Linguistic Change

Why is “I don’t even think about it anymore” such a standard sentence among Germans? Is German really being supplanted by English? And how is it that German dialects are disappearing but we can still where someone is from?

These and similar questions have preoccupied Matthias Maier for years now. He himself speaks High German, but his trilled “r” and rhythmic sing-song speech betray his undeniably southern-German roots. Born and raised in a small town near Villingen-Schwenningen in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Maier and his family naturally spoke in local dialect, but the 25-year-old has now made the German language his avocation as part of the “Variation and transformation in the German language” program at the University of Freiburg.

Germans fascinated by the development of their own language

“Variation and transformation in the German language” is a four-semester master’s program in linguistics that has been offered at the University Freiburg am Breisgau for the last six semesters. The course focuses on three central research areas at the institution – “Recent language history”, “Migration and multilingualism” and “Dialectology” – all topics which, according to Prof. Peter Auer, have been met with great interest in the German-speaking world. “Questions of migration are very relevant these days and people are putting a lot of thought into which German should be taught in school. The influence of English is also a topic of heated discussion, as has become clear in exchanges regarding German Language Day. Dialects also play a very important role in the public debate on language. One example is the Baden-Wuerttemberg slogan, Wir koennen alles. Ausser Hochdeutsch (We can do it all, just not proper German) an effort to build up a regional identity for the state.” While this tends to raise concern for some (“The German language is dying!”), philologists in Freiburg are attempting to more objectively portray these developments than to simply pass judgment.

Too few applicants despite an organized program and interesting subject matter

Still, the big wave of enthusiastic scholars for the course in Freiburg has yet to materialize. In the first year, five semesters ago, only one student registered. There are currently six. “The humanities master’s programs are all suffering from low applicant numbers,” says Auer, who is still optimistic about the future. “As soon as more universities convert to the BA/MA system and there are more bachelor graduates, the word will spread among students and the applications will start coming in.”

Matthias Maier feels the same way. “The course is really well organized. There are a lot of smart, committed people to consult and who are ready to help with any issues. The faculty also has a good reputation.” He recommends it to anyone who is really interested in the subject matter. “The name ‘Variation and transformation of the German language’ is the program. That’s it.”

What comes after?

“We are hoping that one-third of the graduates will pursue a related career. The program is not limited or directed to a specific profession, so it makes anything possible,” is how Auer describes the potential job prospects for alumni. As far as direct links with the professional world, the university only offers assistance in the form of research internships. “There is a dearth of qualified graduates, however, and demand is pretty high,” says Auer, “especially in research institutes and projects sponsored by the German Research Foundation.”

Hometown dialect – from childhood memories to a university professorship

After five years of studying, however, Matthias Maier has had enough homework and would like to squeeze in an internship in journalism in the USA once his exams are finished. Before that happens, though, he has to finish his thesis, which is dedicated to the subject of dying dialects. It is a research classic in Freiburg that is well known in the southwest German language landscape. As the master’s program would have it, Maier will be able to incorporate his own research with a GRF-sponsored project at the university: Dialect transformation in the 20th century. In his hometown he will interview people from different generations and examine their dialects in greater detail. Parallel to this he will use a survey to study whether and how the dialect is passed from parents to children in order to judge whether previous changes will continue to develop.

Particularly fascinating in all of this will be the commonalties between normal family conversations and scientific discussions. “At family events I have noticed that most folks are aware of dialectic idiosyncrasies.” Of course, observations over the years combined with day-to-day experiences with relatives who speak his dialect are of great interest to him and his colleagues. On the other hand, he will now be able to explain to his parents from a scientific perspective why they speak the way they do.