PURIFIED GERMAN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 566, 2 December 1915, Page 12

PURIFIED GERMAN.

FRIGHTFULNESS OF THE LANGUAGE-PURISTS.

A few days since we gave an awful example to what lengths Germany can go in her determination to "purify" the language of all foreign terms. The examples quoted are of "Germanised" sporting terms, but now the London "Daily Express" produces some even richer efforts in the field of music.

Notwithstanding the crash of war (says the "Express"), the movement for the Germanisation of foreign terms goes merrily on in Berlin, where learned professors continue to descant on what the 'Berlin "Post," with a strange flash of insight, called recently "the almost appalling beauty and expressiveness of the German language." In the same issue of that journal, reference was made, in connection with a certain charitable function, to the lady superintendent of an association composed of municipal officials, and also to this lady's daughter. The latter was described as the " ncrgesellschaftspflegebefohlenewachterinstochter"; after which no one with the soul of a'mouse can. deny the claim of the Berlin "Post."

The Language of Love. The "Vossische Zeitung" carries this "appalling beauty and. expressiveness" into the realm of music:— We would earnestly commend to the patriotic people, and particularly to that large and influential section of, them that cultivates and pays homage to the art of music, to do what they can towards purifying the language pertaining to that art of the outlandish expressions with j which it has become overgrown. 1 A beginning may be made with the Germanisation of the following terms:— Piano: Tastenspiel (keyplay). Composer: Tontaslworker " (tonekey worker). Concert: Tonstreitwerkversammlung (tone competition work assembly). Concert giver: Tonstreitwerkunternehmer (lone competition work organiser). Fugue: Tonfluclitwerk (toneflightwork). Conductor: Tonkunstlermeister (tone artists'master). Orchestra: Tonkunstlerbuhne (tone artists' stand). Symphony: Zusammenklangwerk (combined sound work). Trumpeter: Schmettermcssingwerlcer (sounding brass worker). Violin quartet: Geigerispielstuck (fiddle play piece). -