This revised and expanded analysis of the German language takes account of recent sociopolitical changes.
1. The status of German in contemporary Europe; 2. German as a pluricentric language; 3. German in divided and unified Germany; 4. Language and regionalism in Germany and Austria; 5. Communication patterns; 6. Gender, generation and politics: variation and change in language and discourse; 7. Communication norms and communication barriers; 8. Recent Anglo-American influence.