An Explanation of the Terms “Bildung” and “Erziehung” for the English-Speaking Reader

Abstract

The German terms “Bildung” and “Erziehung” are hardly translatable and are therefore occasionally used internationally as loanwords. This chapter explains their differential meanings in a brief manner to an international readership. In doing so, a distinction is made between formal scientific definitions and supplementary connotative meanings in the conversational language coined by different language cultures. Furthermore, broad and narrow sense definitions are being compared. Definitional features of “Bildung” and “Erziehung” as well as of the English term “education” which shape different variants of their concepts are explained and selected conceptualizations are suggested and justified for active and passive usage. Some of the considerations might be found useful to foster a thorough understanding and careful handling of the English term “education” as well.