Interpretation of the protagonists in the novels by J.Steinbeck and the writer's style

Every language influences culture and contributes to the formation of national consciousness. Anyone who studies German gets something from German culture. With knowledge of German you can better learn and understand German culture and history.

The development of modern discursive research on the German economic language is largely based on the study of economic linguistics, which has a rich tradition in German linguistics. Understanding of linguistic tools in German discourse depends primarily on the diachronic and synchronous systematization of linguistic and interdisciplinary knowledge of the linguistic reflection of economic realities. Given the development of the German economic language in recent decades, we consider such tasks particularly relevant in the context of intercultural economic communication.

Recently, there have been discussions about the place of economic linguistics in linguistics. The basis of the controversy is the question of the field of competence of economic language, the analysis of which is also contained in modern discursive research. These issues are raised against the background of a theoretical deficit in linguistic research in the field of German economic language. In our opinion, such a deficit reflects dissatisfaction with the level of theoretical support of linguistics on the part of other humanities. F. Januszek points out an important aspect of this problem, noting the weakness of interdisciplinary reflection of researchers of economic language, who have not yet found the optimal means of studying the social aspects of German economic language [1: 139]. J. Bolten adds: “Most studies of the German economic language are limited to the analysis of certain morphological and syntactic problems. Current monographs and reference books on the study of a special language pay very little attention to social contexts in the German economic language” [2:72].

All this forces linguists to single out the question of finding the optimal paradigm for the study of modern German economic language. In our opinion, an important reason for this is the weakness of the historical achievements of German economic linguistics. Diachronic analysis of the main objects of study of this linguistic discipline makes it possible to identify its rich integral nature. H. Siebenstein concluded that there is a need for a special discipline - economic German studies, for which linguists must address the following issues:

• >    define the concept of "economic German studies" and other terms related to various fields of study of the language of economics, as well as define the objectives of the study;

• >    analyze economic texts, mainly handicrafts and trade, from a historical point of view;

• >    summarize the main trends in the development of the German economic language of the period of industrialization and the development of trade communication [3].

Linguistic research in the field of German language and intercultural economic communication (interkulturelle Wirtschafts kommunikation) in a non-discursive paradigm is presented in such a diachronic sequence.

The first stage of linguistic interest in the language of economics can be marked by the second half of the 19th century, when the first linguistic works on economic language appeared. The development of economic language reflected the rapid economic rise of Germany. Among the dominant areas of these studies are the following:

• a)    etymological direction, which marks the general diachronic trend in the humanities and natural sciences of Germany [4];

• b)    stylistic direction, recorded in manuals and reference books for official documents, trade contracts and business letters [5]. The development of this trend was influenced by ancient and medieval rhetoric, which gave researchers of the German economic language theoretical tools for the study of language figures;

• c)    lexicographic direction, which reflected the development of modern commercial relations with other countries [6];

• d)    ideological and critical direction, which testified to the struggle of philologists, literary critics, politicians for the purity of the German language [7].

The development of linguistic research on the language of economics in the second half of the 19th century is due to mass industrialization. At the beginning of the 20th century, Germany ranked first among all European countries in terms of industrial development. International trade, in particular professional intercultural relations, played a special role in this development. 19th-century linguists see the German economic language as an important tool for economic activity, including intercultural economic communication. E. Messing writes in this regard: “Given the active international economic turnover and importance for many peoples of foreign trade, it is necessary to constantly expand and improve professional language skills in relation to their own and foreign languages” [8: 119].

The second stage of the study of the German language in the field of economics refers to the period between the First and Second World Wars. We connect this stage with the transition of linguistic research of the language of economics (Wirtschaftssprache als Forschungsgebiet) to economic linguistics (Wirtschaftslinguistik).

German researchers have made great strides in science. Many scholars have published the results of their research in German, often even when German was not their native language. Therefore, knowledge of the German language helps in studying the history of research in many disciplines.

German as a language of science is important for professional discussions. While communication in the field of theoretical natural sciences takes place all over the world in English, in the field of applied natural sciences German is required. This is the only way to communicate between experts and stakeholders. In some humanities, German as the language of science remains dominant today. Classical philology, archeology, musicology, philosophy or Lutheran theology are the fields for which German still remains the language of international communication. According to the current recommendation in the United States on the equipment of university libraries, 21% of literature in classical philology is in German.

In the last four centuries, many people from Central Europe have moved to North and South America or Australia. And today many descendants are interested in the life and culture of their ancestors. Knowledge of German will give advantages and help to achieve the goal faster to those who want to get acquainted with the homeland of their ancestors and explore the genealogy on their own.