Denglisch (en)
Denglisch
Denglisch is the use of English words in German with an attempt to incorporate them into German grammar or a hybrid of Deutsch (German) and Englisch (English) which makes uses of Anglicisms and Pseudo-anglicisms. This term has been coined in the language since 1965 and is embedded in German culture.
Denglisch can be characterised by the following:
- The influence of English words on the German grammer
- The heavy use of English words, phrases and slogans
- The influence of English spelling and punctuation
- The creation of imitation English words that do not exist in English or with altered meanings in German
The term also has several names, i.e Denglish, Germlish, Genglish and Angleutsch.
Terminology
As Denglisch is noted as far back as the 16th and 17th centuries, in the last few years after World War II, German increasingly borrowed from English. At the same time that English became the dominant world language of science, technology and business, German adopted more English vocabulary than any other European language. They also created their own words for English terms to minimise the use of the characteristic transfer of English to a non-English language, which were then called Anglicisms, to come across as more cospolitan and modern, as well as to distance themselves from the stigma of nationalism that was a result of World War II.
Not only does Denglisch include words borrowed from English, but there is also a series of unique ''Pseudo-anglicisms'' or words that sound like English, but actually are not. That is why Denglisch is often associated and even considered the same as Anglicisms.
Denglisch is also often referred to as language mixing, which is actually not a new concept. However, it could be argued that Denglisch is one of the newest mixed languages in Europe; while loan words and literal translations from English to German can be traced back to the 18th century. As the loan words were uncommon and restricted to certain areas in the late Middle Ages, many of these loan words have now become fully assimilated and barely recognisable as loans to the German speaker in general. This indicates that the phenomenon of Denglisch is not new. What is new is the term used to describe the use of English words in German.
Criticism
Denglisch is not just a linguistic quirk. It reflects the ability of languages to adjust as they meet the ever evolving needs of a globalised society. In business and technology where English terminology is prevalent, Denglisch stands as a bridge between languages; enabling effective communication in international contexts. Although people may spell Denglisch words differently based on their preferences, the knowledge or familiarity of the conversation partner as well as with Denglisch allows for easy communication. The term also represents the fluidity of language, demonstrating how speakers creatively incorporate foreign elements into their language repertoire.
Despite its practicability, Denglisch has faced criticism from language purists who argue that it dilutes the purity of both languages. Some are concerned about the erotion of German linguistic identity amidst the increasing influence of English. In recently years, following the increasing use of English in media and marketing, German politicians and academicians have made further efforts to protect the German language from further English influence, to the extent that some have even said that German language should be enshrined in the constitution.
Example
Denglisch could appear and be used at any time in various sectors, such as daily conversation, advertising, technology, business and media. Some commonly found Denglisch words are:
- Handy - means cellphone in German, but to an English speaker it is a synonym for practical.
- Beamer - is a slang word for a BMW car, but in Germany it means projector.
- Download - the proper German term for this verb is herunterladen, but it gets a Germanified past tense in Denglisch downgeloadet.
- Chef - means boss in German, but to an English speaker it means a professional cook and tradesperson who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.
Yet there are some more examples of Denglisch based on its definition and usage.
- Denglisch as the use of English words, phrases or slogans in German advertising: A German magazine ad for Lufthansa Germain airline displayed a slogan "There's no better way to fly" and a street sweeper in Bitburg showed a slogan "We kehr for you!".
- Denglisch as the mixing of English and German vocabulary in sentences by English speaker whose German skills are weak.
- Denglisch as the coining of English words in German that are not found in English at all: der Dressman (male model) and Showmaster (Host or MC).
References
"Denglish": A German-English Mixture. DW.
Holt, L. T. R. (2017). Speaking Denglish: Exploring the impact of Denglisch and Anglicisms in German culture and identity.
Partsch, F. (2017). English slogans in German advertising: Comprehensibility and perception by Germans. TESOL Working Paper Series. 15, 55-57.
Safina, F. (2024). "Denglish" The Fusion of German and English. 2, 286-292.
