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LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

From Lockdown to Influencer: Which words have been added to the German dictionary in 2020?

A lot has happened since the last Duden – the German dictionary – came out in 2017. And the 3,000 new words reflect that. But it's not just about the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 10 August 2020 17:20 CEST
Updated: 15 August 2020 15:55 CEST
From Lockdown to Influencer: Which words have been added to the German dictionary in 2020?
Are you ready for the new and improved German language? Photo: DPA

With words like Zahnfleisch (literally tooth meat or gums), it's fair to say that German vocabulary is nothing short of brilliant.

And now there are even more words that have crept into the new edition of the famous Duden German dictionary.

There are almost 1,300 pages on the new edition of the Duden, which is set to hit the shops on Wednesday.

As you would expect, the pandemic has influenced language quite a bit.

But it's not really become a “Corona Duden”, editor-in-chief Kathrin Kunkel-Razum told DPA. There have also been developments in other topics such as the climate and environment, technology and gender justice.

According to the publisher, 3,000 new words are included in the 28th edition, bringing the total number of words up to 148,000.

READ ALSO: Selfie, fake news and tablet added to German language

What are the new coronavirus-themed words?

Among the new entries are words that would have been riddles just a year ago: Covid-19, Reproduktionszahl (reproduction number) and Lockdown.

Other new corona-inspired entries include Ansteckungskette (chain of infection), Intensivbett (intensive care bed) and Atemschutzmaske (respirator mask).

“Coronavirus was already in it anyway,” said Kunkel-Raum, likely due to the Sars outbreak in 2002/03.

“Corona” was also already in the Duden but with two meanings: as a female first name and as shortened version of coronavirus disease.

The list of new entries reflects societal debates and trends of recent years. Here's a few examples:

– Alltagsrassismus (everyday racism), bienenfreundlich (bee-friendly), Chiasamen (chia seeds), Dieselaffäre (diesel scandal), Erklärvideo (explanatory video) and Fridays for Future.

– Gendersternchen (Gender Star), Hatespeech (hate speech), Influencer, Klimanotstand (climate change emergency), Ladesäule (charging post), Masernimpfung (measles vaccination), Netflix Series (Netflix series), oldschool.

SEE ALSO: German word of the day: Das Gendersternchen

– Pestizidfrei (pesticide free), rechtsterroristisch (right-wing terrorist), Shishabar, transgender, Uploadfilter, Videobeweis (video evidence), Whatsapp-Gruppe (Whatsapp group) and Zwinkersmiley (wink smiley).

Duden editor-in-chief Kathrin Kunkel-Razum. Photo: DPA

Gender-appropriate language

For the first time, users can find information on gender-appropriate language use in the Duden.

Kunkel-Razum said she is eagerly awaiting the reactions to the new three pages on this topic because it will likely spark debate.

Editors have made an effort to describe the problems and the currently available solutions when it comes to gender in the German language.

For example, the Duden now reports on the controversial gender star. Editors say this variant is “becoming increasingly accepted” in writing practice.

It's found particularly in contexts in which gender is no longer understood as being only female or male and the possibility of further categories should be indicated. The following example is given: “Schüler*innen” (school pupils).

READ ALSO: From Fräulein to the gender star: Germany's language revolution

To find new entries, the editorial team looks at the frequency that words occur. With the help of computer software, large quantities of different texts are scanned.

The selection is made from a list of about 15,000 words. Kunkel-Razum said there is a lot of “junk” to be sorted through. Names of footballers, for example, which appear in newspapers, are of no interest.

READ ALSO: 10 English words you didn't know we stole from German


Professor of German linguistics, Kristian Berg of the University of Bonn, said the new edition will probably lead to renewed discussion about the state of the German language due to the increased use of English.

Berg said: “If there are complaints about (English words like) 'Influencers' and 'hype' in the dictionary, it is because they are systematically used in German. To blame the Duden for this is like blaming the weather forecast on the weather.”

Alexander Lasch, chairman of the Society for the History of German Languages, said the Duden today is “the best Duden we have ever had”.

The linguistics professor of the TU Dresden is relaxed about changes in language: “Language change is a sign that language is alive,” he said.

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LEARNING GERMAN

‘Forget about bilingual Kitas’: Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

With greater numbers of international workers choosing to settle in Germany and raise a family, the question of how to best raise bilingual children is often considered. 

