Communication on technological products refers to both knowledge systems as well as to communication patterns for conveying some knowledge in terms of concepts and topics. It is assumed that the meaning of concepts is dependent on the composition of knowledge systems and that this composition is culturally determined. In a more general view, it is assumed that not only technological artefacts have an impact on culture, but that also culturally based concepts (key concepts) have an impact on the development of technology (such as safety and security). In expert-nonexpert-communication or in cross-cultural communication different conceptual systems are applied for meaning construction in a way that the knowledge systems concerned are transformed into a new mix. This might become a problem of misunderstanding because this transformation of meaning usually is not even noticed nor reflected because it is part of a »culture«. In this view, culture is considered to be what is obvious or what is a standard in communication. The present paper focuses on the product »motor-car« and applies a text-based approach of terminology on the concept of SICHERHEIT (SAFETY, SECURITY) that is part of a conceptual field including some other terms such as RISK, DANGER, DAMAGE, PROTECTION. It is demonstrated – on the basis of a linguistic analysis – that different meanings of SICHERHEIT are to be taken into account according to the model of the person-machine-interaction that is applied.

Communication on technological products refers to both knowledge systems as well as to communication patterns for conveying some knowledge in terms of concepts and topics. It is assumed that the meaning of concepts is dependent on the composition of knowledge systems and that this composition is culturally determined. In a more general view, it is assumed that not only technological artefacts have an impact on culture, but that also culturally based concepts (key concepts) have an impact on the development of technology (such as safety and security). In expert-nonexpert-communication or in cross-cultural communication different conceptual systems are applied for meaning construction in a way that the knowledge systems concerned are transformed into a new mix. This might become a problem of misunderstanding because this transformation of meaning usually is not even noticed nor reflected because it is part of a »culture«. In this view, culture is considered to be what is obvious or what is a standard in communication. The present paper focuses on the product »motor-car« and applies a text-based approach of terminology on the concept of SICHERHEIT (SAFETY, SECURITY) that is part of a conceptual field including some other terms such as RISK, DANGER, DAMAGE, PROTECTION. It is demonstrated – on the basis of a linguistic analysis – that different meanings of SICHERHEIT are to be taken into account according to the model of the person-machine-interaction that is applied.