Becoming One Nation: Explorations into Language Use and Identity Formationof Germanyâ¿¿s Post- and Pre-unification Generations

Many scholars have discussed the ways in which formerEast and West Germany are not reuniting, but how the wall inpeopleâ¿¿s minds remains while the remnants of the actual wall havelong been destroyed. The author of this book thus approachesthe question of Germanyâ¿¿s unity by looking at its future - thechildren that were born post Germany's reunification. Through a discourse analyses in 10th grade historyclassrooms of former East and West Berlin high schools, this bookaddresses matters of national identity and unity from a linguistic anthropological standpoint. Based on Michael Billigâ¿¿stheory that national identities are inculcated through every-daybanal interactions, student-teacher communication isexamined through the lenses of language socialization and languageideology. Here, the speakersâ¿¿ use of pronouns and greeting practicesand the juxtaposition of the local Berlin dialect to theGerman standard language are analyzed in their power to create ashared national identity. This book gives new insights to anyone interested inGermany's reunification process from a micro-analytical, bottom-up perspective.