German Orthographic Conference of 1901

On the Orthographic Conference in Berlin in 1901 (also II Orthographic Conference called ) is a common German orthography of all German-speaking countries was established, which was based in large part on the Prussian school orthography, but in addition also suggestions of Orthographic Conference of 1876, took over from Prussia had not yet been adopted.

The then German spelling was standardized with minor changes uniformly used in the German speaking countries ( countries of the German Empire, Austria, Switzerland ) (apart from the displacement of ß in Switzerland since the 1920s and whose task 1934). The after the conference numerous existing double and triple forms were eliminated in different house orthographies, particularly through the printer Duden of 1903. Soon after the conference defects were from different sides deplored and seen further reform, adopted only very sparse, but with the reform the German spelling was 1996 radically addressed.

Prehistory

Aspirations for a unification of German Spelling had a long history, but articulated particularly clearly by the Empire in the year 1871. 1876 took place in Berlin from 4 to 15 January " negotiations towards greater agreement in spelling " instead of that of Prussian minister of education, Adalbert Falk were initiated and became known as I. Orthographic Conference. The results were rejected by the governments of each country, so that it initially did not come to a unified spelling of the German Empire.

1879 gave Bayern a private orthographic rules out. In Austria, a private orthographic rules was published that used the Heysesche s- sensitive. Prussia in 1880 with its own rules, which was developed by the German scholars Wilhelm Wilmann, a close confidant Konrad Duden, the Prussian schools (hence "Prussian school orthography ") and hardly differed from the Bavarian rules. After the school orthographies Prussia and Bavaria were written on -iren/-ieren ending verbs uniformly with - ming ( this proposed by Rudolf von Raumer unification had been on the First Orthographic Conference nor discarded). On -niß/-nis ending words were uniformly written with - nis ( confirmed on the Second Orthographic Conference). In the same year Konrad Duden published on the basis of these two sets of rules his dictionary entitled " Full orthographic dictionary of the German language - According to the new Prussian and Bavarian rules", which contained about 27,000 headwords and also within a decade, first in Germany and then spread throughout the German-speaking countries. 1892 the so-called Duden was officially introduced as the official dictionary in Switzerland. Thus, a substantially uniform German Spelling was taught in the schools. Most state agencies, with the exception of Württemberg, used to be the old spelling.

Second Orthographic Conference

At the invitation of Staatssekretäres of the Reich Office of the Interior took place from 17th - 19th June 1901 in Berlin " discussions on the uniformity of the German spelling " instead, the Orthographic as Second Conference were known. Some 26 Agents of the German states and an Austrian Commissioner and representatives of some institutions and the book industry came together and discussed the standardization of a unified German orthography. In addition to state officials a few experts took part, including Konrad Duden and Wilhelm Wilmann who were already at the First Orthographic Conference here.

Decisions

There, the following resolutions were passed, which were based on the Prussian rule Schulwerk and the dictionary.

• In native words that should h after t basically fall (Valley, door instead of Thal, door ). In foreign words like throne, theater, and Germanic terms such as Thing and Thor the th - spelling has been retained.

• Auslautendes ß in words on NISS - to - nis as in secret, because this syllable is not stressed. The already 20 years previously adopted amendment was thus confirmed.

• Foreign words should be consistently integrated into the German writing system. However, this did not lead to a widespread replacement of c by k and z, but rather thousands of foreign words could be written in two ways. (eg Accent besides accent, central next to central, social besides social. ). With many other words of foreign origin were also two possible syntaxes (eg Shawl next scarf, guitar next to guitar, Liqueur next liqueur). In some cases were even three possible syntaxes (eg Compagnie next company, and company, ditto ditto and ditto addition, desinficieren next to sanitize and disinfect ). Individual foreign words could even be written in four ways (eg Baccheus next Bacchius, Bakcheus and Bakchius ). In some cases, a uniform notation has been set (eg editor instead Redacteur, literature rather than literature, drug instead Drogue ).

