German youth language: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Linguistic patterns associated with young German speakers}} |
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'''German youth language''' or '''Youth Communication''' ({{langx|de|Jugendsprache}}) describes the linguistic patterns and characteristics used by German adolescents. Speech patterns vary by age, era, and location. According to [[Helmut Glück]] (2005), the term is not strictly defined.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Metzler Lexikon Sprache|date=2005|publisher=Metzler|others=Glück, Helmut., Schmöe, Friederike.|isbn=3476020568|edition=3., neubearbeitete Aufl|location=Stuttgart|oclc=62749466}}</ref> Heinrich Löffler refers to ''Jugendsprache'' as a transitory non-standard language (“''Lebensalter-Sprache''”: “age-language”)<ref>Heinrich Löffler: Germanistische Soziolinguistik. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 1985, S. 127, 132. {{ISBN|3-503-02231-7}}.</ref> with attention to the time period. In German and West European [[philology]], ''Jugendsprache'' is considered to be both a non-standard language and a sub-form of the standard language. |
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These characteristics and patterns can be categorized as typical or atypical. [[Orality]] and informal language are characteristics of German youth language.<ref>Neuland, Eva (2008): Jugendsprache. Eine Einführung. Tübingen.</ref> Researchers claim that its main function is achieving separation from adult speech and to signal group solidarity. |
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Language publisher [[Langenscheidt]] has designated the German [[Youth word of the year (Germany)|youth word of the year]] annually since 2008, although there is some doubt whether the selected words are in actual use.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=The word of the year (whether we like it or not)|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-word-of-the-year-whether-we-like-it-or-not|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.spectator.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> The selections included terms like ''Gammelfleischparty'' ("spoiled meat party", a party for people over the age of 30) or ''lost'' (an English word used by Germans with a meaning identical to English).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wahl der Jugendlichen: "Lost" ist Jugendwort des Jahres 2020|url=https://www.zdf.de/uri/f85dbb45-fc3c-489f-a998-9f21026acfc2|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.zdf.de|language=de}}</ref> |
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'''German youth language''' or '''Youth Communication''' ({{Lang-de|Jugendsprache}}) is a term used to describe the linguistic patterns and characteristics used by various groups of adolescents at different ages, time periods and locations in Germany. |
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According to Helmut Glück (2005), the term is not strictly defined. Heinrich Löffler refers to Jugendsprache as a transitory non-standard language (“Lebensalter-Sprache”: “age-language”)<ref>Heinrich Löffler: Germanistische Soziolinguistik. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 1985, S. 127, 132. {{ISBN|3-503-02231-7}}.</ref> with attention to the time limitation of the usage of these linguistic patterns. In German and West European philology, Jugendsprache is considered to be both a non-standard language, and a complex subform of the standard language. It is defined as the style of a certain group of adolescents. These linguistic characteristics and patterns can be further differentiated into typical or atypical linguistic patterns found in youth communication. Orality and informal language are characteristics of German youth language.<ref> Neuland, Eva (2008): Jugendsprache. Eine Einführung. Tübingen.</ref> |
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Exaggerations and emphasis, [[Humour|humour]], [[Irony|irony]] and [[Game|playfulness]], expressivity and [[Emotion|emotionality]] are typical elements of adolescent language us as well. |
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==Groups == |
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==Types of youth language== |
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Researchers have described multiple groups/forms, including Comicdeutsch (German comic language), school language, [[Denglisch]], [[Military slang|army slang]], university student language, drug scene jargon, [[Glossary of graffiti|graffiti jargon]], hip-hop jargon and [[Internet slang|Internet jargon]]. Most of these forms are not restricted to teenagers, however, teenagers are the instigators and primary speakers. |
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==Characteristics of youth language== |
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Youth language displays exaggerations, emphasis, exaggeration, intensification, [[Word play|wordplay]], provocation, [[Humour|humor]], [[irony]], [[Game|playfulness]], expressiveness and [[emotion]] more often than is found in adult communication. |