Published: 25 April 2024 15:01 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:35 CEST
'Forget about bilingual Kitas': Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

The Local asked its readers who have raised bilingual children in Germany to tell us how they managed to raise children who speak German in addition to their parent’s mother tongue. 

Trust the (school) system. 

One piece of advice was echoed by several readers: Trust the German education system to take care of teaching German through immersion. 

Siniša, 44, from Hesse, who speaks Croatian and English at home, told The Local: “Speak your native language at home. The school will ‘cover’ German and other languages.”

Steve, 55, who lives in Munich and speaks English and Spanish with his daughter agrees.

“Be consistent and raise your child in your native tongue. At a local school, they will learn German quickly,” he said.

Chris, 44, from Hamburg, who speaks English with his children, backed the idea of leaving kids’ schools to take charge of teaching them German.

“Get the kids into the German education system as early as possible and let them learn themselves from native speakers. As a bonus, they’ll pick it up quickly and not pick up a ‘non-German’ accent either,” he said.

Read more: ‘Multilingualism is an enrichment’ – The challenges of raisin bilingual kids in Germany

Readers also noted that even in the preschool stage, children can handle multiple languages. 

Julie, 41, who lives in Hamburg and speaks English and Italian at home, said: “Relax and go with the flow. Don’t get hung up on finding bilingual Kitas for toddlers if they already get significant exposure to the non-German language at home. Languages seem to develop in different spurts at different speeds.”

However, liaising with schools in Germany was noted as an essential skill. 

Kim, 46, based in Sindelfingen, with a family speaking both English and German, said: “It’s essential for at least one parent to understand German when children attend a German school. They can help explain language and cultural differences. They can also help with administrative matters and even homework.”

Maintain the mother tongue.

While readers were keen to encourage parents to trust the immersion process that German schools provide, they were also quick to advise a concerted effort to maintain speaking the mother tongue in and around the home. 

“For international parents, I think it’s very important that their children do not lose touch with their mother tongue, as it is a very special part of their identity,” said Prashanth, 42, who lives in Munich.

Anne-Marie, 52, from Frankfurt, who speaks ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English) with her children, stated that it’s essential to be firm.

“Speak in your mother tongue to your kids from the day they are born. Be consequent about it, even in front of other people who do not speak your mother tongue,” she said.

Karl, 44, who lives in Celle and who speaks English and the indigenous American Ute language with his children, said getting family on board is important. 

“Communicate with all family members your decision, intentionally speak all of the languages, when possible provide translations so family members present are not excluded from conversations,” he said.

Charles, 40, from Berlin, even stated that speaking German at home may prove detrimental: “Don’t speak your own mediocre German with them. It may be hard to see them speaking another language as their more comfortable primary language than your own.”

Charles, who speaks English at home, added: “Find books and shows to share with them in your native language to continue the shared experience.”

Read More: What foreign parents should know about German schools

Just let it happen with the kids…

Sometimes, it seems, becoming bilingual takes care of itself. 

Paul, 40, from Munich, married to a German, said: “Our oldest just started speaking English one day around age 3. She had heard so much she could understand and just started talking. 

“The twins are starting to speak more and more English. It wasn’t a problem since she was fluent in both by age 4. I advise patience and not expecting perfection at a young age.

Crystal, 38, who lives in Nuremberg and speaks English at home, responded: “At first, my main concern was getting as much German into our lives as possible so my son would be ready for Grundschule. 

“Now I’m swinging the other way. My advice is to try to relax. There are always other things to worry about, and kids learn so much really quickly.”

…but also challenge yourself

Finally, respondents to The Locals’ survey repeated that raising bilingual children is something that requires a degree of effort – on the parent’s behalf. 

J.K, 40, who lives in Hanau and speaks English and Telugu at home, told The Local: “Language is very important for the kids to grow in a culture. 

“Parents should facilitate situations around the kid to better integrate locally. Parents (at least one) should be able to speak German at a level better than B1. 

“If not, supporting kids in their education is difficult, and this will hamper their chances of reaching a higher education level.”

Read More: Six surprising facts about Germany’s school system

Moreno, 40, who lives in Munich and speaks Portuguese with his children, was firm in his advice: “Don’t choose the easy way for you, parents. Don’t hide in your language community bubble. 

“If you intend to live in Germany for a long time, put your kids in German schools and get them in touch with the German community.

“If you don’t speak German like me, deal with it. But don’t transfer your problem to your kids.”

Have we missed any crucial advice for raising bilingual children in Germany? Tell us in the comments section below.

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