• Foreign words on - Irish should be uniformly written with - ming (eg, govern, add ). This further, about 20 years taught in the school change was confirmed.

• When c in German names they were also not consistently; one hand, it was agreed to Kassel instead Cassel, Cologne Cologne and Köthen instead Cöthen, on the other hand you stayed with the spellings Coburg, Cottbus, etc., although a case with K was already widespread for these cities, still read on Berlin street names such as Kottbusser dam.

• Regulations based on the phonetic principle (that is, adapting the spelling of the debate) were rarely implemented except in the case of foreign words. (eg ivy was to ivy. )

• In many cases, double overrides are permitted ( see above, also for example nettle nettle next, next morning, in the morning, next to Briton Briton, flower beds next to Pray Sahlweide addition to sallow, with next to no means destroy, teigicht next doughy ). For on -ie -ee and ending words in the plural, there were two possible spellings (eg monarchies next monarchies, Alleeen next Avenues). ( Only in the following years, the approval of several spellings was limited, not least because of the summary of the general Duden Duden with the book printer in 1915, the Konrad Duden was first published in 1903. )

• As regards the word division at line end was determined that pf and always dt, st ( in the cases in which is set a long s according to the rules of the fracture set ) but should never be separated (eg, fight -ing, relatives te, lu- stig ). Before that could not be separated dt, while pf st and could only be separated if they are preceded by a vowel letter ( eg trop - fen, but intermeshing Pots; transformed - towns; lus too, although dur - stig ). A one syllable each letter should not be separated better, but this was not prohibited.

• Another point were changes related to the distribution of round and long s.

• To separate and coupled together and punctuation ( punctuation) no rules were formulated.

• On further innovations as they were planned at the failed First Orthographic Conference, has been omitted in order not to change the familiar typeface too. Moreover, the conference participants feared that individual state governments would disagree. Thus it has not, for example, to the introduction of Heyseschen s case and the Adelungsche retained s- sensitive. Austria sacrificed " for the sake of uniformity ' own control.

These decisions were implemented by the governments of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in official regulations during the year 1902. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II was initially against a use of the new spelling by the authorities. However, he was convinced and agreed to in December 1902 for official use, but was until 1911 that presented him with documents had to be written in the old spelling.

Because of the many double forms several home orthographies developed in the following years. In particular, the above mentioned printer Duden coined the typeface of numerous publications, however, must not be equated with the official rules.

Classification as a reform

It is different judges whether the Second Orthographic Conference of 1901 can be classified as a spelling reform that can be considered as a precedent for the reform of German orthography from 1996. The reform critic Theodor Ickler writes: "The " spelling reform of 1901 "- a Legend: Among professionals is known that the usual 1900 spelling not " reformed "after the Second Orthographic Conference ( 1901), but on the contrary against arbitrary changes under state protection was provided. This has particular Wolfgang Kopke in his excellent dissertation ( 1995) proved, once again exactly "Even the former reformer Horst Haider Munske provides in connection with the spelling reform of 1996 this regard that. " This spelling reform is actually the type and scope of the proposed changes to reform, a major change in the structure of the standard font of the Germans. And it is the very first spelling reform in German language history. Because in 1901, only the custom in force had been sanctioned practical. Therefore, this was enough of a unique conference three days. "

Konrad Duden writes in the preface to the dictionary from 1902 (7th edition, p IVf ): " For if you also [ d h the spelling ] main preference described therein is that it 's there and general validity has [ so that he praises the established standardization ], it has nevertheless also, not only to the many old Orthographieen [ sic], but also compared to the previous school orthography, not small exhibit to striking improvements. The fact that it has the th and the pH of all words of German origin eliminated and also the application of German According designation, in particular the k and z instead of c, the beautiful instead of the ch made ​​in foreign words reaching concessions, it has on the way to the development of German Spelling has since Rudolf embarked and pursued by Raumer opposition to the reforms of the historical school, made ​​a significant progress. As I ' am talking about, a progress, I point to have that in the opinion of those who have contributed to the emergence of new, standardized spelling, now no way to enter a standstill for all time. "