The year 1871 brought Germany a victory over France, concluding the Franco-
Prussian War, and ended with the founding of the “Deutsches Reich“, the German
Empire. As a result of the nationalistic elation felt all through society Herman Riegel,
museum curator and art historian in Mannheim, published his Ein Hauptstück von
unserer Mutterprache, a text that established him as the foremost agitator in a
widespread campaign against the adoption of foreign words into the German
language. Riegel then called for the formation of a German language association
responsible for the purification of the German dictionary from words borrowed from
other languages, most notably French, and occasionally English. In 1885, supported
by similar-minded academics and politicians nationwide such als gymnasium
professor Hermann Dunger, Riegel presided over the establisment of the
“Allgemeiner Deutscher Sprachverein,” the universal German Language Association
(ADSV). It’s objectives were laid down as follows:
1. Projects advancing the purification of the German language, cleansing it from
„unneccessary foreign particles“,
2. Preservation and renovation of „the real spirit und unique character“ of the German
language,
3. Strengthening the „general and overall national awareness“ of all Germans, not
only concerning language, but also concerning „German-ness“ in general.
The following essay will concentrate on the main ADSV projects from 1885 until the
start of the First World War in 1914, on its project successes and failures, especially concerning the incorporation of foreign words via translation, and on the inevitability
of massive problems during the transferral of general linguistic principles into the
language actually used outside academic circles.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Structure of the ADSV
- Central Board and ADSV branches
- ADSV publications
- Projects and Objectives
- Projects concerning German language and writing in general
- Campaign for German words, campaign against foreign words
- Nationalism and the ADSV
- Dispensable and indispensable loanwords
- Actions, Actionism
- Successful projects influencing the use of the German language
- Failed projects and adaptation difficulties
- Other ADSV projects
- ADSV criticism
- Outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this essay is to examine the projects, successes, and failures of the "Allgemeiner Deutscher Sprachverein" (ADSV) from its founding in 1885 until the start of World War I. It focuses on the ADSV's attempts to purify the German language by replacing foreign loanwords with German equivalents, analyzing the transfer of linguistic principles into practical usage.
- Nationalism and Language Purification: The role of nationalistic sentiment in motivating the ADSV's language purification efforts.
- The ADSV's Structure and Methods: The organizational structure of the ADSV and its various methods for promoting language change.
- Successful and Unsuccessful Germanization Projects: An analysis of the ADSV's successes and failures in replacing foreign words.
- The Impact of the ADSV on German Vocabulary: A discussion of the lasting impact of the ADSV's efforts on the German language.
- Criticism and Opposition to the ADSV: The response to the ADSV's language purification efforts from various sectors of society.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Introduction introduces the historical context of the ADSV's formation following the Franco-Prussian War and the rise of nationalism in Germany. It outlines the key objectives of the ADSV, focusing on language purification and strengthening national identity.
Chapter 2: Structure of the ADSV details the organizational structure of the ADSV, including its central board, regional branches, and extensive publications, such as the "Zeitschrift des Allgemeinen Deutschen Sprachvereins."
Chapter 3: Projects and Objectives describes the ADSV's various projects, both successful and unsuccessful, focusing on the Germanization of foreign words. It discusses the arguments used to justify the replacement of loanwords and the different approaches taken by the ADSV.
Chapter 3.1: Projects concerning German language and writing in general discusses projects beyond the Germanization of foreign words, such as improving German style and grammar, addressing orthography, and promoting German literature.
Chapter 3.2: Campaign for German words, campaign against foreign words explores the ADSV’s main objective of replacing foreign words with German equivalents, examining the underlying nationalistic motivations and the various arguments used to justify this campaign. This chapter also discusses the differing views on which loanwords were considered dispensable or indispensable.
Chapter 3.2.1: Nationalism and the ADSV details the strong nationalistic sentiment fueling the ADSV's activities, portraying foreign words as a threat to national identity.
Chapter 3.2.2: Dispensable and indispensable loanwords examines the ADSV's attempt to differentiate between necessary and unnecessary loanwords and the challenges of applying consistent criteria.
Chapter 3.2.3: Actions, Actionism describes the practical actions taken by the ADSV to achieve its goals, including publications and outreach efforts.
Chapter 3.2.3.1: Successful projects influencing the use of the German language highlights successful instances where ADSV efforts led to lasting changes in German vocabulary.
Chapter 3.2.3.2: Failed projects and adaptation difficulties discusses instances where the ADSV's Germanization efforts proved unsuccessful due to various factors, such as resistance from the public or impracticality.
Chapter 3.2.3.3: Other ADSV projects briefly mentions additional projects undertaken by the ADSV, such as promoting proper German in education and advocating for a government language ministry.
Chapter 4: ADSV criticism examines the criticism leveled against the ADSV by prominent figures, highlighting concerns about the imposition of language regulation from above.
Chapter 5: Outlook briefly traces the ADSV's continued existence during World War I and the Weimar Republic, and its eventual decline under the Nazi regime.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
German language purification, Allgemeiner Deutscher Sprachverein (ADSV), nationalism, loanwords, Germanization, language policy, linguistic purism, World War I, national identity, vocabulary change.
- Quote paper
- Silja Ruebsamen (Author), 2007, Language Purification Attempts during the German Empire: The „Allgemeiner Deutscher Sprachverein“, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/187226
