The formation of German variants, influenced by a foreign word influx and grammatical simplification
There are many varieties of English around the world, including not only American and British English, but also Singapore and Australian English. Although not as widespread as English, German has long exhibited regional diversity, such as Austrian German and Swiss German. However, other types of changes have been observed in recent years. The most prominent example of this trend is Kiezdeutsch.
The term “Kiez” meaning “specific district,” describes areas like parts of Berlin and Mannheim that are home to diverse immigrant communities, particularly Turks. Turkish immigration started in the 1960s. By the 1990s to 2000s, as the community reached its third generation, the majority were born in Germany and spoke German as their native language. During this time, a variety of German incorporating Turkish and other foreign elements began to attract attention, particularly from linguists, leading to the establishment of the term “Kiezdeutsch” around 2010.
Germany has one of the largest immigrant populations, after Canada. The proportion of permanent foreign residents in Germany is 12.5%, compared to less than 3% in Japan. People with immigrant backgrounds, whose parents or grandparents were not born in Germany, make up a quarter of the population. This may be creating an environment where the language is likely to diversify, with various words from different sources mingling together.
While Kiezdeutsch emerged as a result of the increasing number of immigrants, it does not have a significant impact on the entire German language system. Instead, it is influencing the language by incorporating foreign words and simplifying grammar and vocabulary. In other words, a German variant is emerging. Some say this is just a style of speaking.
For example, “lan,” a Turkish word meaning “old man” is used as a casual way to address someone, similar to “bro,” and “vallah,” an Arabic word meaning “swearing to God” is used as an intensifier, similar to “for real.” As in these cases, foreign words are incorporated into German and used as exclamatory expressions.
As is common in conversational speech, final sounds of words and prepositions are often dropped or omitted. For example, “Ich frage meine Schwester (I ask my sister)” becomes “Ich frag mein Schwester”: parts of conjugation endings, a feature of German’s complex grammar system, are dropped. “Ich steige in Stadtmitte um (I change the train at Stadtmitte),” becomes “Ich steig(e) Stadtmitte um.” Not only is the verb conjugation ending “-e” dropped, as often happens in spoken language, the preposition is also omitted.
Along with playful elements, grammatical simplification and word omissions help streamline the language. After all, shorter and simpler expressions are easier to use in daily life. This change can also be observed in English and Japanese. For example, Old English once had noun genders and complex conjugations, but modern English does not. Long ago, Japanese had conjugation patterns known as kami or shimo nidan conjugation. Today, however, most verbs conjugate regularly, with a few exceptions remaining, such as “Ka-hen” (Ka-column irregular conjugation) and “Sa-hen” (Sa-column irregular conjugation). It is quite natural that languages change with the times.
Japanese adopts mostly English, mostly unchanged
All languages undergo changes, but people respond to it differently depending on their position. For example, while some lament and criticize it as deteriorating the language, many others view it more neutrally as a transformation.
One clear example of language change is found in the vocabulary level, such as English loanwords. The popular terms among young Germans in 2023 include American slang such as “goofy” (used similarly to the Japanese phrase, “tennen boke,” meaning “being silly unintentionally”) and “side eye” (to look with suspicion). In particular, the younger generation often uses English loan words, especially on social media.
Furthermore, when adopting English, Germans often extract the meaning and replace the language with equivalent German expressions. For example, “downloaden” is a Germanized form of the English word “download,” created by adding “-en.” Besides meaning “to download,” the word also translates as “herunterladen (to load).” For shutting down a computer, there is no Germanized form like “shutdownen.” Instead, the German term “herunterfahren” is used, possibly due to the lower frequency of the term’s use. This approach to adopting English terms is frequently observed not only in Germany, but also in China and the Korean Peninsula.
On the other hand, Japanese tends to adopt words derived from English almost unchanged or with only slight adjustments. For example, as the English term “barrier-free” does not resonate with the elderly, the National Institute of Japanese Language and Linguistics (NINJAL) has suggested translations such as “removal of steps” and “step-free” in Japanese.
While Germans adopt English terms but try to translate them into their language, Japanese tend to coin foreign-sounding words, such as “cooler,” “get-two,” and “level-up.” The process of absorbing foreign terms and reinterpreting them within our own language may shape how we perceive words and concepts, and even how we see our country. Comparing Japanese with German inspires reflection on the language and Japan’s way of being.
It is important to examine the language to understand the country’s current state
While Kiezdeutsch is a language spoken within specific communities, it is worth noting that most speakers are also proficient in Standard German. In other words, Kiezdeutsch speakers are bilingual in German, shifting their language according to their conversation partner and the circumstances.
Japanese also uses many abbreviations and contractions. Shorter expressions can make conversations with your friends flow more smoothly. They represent a whole new dimension of wordplay, distinct from puns, while contributing to the formation of group identity. Not only do they sound cool and catchy, they also help strengthen relationships by serving as a shared language among friends.
In Japan, it is also common that people pick up “buzz” phrases that someone started using on social media. In addition to terms commonly used by the young generation, there are also phrases mainly used in office settings or recognized among colleagues even outside the workplace, such as “naruhaya de” and “asappu de” (both meaning ASAP). Such phrases generally contribute to fostering a sense of unity, and their functions may closely align with the goals that Kiezdeutsch speakers aim to achieve.
As you can see in Japanese, the grammatical structures of languages appear to gradually simplify over time. I would not describe grammatical simplification as the evolution of language, but I view it instead as a natural historical transformation. The expression “awoniyoshi, Nara no Miyako no …” might be familiar, but today, it is only used in classical literature classes. Additionally, an increasing number of people, particularly among the younger generation, use “mato wo eru” (capture the target), an expression meaning “to get to the point,” without realizing that the correct form is “mato wo iru” (hit the target). As the majority of people start using the incorrect form, the original form may eventually be considered a misuse.
Language is a mirror that reflects the world. In other words, it also shapes the way we segment and perceive our surroundings. Each language has its own approach to categorization. Examining these differences reveals how the Japanese perceive their world in a comparative rather than absolute way. I believe giving closer attention to a language, including its changes, is crucial for gaining insight into the current state of a country or region.
* The information contained herein is current as of September 2024.
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