Stefanie Wyss
University of Bern, Switzerland

National Variation in the German language of science

Pluricentric German has permeated many areas of linguistics (Wiesinger 2002). Codification of the variations (Austriacisms, Helvetisms, and Teutonisms) is advancing. With the 2004 release of Variantenwörterbuch, an important reference was made available to norm compositors and enthusiasts (Ammon et al. 2004). In spite of this progress towards equalisation, Pluricentricity has not yet asserted itself in important areas. The lack of acceptance is especially prominent in the German for Academic Purposes (Wissenschaftssprache) where attempts are allegedly made to eliminate seemingly provincial varieties in favor of a »standard language" (Hochsprache). According to Steger (1991:59), scientific language should have to differentiate itself from everyday language. The demands for today\'s Wissenschaftssprache show many resemblances to the concept of the German lingua franca (Leitsprache) (Faulstich 2008).

A recent study suggests (Wyss 2014), 47% of 127 university graduates would like to avoid Helvetisms. Interviews with college norm compositors indicated that they do not correct Helvetisms in student documentation. (Incidentally, the question arises without fail whether the described problem is even real). Most university-lecturers stated that they would accept Helvetisms, but 11% of students said that they have been corrected for its use. Additionally, almost half of all interviewees reject the use of Helvetisms in scientific documentation. This contradiction can be explained by the fact that the questioned university-lecturers were aware of the concept of Pluricentricity and thus, in part, promoted Helvetisms in their own publications. The questioning of the university graduates proved to be »linguistic schizophrenia" (Scharloth 2004): two-thirds view German as pluricentric, however 42% suggested there is a standard in German scientific language while 49% desired one. The acceptance of Helvetisms in science is a subject which has been rarely examined empirically until present, yet doing so is critical for Swiss universities.

Science department faculties in Swiss Universities come from different German-speaking countries, primarily Austria and Germany. According to a publication by the Federal Office of Statistics, "2010 Panorama of Colleges", 30% of Swiss University staff members are foreigners with 50.3% of them in scientific fields (2010:25). Across all departments (universities, advanced technical colleges and educational colleges), most foreign professors come from Germany (2010:26f.). The typical behavior of a D-nation (d for dominant) is to call linguistic "divergences" - mostly from unawareness - wrong.

Swiss and Austrians would tend towards a pluricentric position. Unfortunately, they also disparage their own variety as "incorrect" or "dialectal".

While Swiss educators don't appreciate Helvetisms in their students work and are more tolerant of Teutonisms (Ammon 1995:428), West German educators are far less tolerant of either Austriacisms or Helvetisms (ebd.:440).

As indicated in the MA work of Wyss (2014), the rejection of Swiss-High German is a problem: students view variations in High German as a deficit or actively avoid Helvetisms. It would appear that the academic position an this point is clear, but the penetration of this "norm" in academia is problematic not only for German Pluricentricity.

Keywords: Helvetisms, German for Academic Purposes, language norms, linguistic stereotypes