals long resident in America. German companies face tight restrictions on environmental impact, and new business ventures will be given thorough scrutiny on all aspects of proposals.

Sauerkraut became "victory cabbage." This means folks often are on a first-name basis, engage in easy small talk, interject humor and are seemingly more spontaneous and positive in their meeting contributions. (Only much later did the inconvenient truth emerge that the liner was secretly carrying armaments to Britain.). "h*KK _m! And the best way of maintaining that belief is to study the other guy's culture. Americans and Germans also take differing stances on the U.S. military presence in Germany. Americans, on the other hand, usually include these fillers without even realizing. You say "Sie" to your business associates, tell them the things necessary for conducting business, and not much about private life. Germany is the largest economy in Europe, with an international spirit that encourages foreign business. Germans, by contrast, are not sold on the idea that American military bases are important to German security. This is less common in Germany, where formal speech is preferred unless speaking to children or close friends. The American never talks about problems at work. Whatever your status was, peasant or noble person, you had it, you kept it, and you did better to like it, for there wasn't much you could do about it. Need a custom Essay sample written from scratch by 82 0 obj In Germany, the public transportation situation is much more developed and you can get most anywhere if you dont mind waiting a little. He was educated here, in German-speaking institutions. Legacy Partner for free, Become a point of contact e+bq'Gh4oA[_~mk0 -b Germans tend to say exactly what they mean and do not value superfluous fillers within conversations. Webtwo groups had similar levels of education, elds of study, and professional goals. Ive already covered several of the major cultural differences on this blog; from pay toilets and post-apocalyptic Sundays, to Christmas markets and produce-themed races. This carries over in the workplace. We studied their culture and religion, learned to distinguish Shia and Sunni. Dont be freaked out. <>/Border[0 0 0]/Rect[243.264 211.794 383.1 223.806]/Subtype/Link/Type/Annot>> Certain customs, traditions, and holidays are the factors which always help people to accentuate their cultural identity (Countries and Their Cultures). "Similarities and Differences in the Cultures of Germany, France, and the Netherlands."

"6PRG4u@`1q`M8%r=4CBeP^;XqzH+ .`h)!Fglda2PHC>[(:#!.TzScs;Tl/I?L]c4 :\sx},Rv)PCnBLipKFP50Y`cl]6!S>U]r*W[F qsJ.|b T@|4[RE.V%"_%*XLuGS2y p7c}G2,c'}U(aD@:` s% YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Germans tend to say exactly what they mean and do not value superfluous fillers within conversations. The table is set and now its dinner time. We call everyone by their first name as soon as possible and have no issue with grocery shopping in our pajamas. And when it comes to addressing people in the USA, people are usually called by their first names. Just over four-in-ten of those living in the former East say they have a favorable opinion of Russia (43%), compared with one-third of those in the former West. These are among the major findings from a Pew Research Center survey of 1,004 adults conducted in the U.S. from Sept. 17-22, 2019, and a Krber-Stiftung survey of 1,000 adults conducted in Germany from Sept. 9-28, 2019. Thus the significance of cultural behaviors is "hidden." He might even start taking lessons, but he certainly wouldn't see performance in the language as a source of soul-searching anguish. This ultimately means lost opportunities and lost business volume. If the chosen route does not lead to the goal, the American will correct and adjust. Both groups reported spending many hours per week (2530 Some overemphasize the differences between communication in Germany and the United States because of the language difference. This leads to faulty judgments and misunderstandings about the character or nature of those Others in the Zone. The group accounts for about one-third of the total ethnic German population in the world. (2019, June 18). In the U.S., Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more likely than Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents to favor increased defense spending in Europe. Staff members are able to openly contradict and point out mistakes. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Similarities and Differences in the Cultures of Germany, France, and the Netherlands, Cultural Differences in Arranged Marriages, Factors That Contributed to the Rise of Dutch Commercial Power, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, Pakistani, Dutch Cultures, Employee Participation in the Netherlands, Netherlands Flower Paintings in 17th Century, History of Housing Policies in the UK and Netherlands, Governmental Drug Policy in the Netherlands and Sweden, Interest Rate and Inflation in Netherlands, Disney culture in china and United States, A Comparison between Swedish and Australian Culture, Comparison of US and Germany Cultural Differences. No, they're history, because I am scarcely one myself, and my children are not in the least. Which mindset is better, I personally cant say, but what I do know is that in Germany,rules and organisation are life. It is a member of the West Germanic Languages 2 Teenage Life. He was referring to his use of English, and to this day I vividly remember his words, the pinched, painful look on his face, and the pounding fist on my table as he said these words. William B. Fischer is a professor of German in the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures at Portland State University: [email protected]. When asked whether the U.S.s European allies should increase, decrease or maintain their defense spending, half of Americans say that spending levels should remain the same. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. When speaking andlearning German,its important to remember this rule, because otherwise you may offend someone. This theory outlines the main cultural assumptions and practices that undergird our expectations that German culture vs American culture: Even though they arent considered to be vastly different from one another, Adriana still experienced a decent dose of culture shock when she moved to Germany from Oregon four years ago.

Do not expect to set up many meetings in July and August, because they coincide with the traditional vacation time. While street fashion in Berlin and other major cities can be quite avant-garde, corporate attire tends to be more formal in Germany than in the United States, which has been trending toward business casual for quite some time. Up until the time of Napoleon, the beginning of the nineteenth century, present-day Germany was a patchwork of over a hundred small states. endstream Legacy storiescreated through Americans All are posted on our Web site in a Heritage Honor Roll. They receive their hamburgers from the waiter and find out that theyre overcooked, so they need to ask the waiter for a new burger. <>stream German-American relations are very old.

