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Study and research in Germany

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Study and research in Germany

Home « Study and research in Germany « Learn German « Why learn German? « German in Science and the Humanities

German in Science and the Humanities

German as the language of science and the humanities in the 19th century

German occupies a firm place in academic thought. German, as the language of science and technology, plays an important role in research and education. German, as the language of science and the humanities, occupied an important position in the world, more important than French, and even, in certain respects, English.

Both in the natural sciences and the humanities, German was essential as a technical language for university studies and research. International journals were published in German; the language of academic intercommunication was German where, in disciplines such as Archaeology, Philosophy, Social Sciences or Medicine, important terms and theories were formulated in German. In professional practice, too, German was an essential requirement. Thus Japanese doctors kept their patient card index files in German.

German as the language of science and the humanities nowadays

Nowadays, English is the dominant international language for science and the humanities. But in the global network of interdisciplinary and international co-operation German is as much in demand as ever as a language in these spheres. Modern German society is based on science: science and research occupy a firm place in public life in Germany.

German holders of the Nobel Prize

German is important in the scientific and cultural world, as is shown by the numbers of German-speaking holders of the Nobel Prize: 27 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, 25 in Medicine, 22 in Physics, 7 in Literature and 4 Noble Peace Prizes and 1 in Economic Sciences.

German as a bridging language

In the future, German will keep its place in Europe as a bridging language, especially to our German-speaking neighbours and those living further eastwards. Projects are already in existence, financed by the European Union, for training in special receptive language skills (reading). Once you can read the language, then you can read technical texts in the original and communicate in academic discourse.

It pays to learn German

Learning German as the language of science and the humanities is a challenge, and pays off. German researchers have made great achievements. Many scholars and scientists have published their results in German, often, too, when German was not their mother tongue. Hence a knowledge of German is a help for the historic study of many different disciplines.

In certain of the humanities, German is still the dominant language, even today. Classical Philology, Archaeology, Music, Philosophy or Lutheran Theology are disciplines in which German is still of international importance. In a current recommendation for the basic library stock of American universities, 21% of the books relating to Classical Philology are printed in German.

Anyone able to read and understand German gains access to a broad world of research in the classical and modern sciences and humanities. This is why 40% of American academics recommend to their students that they should learn German. In Poland and Hungary it is over 70 %.

Anyone wishing to understand the great German classics must be able to read the language: Goethe´s "Faust", Marx’ "Kapital", Einstein´s "Theory of Relativity", Freud´s "Traumdeutung", or Grimm´s Dictionary, just to name a few, are numbered amongst the international standard works, and have become milestones.



Further information


... on German in Science and the Humanities

  • More information and links on research in Germany:

          www.daad.de/deutschland/forschung/04667.en.html

          www.eracareers-germany.de 

          http://www.forschungsportal.net

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DAAD Glossary

Semester

The academic year in Germany is generally divided into two semesters rather than three terms, such as is generally the case in the UK and other countries. German universities generally have a winter semester that runs from October to March and a summer semester that runs from April to September. A semester includes both the period when courses and lectures are held (Vorlesungszeit) and the time without lectures (recess) in which students can revise and prepare (Vorlesungsfreiezeit).

Universität

"Universität" means university and is used for research universities (wissenschaftliche Hochschulen) that offer a broad range of subjects (like arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, economics and business administration, law, medicine). These institutions confer doctorates. The strong research focus benefits students in their training. Please note, however, that English texts often use the term "university" generically, i.e. to cover all kinds of higher education institutions, for example, universities of the arts, universities of applied sciences, universities of education, etc.

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© 2009 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst e.V. (DAAD), Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Source: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/deutsch-lernen/warum-deutsch-lernen/00565.en.html
Date: 2009-01-09