A Semantic Analysis of Cinematic Terminology in German: A Focus on Lexico-Thematic Group “Film Genres”

This study investigates the lexico-thematic group of “Film Genres” as constructed through an analysis of German film discourse. Genre designations are examined with regard to the internal structure of this lexical group and the semantic relationships between nominations, thereby illuminating a significant lexical segment of the cinematic language. The analysis reveals a primary division within German film genres into two main categories: “der Film” and “der Trickfilm.” It is demonstrated that German lacks a rigid genre classification system, indicating that genres are dynamic and open to blending. Such combinations generate hybrids comprised of clichés and stereotypes, which undergo transformation and interweaving across diverse contexts, complicating systematic categorization. The research further indicates that filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers actively employ novel combinations of genre elements, rendering genre affiliation largely conventional. Analysis of genre nominations (e.g., Sci-Fi-Horror-Klassiker, Martial-Arts-Kinos, etc.) establishes a high degree of flexibility and mutability within the German cinematic genre system. The study argues that each film genre is further subdivided into subgenres, reflecting the inherent flexibility of its typology. It is concluded that this hierarchical structure of subgenres underscores the complexity and multi-layered nature of the contemporary cinematic landscape