2023-12-08 14:53:00
Since 1977 experts German Language Society (GfdS) in Wiesbaden, words and phrases are regularly selected that linguistically define the political, economic and social life of the year. Moreover, as linguists note, the decisive factor for being included in the list of words of the year is not the frequency of their use, but their significance. In 2022, for example, the word of the year was “Zeitenwende” (translated as “turning point”, “change of eras”). This is how German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke about the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, noting that it threatens the entire post-war world order.
The word for 2023 is “crisis mode”
According to the decision of experts, the word of 2023 was “Krisenmodus”, which is translated into Russian as the phrase “crisis regime”. Linguists of the Society for the German Language explain the choice of this word by saying that “there have always been crises, but this year crises and their management seem to have reached their climax.” They are reminiscent of the words of the German Vice-Chancellor that we are surrounded by crises. Climate change, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, the war in the Middle East, the inflation and debt crisis, the education crisis… Feelings such as uncertainty, fear, anger, helplessness and powerlessness characterize the daily lives of many people. From a linguistic point of view, this can be observed in the radicalization of language in public space.
“Anti-Semitism” is on the list of words of the year
The word “anti-Semitism” took second place in the ranking this year. This is by no means a new phenomenon for Germany, emphasize linguists from the Society for the German Language. Anti-Semitism existed long before National Socialism and did not disappear after World War II. However, the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas revealed that the hostility towards Jews that had previously been prominent among parts of the Muslim population has become even more pronounced.
Problem with reading skills
In third place was the word “Leseunfähig”, which means inability to read. Linguists justified the choice of this word by the fact that the population’s ability to read is deteriorating. Other studies also indicate that German children have become worse at reading. However, the word “Leseunfähig” also describes the ability to understand more complex texts, which is obviously causing difficulties for an increasing number of Germans, and is a reference to fundamental problems in education in the country. The level of knowledge of German schoolchildren has never been rated so low. This is evidenced by data from the PISA program for assessing educational achievements for 2022.
The list includes ten words for 2023
The list includes ten words for 2023: Among them are “KI-Boom” (“artificial intelligence boom”), “Ampelzoff” (“traffic light quarrel”, referring to disagreements in the German coalition government), “Hybride Kriegsführung” (” hybrid war”), “Migrationsbremse” (“migration brake”), “Milliardenloch” (“billion dollar hole in the budget”), “Teilzeitgesellschaft” (“part-time society”), “Kussskandal” (“kiss scandal”). Behind every word there is a big event or obvious trends.
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