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There is no official or standard youth language. Forms of expression emerge in communications within groups, as a result, language takes different forms depending on the different geographic, social and historical context. Researchers argue that the main function of youth language is setting up boundaries to the adult world and consolidating the identity of every speaker in the group. Functions of youth language also include the search for identity, particularly in relation to roles and status in society, by means of using a secret language as an emotionally expressive method of communication, and as a naming function of the realities that exist in contexts of the world of adolescents. |
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Speakers often use [[metaphors]], e.g., “natural woolly socks” for "hairy legs”. |
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Abbreviations are common, such as “so’nem” instead of “so einem”. Youth are more likely to import [[Anglicism]]s, for example, “cool” is typical. Acronyms such as "[[YOLO (aphorism)|YOLO]]" ('You only live once'), have increased in frequency, to condense text messages. |
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Metaphors and other imaginative forms of expression are frequently used by speakers of youth language, e.g. “natural woolly socks” for "hairy legs”. Youth language can also be very provocative and offensive. Abbreviations are another characteristic of youth language, such as “so’nem” instead of “so einem”. Anglicisms are also frequently used, for example, “cool” is typical not only for youth language but in the meantime is also used in informal or non-standard language. Filler words such as “und so” (and so on), interjections and [[Hedge_(linguistics)|hedges]] (e.g. “irgendwie”) are typical of youth language as well. The use of acronyms, such as "[[YOLO (aphorism)|YOLO]]" ('You only live once'), has increased over the past years. |
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== Research == |
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| ⚫ | Researcher-curated dictionaries/style guides create an always-dated image of youth language that misses the way young people actually speak, because that youth language evolves too quickly to be reflected in formal research.<ref>Ein Klassiker dieser Gattung: Claus Peter Müller-Thurau: Lass uns mal ’ne Schnecke angraben. Sprache und Sprüche der Jugendszene. 8. Auflage. Goldmann, ohne Ort 1987. {{ISBN|3-442-06747-2}}.</ref> Most expressions are short-lived. For example, ‘''knorke''’ was once used an expression of high approval. Later, ‘''astrein''’, ‘cool’, ‘nice’ or ‘''geil''’, often enriched with further emphatic forms (‘''oberaffengeil''’), emerged.<ref>Claus Peter Müller-Thurau: Lass uns mal ’ne Schnecke angraben. Sprache und Sprüche der Jugendszene. 8. Auflage. Goldmann, ohne Ort 1987, Seite 144.</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Jargon]] |
* [[Jargon]] |
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* [[Kanak Sprak]] |
* [[Kanak Sprak]] |
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*[[Youth word of the year (Germany)]] |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:German youth culture]] |
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[[Category:Youth]] [[Category:Jargon]] [[Category: Slang]] [[Category: Linguistics]] |
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[[Category:Slang]] |
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[[Category:German language]] |
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Latest revision as of 11:25, 31 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2019) |
German youth language or Youth Communication (German: Jugendsprache) describes the linguistic patterns and characteristics used by German adolescents. Speech patterns vary by age, era, and location. According to Helmut Glück (2005), the term is not strictly defined.[1] Heinrich Löffler refers to Jugendsprache as a transitory non-standard language (“Lebensalter-Sprache”: “age-language”)[2] with attention to the time period. In German and West European philology, Jugendsprache is considered to be both a non-standard language and a sub-form of the standard language.
These characteristics and patterns can be categorized as typical or atypical. Orality and informal language are characteristics of German youth language.[3] Researchers claim that its main function is achieving separation from adult speech and to signal group solidarity.
Language publisher Langenscheidt has designated the German youth word of the year annually since 2008, although there is some doubt whether the selected words are in actual use.[4] The selections included terms like Gammelfleischparty ("spoiled meat party", a party for people over the age of 30) or lost (an English word used by Germans with a meaning identical to English).[5]
Groups
[edit]Researchers have described multiple groups/forms, including Comicdeutsch (German comic language), school language, Denglisch, army slang, university student language, drug scene jargon, graffiti jargon, hip-hop jargon and Internet jargon. Most of these forms are not restricted to teenagers, however, teenagers are the instigators and primary speakers.
Features
[edit]Youth language displays exaggerations, emphasis, exaggeration, intensification, wordplay, provocation, humor, irony, playfulness, expressiveness and emotion more often than is found in adult communication.
Speakers often use metaphors, e.g., “natural woolly socks” for "hairy legs”.
