# Why does a German airline have a name in English? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2015, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699 "2015-04-03T10:16:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/1 "2015-04-03T10:16:22Z")
Germanwings. Seems weird. Does English have a certain cachet in aviation circles to the German culture nowadays? ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/2 "2015-04-03T10:29:25Z")
I _think_ all commercial pilots use English when corresponding with the ATC (Air Traffic Control), and English is globally recognised - the airline isn’t just after German passengers. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/3 "2015-04-03T11:50:16Z")
English is something of a lingua franca in the EU. Which is Germanwings’ catchment area for customers. There are several newish airlines based in other EU countries with English names. Even India & various southeast Asian counties which not only don’t have English as an official local language, but don’t even use the Latin alphabet, have English-named airlines. Bottom line: English is one of the main international languages of business and consumerism. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/4 "2015-04-03T11:56:19Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > TEven India & various southeast Asian counties which not only don’t have English as an official local language, but don’t even use the Latin alphabet, have English-named airlines. Isn’t English one of the official languages of India? ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/5 "2015-04-03T12:18:56Z")
When I was stationed in Dortmund, West Germany with the British Army in the 60s I remember sitting in a local beer-cellar with a couple of friends and idly looking at one of the beermats. It was advertising the local brew, Dortmunder Bier, in German. On the other side it had in small print at the bottom, Made in Germany. I’ve been trying to puzzle that one out ever since. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/6 "2015-04-03T13:35:30Z")
Playstation. Why does a Japanese game system have a name on English? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/7 "2015-04-03T14:09:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > There are several newish airlines based in other EU countries with English names. Even India & various southeast Asian counties which not only don’t have English as an official local language, but don’t even use the Latin alphabet, have English-named airlines. English is an official language of India. ---
**Author:** ![Bert\_Nobbins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bert\_Nobbins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bert_Nobbins)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/8 "2015-04-03T14:10:17Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > English is something of a lingua franca in the EU. And it’s a language where you can always find the _mot juste_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/9 "2015-04-03T14:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **aldiboronti** : > > When I was stationed in Dortmund, West Germany with the British Army in the 60s I remember sitting in a local beer-cellar with a couple of friends and idly looking at one of the beermats. It was advertising the local brew, Dortmunder Bier, in German. On the other side it had in small print at the bottom, Made in Germany. > > I’ve been trying to puzzle that one out ever since. They export the beer (and the mats that go with it) to bars around the world. In most places, the German language on the mat adds color to the establishment, which is doubtless German-themed. But the “made in Germany” is meant to be understood by the bar patron, not just there for decoration. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/10 "2015-04-03T14:31:59Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > English is something of a lingua franca in the EU. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/11 "2015-04-03T14:47:15Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > …Even India & various southeast Asian counties which not only don’t have English as an official local language, but don’t even use the Latin alphabet, have English-named airlines… [English is an official language of India](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/285248/India). [Pakistan too](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/438805/Pakistan). ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/12 "2015-04-03T16:09:04Z")
The role of English within the German society is subject to constant debate. Many businesses use English in their corporate communications, sometimes even to the extent of phrasing in English their slogans which are intended for use in Germany. In many cases, the English isn’t even correct (this has given rise to infamous instances such as " Handy" for mobile phones, for instance), but in many it is. The reason behind it is, I guess, an attempt to give oneself a cachet of internationality and cosmopolitanness. A lot of people, also intellectuals and newspaper commentators, resent this Anglicisation, which according to them led to a German-English pidgin type of blend referred to as “Denglisch”. The trend is still there, however. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/13 "2015-04-03T16:28:26Z")
