Long before the event began, it was clear that the topic had struck a chord: the event was fully booked after just three weeks! More than 60 attendees gathered on Wednesday evening at the student café “Zur Auszeit” in downtown Hof. A spontaneous waiting list even formed outside the door. The 13th City Lecture at Hof University of Applied Sciences was titled “Knowledge, Thought, Speech: How to Discover the Truth Between the Lines”—and turned out to be an entertaining and thought-provoking journey into the world of language.
The speaker for the evening was Professor Carsten Stark. The sociologist jokingly described himself as an “oddball” at Hof University. While the university is primarily known for its STEM disciplines—that is, programs in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology—he focuses on the social and linguistic dimensions of human behavior.
His lecture focused on so-called objective hermeneutics, a method of social research that analyzes spoken and written language in minute detail.
“I weigh every word on a gold scale with this method, and that’s how you learn more than people actually intend to say.”
Prof. Dr. Carsten Stark
The point is not to find out what someone meant. “We absolutely do not ask what people are thinking; rather, we want to know what lies behind the words.”
Using a real blackmail letter as an example, the professor guided the guests step by step through the method. Together, they examined which terms were chosen, which phrases stood out—and which words were notably absent. For example, it became apparent that while the author formally addressed his victim using the formal “Sie,” he also possessed surprisingly detailed knowledge of the victim’s daily life. Under the speaker’s guidance, the audience quickly succeeded in narrowing down the circle of suspects. Suspicion ultimately fell on a person from the immediate neighborhood.
“There is more text between the lines than the speaker actually intends to say.”
Prof. Dr. Carsten Stark
His goal is to uncover the “logic of meaning” in a text. Particularly revealing are those passages where narratives contain contradictions or breaks. “When people tell stories, they don’t maintain the logical coherence for long,” said the scholar. For him, therefore, every single word is “a goldmine.”
The method is not only used in academia. Stark also reported on his collaboration with law enforcement agencies. There, the analysis of statements can help make predictions—for example, regarding the risk of recidivism among offenders, the stability of relationships, or the assessment of suicide risks. The approach is characterized by a high degree of predictive accuracy.
In a second case study, the speaker analyzed a television interview with a member of the aristocracy following a separation. Together with the audience, he identified linguistic patterns and potential manipulation techniques. In the process, it became clear how much can be inferred from seemingly casual phrasing.
Time and again, Stark drew parallels to the present. The discussion touched on, among other things, the rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump as well as public debates surrounding the recent Christopher Street Day in Hof. Numerous questions from the guests demonstrated how eager the audience was to apply the presented method to current social issues.
In closing, the professor turned his attention to his adopted home of Hof. Even the highway sign with the slogan “Park & See” is, in his view, an interesting example of the impact of language. The phrasing remains ambiguous and does little justice to the city’s cultural strengths—such as the Hof Symphony Orchestra or the Theater Hof.
The lively discussion continued even after the official end of the event. The Hof University City Lecture Series thus demonstrated once again that academic topics generate significant interest even outside of lecture halls—especially when they directly touch people’s everyday lives. The next City Lectures will take place on the Kronach campus in the fall of 2026.
