Whether we like it or not, Germany is physically at the heart of Europe, and seems likely to remain for generations to come the predominant power in the European Union. This is something many people in the UK find difficult to come to terms with and we need not look far beyond the history of this century to understand why. But a realistic approach to modern European geopolitics is desperately needed; above all more should be known about the Germany of today and not what it was 60 years ago. And here, right on cue, this “new” Dictionary (it was first published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1996) presents 2,000‐plus cross‐referenced entries (by upper case terms in the text) to Germany’s governmental structure, legal, industrial and educational institutions, and terms and abbreviations currently employed in the contemporary news and communication industries. Because of the bewildering complexities of the German language, not least the length of its composite words, these latter are especially important.
Although not claiming to be comprehensive, an impossible ambition at this length in any case, all German life is there: “usefulness has been the guiding principle rather than systematic inclusiveness.” This is laudable but only when inconsistency is not so obvious. Franz Beckenbauer is there but not Berti Vogts, Bayern München but not Borussia Mönchengladbach although the city receives no less than 20 lines. But what is there more than compensates for these trifling omissions. Sifting through, towns and cities whose populations exceed 200,000 receive entries, although those with lesser populations are not overlooked if they can claim special cases status, being a capital of one of the Länder, or a UNESCO world heritage site for example.
From internal evidence it would appear that the Dictionary is mainly directed towards politicians and administrators(Germany’s federal system of national and local government is particularly well covered); educationalists (educational entries at all levels warrant a close attention, the distinctions between Hochschule, Gymnasium and Universität are well drawn); industrialists (Audi, BMW, Daimler‐Benz, Mercedes‐Benz, and Volkswagen have entries although Krupp and Deutsche Lufthansa each only receive four lines), business tycoons and financial wizards (Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, etc.); and to Damen und Herren of the Media (Deutsche Telekom, Bild Zeitung, Boulevardpresse, Norddeutscher Rundfunk). For library and information professionals entries appear for Bössenverein Des Deutschen Buchhandels, Deutsche Bibliographie, but not its updated title Deutsche Nationalbibliographie (see Walford), Deutsche Bibliothek and Deutsche Bücherei. A two‐page bibliography lists books, mostly in English, adding further detail on specific aspects of contemporary Germany. This pioneering work is a commendable effort and points the way for a larger and more detailed volume, and so avoid the absurdity of only nine words for Bundesliga.
