Language situation in Germany. The experience of socio-cultural analysis

Bykova Galina Ivanovna, Petrova Elena Emilyevna, Nikulina Elena Fyodorovna

The article deals with the transformation of the concept of language situation in Germany against the background of changes in socio-and ethno-cultural landscape. From the perspective of sociolinguistics and linguoculturology, the authors investigate the formation and development of a common language norm, which was prepared by the works of M. Luther, accompanied the emergence of the German version of Christianity and determined the special importance of national content. Studying the series of events that had the greatest impact on the development of the axiological scheme of German Protestantism, the authors note the close interdependence of the functions of political and religious institutions in the History of modern Germany, which led to the sacralisation of the political institution of the monarchy at the expense of the religious institution of the Church. The gradual transfer of the functions of religious authorization to the bearers of political power was actively used by the Prussian and German monarchs, and was transformed in the conditions of German democracy to the clerical, Christian parties. Analyzing the language policy of the ruling political bloc of the CDU / CSU, known as Leitkultur, the authors emphasize its focus on maintaining stability, overcoming confrontation on linguistic, cultural and religious grounds. Assessing the actualization of the concepts of national discourse in the context of the language situation in modern Germany, the authors tend to explain this change in the linguistic and ethno-cultural landscape, which is not ready to accept the majority of the population, including representatives of the national elite and they see this as a natural continuation of the development of the German version of Christianity, in the form of Lutheranism, initially focused on positive political activity.

Keywords:language situation, language policy, leading culture, Christian Democratic parties, national content.