Zur Stellung der deutschen Sprache in der tschechischen Wirtschaft. Überlegungen zum Thema Anhand der Situation in einer bestimmten Gruppe von Unternehmen in Tschechien.

Abstract

The Position of the German Language in the Czech Economy – Case Study of the Situtation in a Concrete Group of Companies in the Czech Republic

The paper illustrates the position of the German language in the Czech economy on the basis of a research made in German-, Austrian- and Swiss-Czech enterprises within the Czech Republic. Based on questionnaires, partly structured interviews and involved observations carried out in the time periods of 2003–2005 and 2006–2008, Šichová analysed following questions: German as a “language of the enterprise”; translations, interpretations and usage of German within the inner as well as outer communication of the observed companies in comparison with English; support of German courses; requirement of language skills from the job candidates etc.

Keywords: intercultural communication, German language in German-, Austrian- and Swiss-Czech companies, multinational corporations.