Capitalisation of German nouns (Specific Languages) Language Learning Forum

Capitalisation of German nouns
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Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages

11 messages over 2 pages: 1 2

Cabaire
Senior Member
Germany
Joined 5597 days ago
725 posts - 1352 votes

Message 9 of 11

23 August 2009 at 9:46am | IP Logged

Quote: haven't they got rid of the ettse

No, it simply became more seldom. So some people thought it would be disappearing altogether.

For example, Fluß became Fluss (river), but Straße is still Straße (street). It depends now on the length of the preceeding vowel.

Only Swiss people do not use it.
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Z.J.J
Senior Member
China
Joined 5606 days ago
243 posts - 305 votes

Speaks: Mandarin*

Message 10 of 11

23 August 2009 at 10:01am | IP Logged

The "ß" character, which is generally replaced in Switzerland by a double "s", will be retrained in Germany and Austria, but will only be written after a long vowel (as in Fuß, Füße) and after a diphthong (as in Strauß, Sträuße).

* "Fluß, Baß, keß, läßt, Nußknacker", become in future:

* "Fluss, Bass, kess, lässt, Nussknacker".

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Jackal11
Groupie
United States
Joined 5660 days ago
41 posts - 45 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: German, Latin

Message 11 of 11

23 August 2009 at 5:31pm | IP Logged

Z.J.J wrote:

Is German the only Germanic language whose first letter of the nouns must be written in capital letters? Would it be possible for this special rule to be cancelled by an updated orthography reform? Thanks!

At one time in English, all nouns were also capitalized. An example can be seen here.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_trans cript.html

If English speakers could get over the transition from all capitals to mostly non-capitals, I'm sure Germans could to. Not that I want them to, mind you. Capitalizing all the nouns makes it easier to figure out what's what in a sentence.

Edited by Jackal11 on 23 August 2009 at 5:41pm

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