Very German
Native English speakers in Germany occasionally use the phrase “Very German” when describing a process, person, business or experience to other English speakers.
What does ‘Very German” mean?
It’s impossible to define exactly, but I’ll give it a go.
First I’ll try to explain what I think is usually implied.
To be German
Germans are considered: hardworking, disciplined, efficient, practical, traditional etc.
These are ridged, stiff words. People with such character traits might be quite direct, love rules, organisation and structure. “Very German”
Does “Very German” have a positive or negative connotation? … both.
Positive
Hardworking, disciplined, efficient, practical, traditional, are traits that get stuff done. Efficiently. Great for industry. German car manufacturers have, in the past, played on their Germanness in their marketing for exactly this reason. There are many things in ones life that one would want to be “Very German”. The transport system in one's city for example.
Negative
But as I mentioned earlier those words are: ridgid, stiff, inflexible …. Expected. These can be slightly negative, challenging traits when applied to a process, person, business or experience.
So air-quotes: “Very German” is most often used to convey an idea that something is ridged, stiff or inflexible. "Very German". But it's never quite that clear cut.
Below are three examples which I think are "Very German".
“Very German” examples
I have encountered these in the past few days. I’ll give a little context with each one.
“Very German” - Content
Here’s a “Very German” video.
The video is by a Cologne Agency commissioned by koeln.business as a showcase of the opportunities Cologne offers. Obviously how one feels about the video is completely subjective. Some will love it, some won’t. I think it’s “Very German”.
“Very German” - Websites
TYPO3 is a very competent web content management system or CMS. It is used to run many websites globally, but has a much higher rate of adoption in Germany for German websites. As a result Typo3 websites often have a “Very German” look and feel.
“Very German” - Images
In 2021 I will be available for work, but until the end of the year I continue working for Ford Europe. An article for the Ford Europe blog that I have not yet published is about how Ford Fund is working with various charities in the run up to Christmas 2020. I received some image assets for that story yesterday.
The charity images, in the three folders, showed:
- Items to be delivered
- Presents wrapped in festive paper
- The delighted faces of children
Three images from the Germany Christmas Toy Program folder showed:
- People in yellow vests posed before a lorry
- A close up of brown, cling-film wrapped boxes on wooden pallets
- An image of a fork-lift truck placing a pallet onto the lorry
Seeing those images for the first time, compared to the charity images I laughed out loud: “Very German”.
That's it!
Share your “Very German” experiences and images in the comments!
Note: below are comments made on this post by members of the English Cologne Telegram group.