Abbreviations are common, such as “so’nem” instead of “so einem”. Youth are more likely to import Anglicisms, for example, “cool” is typical. Acronyms such as "YOLO" ('You only live once'), have increased in frequency, to condense text messages.
Syntactic variations in spoken language include repetitions, ellipsis, word order variation and incomplete sentences. Filler words such as “und so” (and so on), and interjections and hedges (e.g., “irgendwie”), are typical.
Research
[edit]Researcher-curated dictionaries/style guides create an always-dated image of youth language that misses the way young people actually speak, because that youth language evolves too quickly to be reflected in formal research.[6] Most expressions are short-lived. For example, ‘knorke’ was once used an expression of high approval. Later, ‘astrein’, ‘cool’, ‘nice’ or ‘geil’, often enriched with further emphatic forms (‘oberaffengeil’), emerged.[7]
See also
[edit]Sources
[edit]- Androutsopoulos, Jannis (2000): Vom Mainstream-Radio bis zu den Skatermagazinen. Jugendmedien sprachwissenschaftlich betrachtet. Jugend und Medien. (Hg. vom JFF – Institut für Medienpädagogik in Forschung und Praxis). medien+erziehung 44/4. München, 229–235.
- Augenstein, Susanne (1998): Funktionen von Jugendsprache in Gesprächen Jugendlicher mit Erwachsenen. In: Androutsopoulos, Jannis: Jugendsprache. Langue des jeunes. Youth language. Linguistische und soziolinguistische Perspektiven. Frankfurt/Main (u. a.), 167–195.
- Hadumod Bußmann (Hrsg.): Lexikon der Sprachwissenschaft. 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Kröner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-520-45203-0 (Artikel: Jugendsprache).
- Helmut Glück (Hrsg.), unter Mitarbeit von Friederike Schmöe: Metzler Lexikon Sprache. 3., neu bearbeitete Auflage. Metzler, Stuttgart/Weimar 2005, ISBN 3-476-02056-8 (Stichwort: „Jugendsprache“).
- Helmut Henne: Jugend und ihre Sprache. Darstellung, Materialien, Kritik. de Gruyter, Berlin/New York 1986. ISBN 3-11-010967-0.
- Theodor Lewandowski: Linguistisches Wörterbuch. 4., neu bearbeitete Aufl. Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1985. ISBN 3-494-02050-7. Artikel: Jugendsprache.
- Eva Neuland: Jugendsprache in der Diskussion: Meinungen, Ergebnisse, Folgerungen. In: Rudolf Hoberg, Karin Eichhoff-Cyrus (Hrsg.): Die deutsche Sprache zur Jahrtausendwende. Sprachkultur oder Sprachverfall? Dudenverlag, Mannheim/ Leipzig/ Wien/ Zürich 2000, ISBN 3-411-70601-5, S. 107–123.
- Eva Neuland: Jugendsprache. Eine Einführung. A. Francke Verlag (UTB für Wissenschaft), Tübingen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8252-2397-7; 2. überarbeitete und erweiterte Auflage, 2018, ISBN 978-3-8252-4924-3.
References
[edit]- ^ Metzler Lexikon Sprache. Glück, Helmut., Schmöe, Friederike. (3., neubearbeitete Aufl ed.). Stuttgart: Metzler. 2005. ISBN 3476020568. OCLC 62749466.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Heinrich Löffler: Germanistische Soziolinguistik. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 1985, S. 127, 132. ISBN 3-503-02231-7.
- ^ Neuland, Eva (2008): Jugendsprache. Eine Einführung. Tübingen.
- ^ "The word of the year (whether we like it or not)". www.spectator.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "Wahl der Jugendlichen: "Lost" ist Jugendwort des Jahres 2020". www.zdf.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ Ein Klassiker dieser Gattung: Claus Peter Müller-Thurau: Lass uns mal ’ne Schnecke angraben. Sprache und Sprüche der Jugendszene. 8. Auflage. Goldmann, ohne Ort 1987. ISBN 3-442-06747-2.
- ^ Claus Peter Müller-Thurau: Lass uns mal ’ne Schnecke angraben. Sprache und Sprüche der Jugendszene. 8. Auflage. Goldmann, ohne Ort 1987, Seite 144.