Berlin is a special place within Germany, and I’m not just saying that because I’m here. I was in Dresden a few weeks ago, and while I was there, I came into contact with a German man while I was sitting on a bench editing some of my photos from the day.
Our conversation was a bit awkward. His English wasn’t very good, and my German is pretty much at a toddler level. We went back and forth teaching each other new words in our native languages, using DeepL and our brains to translate the rest. It was humbling to meet someone who forced me to engage directly and make mistakes. He didn’t have English as a fallback language, so we both had to work hard to properly communicate with one another.
Something I noticed in our conversation was that we both used much simpler and more direct language. We stayed away from slang for the most part, as it would lead to misunderstandings. We used broader words that might not exactly convey what we were feeling, but we knew the other would understand them.
This is a clear example of low-context communication. Both Americans and Germans practice it, but Germans skew further towards low-context on the scale. Generally, it’s believed that the more diverse your country is culturally and ethnically, the more you’re likely to use low-context communication. The inverse is also true. For example, Japan, with a 3% naturalized population, is more likely to have a language and culture that promotes reading between the lines.
Berlin is so diverse that it essentially requires low-context communication. There is a high likelihood that you can pick a random person off the street and they won’t be from Germany. Being here has forced me to adapt to people from all over the world. For instance, a Hello Fresh employee I met at The Merge was from Kazakhstan. Our Safety Coordinator, Kamila, is Brazilian. My virtual co-worker, Hitul, is Indian and is going to Germany for grad school (He’s in the photo on the left, he was in town for the weekend).
Hitul and I bond in a unique way because we’re pretty much the only two in our company who don’t speak great German, are similar in age, and are working on the same tech team. There are definitely times when we’ve been in a work call together, trying to figure out what’s going on because the others in the meeting are speaking in layered German. For the most part, this is fine because I like to make a little game out of it to see how much I can understand, but day to day it makes me feel like I’m missing out on some of the quippy side conversations.
Living in Berlin has been an eye-opening experience in many ways, especially in terms of communication. The city’s diversity means that low-context communication is the norm. You have to be clear and direct because there’s a good chance the person you’re talking to is from a completely different linguistic background. This environment has forced me to simplify my language and focus on clarity, which is both challenging and rewarding.
In meetings, I have to be mindful of my language and ensure I’m understood by everyone, regardless of their native language. Kamila has often said she’s much better in Portuguese, after all. I’ve been trying to avoid metaphors, because most of the time the payoff isn’t worth it even if they get it eventually. These are skills that have taken time to develop, but they’re the reason why I’m on this trip in the first place.
It’s funny, our work environment feels like a microcosm of Berlin’s diversity at times. We have colleagues from all over the world, each bringing their own experiences and perspectives. We’re all constantly learning from each other. It’s a reminder that communication goes beyond words; it’s about understanding and connecting with people on a deeper level.
However, the differences in communication styles have also led to some instances of miscommunication. For instance, Germans tend to be very direct and to the point, which can sometimes come off as blunt or even rude. This hasn’t happened at work to me yet, but I have met people in restaurants and shops that were pretty “less than accommodating”, so to speak.
Whether in casual conversations or professional settings, I’ve had to simplify my language and focus on clarity. This has improved my communication skills and allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life. Living in Berlin has taught me the value of clear and direct communication, and it’s a lesson I will carry wherever I go after college.
Danke fürs Lesen 🙂