Eurowings, Businesswings, Germanwings, Bluewings, and Flywings. Seems they were just following suit with the English “wings” names. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/14 "2015-04-03T16:34:32Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > The role of English within the German society is subject to constant debate. Many businesses use English in their corporate communications, sometimes even to the extent of phrasing in English their slogans which are intended for use in Germany. In many cases, the English isn’t even correct (this has given rise to infamous instances such as " Handy" for mobile phones, for instance), but in many it is. The reason behind it is, I guess, an attempt to give oneself a cachet of internationality and cosmopolitanness. A lot of people, also intellectuals and newspaper commentators, resent this Anglicisation, which according to them led to a German-English pidgin type of blend referred to as “Denglisch”. The trend is still there, however. Back before English became so prominent that is the reason some foreign phrases became common in American English - it lent the user a certain air of education and “cosmopolitanness”. No doubt when the Roman Empire was still in power folks in the far flung provinces sprinkled their own native tongues with Latin words and phrases. Doesn’t matter if the words are perfectly grammatical or not, it’s just one way languages change over time. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/15 "2015-04-03T16:36:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > English is an official language of India. If you see a group of Indians and Pakistanis talking, they will almost certainly be using English, as that will be their only common language. The Sub Continent has hundreds of languages and dialects, but English is always taught as the second language in school. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/16 "2015-04-03T16:38:01Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > The role of English within the German society is subject to constant debate. Many businesses use English in their corporate communications, sometimes even to the extent of phrasing in English their slogans which are intended for use in Germany. In many cases, the English isn’t even correct (this has given rise to infamous instances such as " Handy" for mobile phones, for instance), but in many it is. The reason behind it is, I guess, an attempt to give oneself a cachet of internationality and cosmopolitanness. A lot of people, also intellectuals and newspaper commentators, resent this Anglicisation, which according to them led to a German-English pidgin type of blend referred to as “Denglisch”. The trend is still there, however. This exactly same process is going on in Finland (and our airline is called Finnair which is also in English). From what I hear it seems like this sort of thing is going on basically everywhere in Europe, too. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/17 "2015-04-03T17:13:10Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Back before English became so prominent that is the reason some foreign phrases became common in American English - it lent the user a certain air of education and “cosmopolitanness”. No doubt when the Roman Empire was still in power folks in the far flung provinces sprinkled their own native tongues with Latin words and phrases. Doesn’t matter if the words are perfectly grammatical or not, it’s just one way languages change over time. I fully agree. Personally, I don’t share at all the widespread view that the Anglicisation will ruin the continental European languages; similar things have happened in the past, and the languages which borrowed words from others have benefitted from it in the long run. In the 18th century it was French that was hip, now it’s English. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/18 "2015-04-03T17:21:26Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > I fully agree. Personally, I don’t share at all the widespread view that the Anglicisation will ruin the continental European languages; similar things have happened in the past, and the languages which borrowed words from others have benefitted from it in the long run. In the 18th century it was French that was hip, now it’s English. Already at the turn of the 20th century, in France at least, English was _très chic_ and _au courant_–Proust’s Odette sprinkles her salon banter with English words like so many _bon bons._ ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/19 "2015-04-03T17:25:02Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Germanwings. > > Seems weird. Does English have a certain cachet in aviation circles to the German culture nowadays? It’s not just Germany. Lots of airlines have English names even if they aren’t based in an English-speaking country: Turkish Airlines Air China Asiana Egypt Air Emirates Finnair Japan Airlines I could go on. It’s not unheard of for any company to take on an English name if they want to appeal to a world-wide market, even if they aren’t based in an English speaking country. Examples: Airbus Bridgestone Epson Lenovo ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699/20 "2015-04-03T17:29:38Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > It’s not just Germany. Lots of airlines have English names even if they aren’t based in an English-speaking country: > > Turkish Airlines > Air China > Asiana > Egypt Air > Emirates > Finnair > Japan Airlines > > I could go on. > > It’s not unheard of for any company to take on an English name if they want to appeal to a world-wide market, even if they aren’t based in an English speaking country. Examples: > > Airbus > Bridgestone > Epson > Lenovo Many of these airlines do have a name in their home language, however, and only use the English variant alongside. Turkish Airlines is Türk Hava Yollari in Turkey, for instance, and Emirates’ Arabic name (al-Imarat) is spelt in Arabic on the planes alongside the English name. Germanwings, on the other hand, does not have any name other than that, and there is no German translation of it. It surely applies to other airlines as well, but not all of the companies on your list trade exclusivsly under their English name. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-a-german-airline-have-a-name-in-english/716699.md?page=2)