0000000936 00000 n The German survey was conducted by telephone and online between November 2014 and August 2015. professional specifically for you? *4J3;)_o/8sz5&87Xu4N` q*4 The American would never simply say no. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Cultural differences can also be found in the way individuals express themselves. What this means for you as a manager (or colleague) is that you will need to be more heavily involved in guiding them through the details. The Rokeach Value Survey was used as the instrument to study the values of German and American university students. It was administered to 199 students in Germany m May. Check out the How to Germany Business and Service Directory. This sort of friction leads to a loss of effectiveness in transatlantic business, and today I would like to explore with you reasons for this loss in effectiveness, and what to do about it. This marks a notable shift in view from 2017, when 45% of Americans felt their allies in Europe should dedicate more resources to national defense. 2019. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. And what you'll find, if you go far enough - is yourself, your way of thinking, your way of making decisions, and your way of doing things. 0000003014 00000 n In Germany, it is commonand encouraged to openly criticise others. Your privacy is extremely important to us. Similarities and Differences in the Cultures of Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Similarly, in Germany, four-in-ten young people say relations with the U.S. are good, compared with only 31% of those 65 and older. Cultural differences are also apparent in the division of professional and personal life. When looking at attitudes toward cooperation with Russia, Germans are almost twice as likely as Americans to want greater collaboration. (The survey was conducted before the UK left the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020.). 69 0 obj We expect people to be late! share a legacy story, Upgrade your Americans All Internment of the millions of German Americans during WWI would have emptied major cities and large parts of many states. Breaking down the language barrier bridges cultural differences, fosters a world of inclusion and is a first step in helping to address humanitys challenges. Before 11/11 11:11 it had been possible to obtain, right here in the United States, a complete education, through the college level, with German as the chief language of instruction. For Americans, a no reflects a negative attitude. Look at it this way: communication is understanding what the other guy understands. American stores are open 7 days a week. We're history. The German says something like: My burger is overcooked. Others overemphasize similarities and assume that since both countries are western and largely post-industrial, they will exhibit similar styles of communication. Become deeply curious about the other guy's way of thinking and doing things. When I was starting up my freelance business in 1984, I had a German client, a businessman, who came to me and literally shocked me by the way he explained what he wanted from me. (February 24, 1885 - February 20, 1966) Countries and Their Cultures. A big difference between USA and Germany is that America is definitely not known for having decent public transportation. IvyPanda, 18 June 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/similarities-and-differences-in-the-cultures-of-germany-france-and-the-netherlands/. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA As an American working in Germany or trying to build a German network, there are a number of cultural differences to recognize. While roughly seven-in-ten Germans favor the union, only about half of Americans agree. American thinking, American attitudes, and American behaviors have been greatly influenced by the long history of going west, to another, better place. World War I war bond posters depicted Germans in ways similar to today's hate-group caraicatures of Arab faces. endstream <> hb```b````e``cg@ ~f6L-N@Z 6 Xa{ aukPya6MI(wHS2J7A@e? k20(20 Pennsylvania has the largest population of German-Americans in the U.S. and is home to one of the group's original settlements, Germantown (Philadelphia), founded in 1683 and the birthplace of the American antislavery movement in 1688, as well as the revolutionary Battle of Germantown. endobj We are thus inclined to use "softeners" - kind of, sort of, you never know, you don't suppose, more or less, could be, in a way, etc. Nearly four-in-ten East Germans say that they prefer close ties with Russia, compared with only 23% who say the same about the U.S. And West Germans are twice as likely to prefer a close relationship with the U.S. than with Russia. Start with the other culture, if you like, and then you'll be off on a long, fascinating journey, one that will become more and more absorbing the farther you go. From a talk given at the Heidelberg AGBC by William Parks, M.A. Their score differs by only 5 points. WebAmericans believe we have personal freedom, but we really dont compare to Germans. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. IvyPanda. And 31% of Republicans prefer close relations with Russia compared with 21% among Democrats. The Americans mostly show fascination about how focused their German colleagues work, without distractions. However, the share among Republicans who think the U.S.s European allies should increase their defense budgets has fallen by 14 percentage points between 2017 and 2019. Within a generation the deeper assimilation became almost total. Suddenly, even the teaching of German as a high-school foreign language was outlawed in many areas. They were confronted with another audience and didn't exactly know how to reach it. WebThe models will be used to illustrate similarities and differences between national cultures. WebFriendship Formality vs Informality Table Manners In the charts below youll find a simplified comparison of various customs and everyday culture in the United States and Germany ( Deutschland ). In the U.S., there is a partisan divide on this issue, though support for the American military presence in Germany is high among both Republicans and Democrats. The modern tendencies in the worlds progress and social development also influence the cultural interactions between the representatives of different nations and ethnicities. But as WWI approached, that group was identified, in the minds of many other Americans, with an ominous and superbly skilled enemy that, like the al-Qaida and Taliban of our time, showed evident disdain for human lives.

However, supporters of the Greens express more skepticism, with only 28% saying they want to raise defense spending. WebThe Germans believe that life becomes more straightforward and less complicated; therefore, they see anyone living a complex life as not orderly. This article serves as an introduction to a few ways in which the communication styles of Germany and the United States are both similar and different. 1982 and to 231 students in the United Stales m the fall. What I didn't fully understand back then was that German professionals expect high-level, expert performance of themselves, and that fumbling around in English, the language of international business, amounts to personal embarrassment, personal shame even. Although previous research has theorized about team interaction differences between the German and U.S. cultures, actual behavioral observations of such differences are sparse.