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Article published In: Anglo-German Discourse Crossings and Contrasts
Edited by Sylvia Jaworska and Torsten Leuschner
[Pragmatics and Society 9:1] 2018
► pp. 91–116

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How words behave in other languages

The use of German Nazi vocabulary in English

 | University of Reading
Published online: 26 March 2018
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.16027.sch
Abstract
This paper undertakes a systematic investigation into the use of German Nazi vocabulary in English. Nazi vocabulary is checked for frequency of occurrence in a large web corpus of English and then, where it occurs, for reference to Nazi discourse. Next, its frequency is compared to similar French and German web corpora, showing whether or not the use of Nazi vocabulary outside German is unique to English and whether or not its current usage differs between German and the borrowing languages. Finally, the use of two words that occur with similar frequencies in all three languages – judenrein and Blitzkrieg – and of two words that occur there with the highest difference in frequency – Anschluss and Lebensraum – is investigated in detail by means of the Sketch Engine corpus tool, including an analysis of collocations which indicate contexts of usage. The results can inform further research into lexical borrowing by demonstrating that borrowed words may be used in ways that differ notably from their use in the donor language.
Article outline
  • 1.German loanwords in English
  • 2.Nazi vocabulary
  • 3.Patterns of usage of historical Germanisms in English
  • 4.Methodology
  • 5.Frequency and salience of German Nazi vocabulary in English
  • 6.Nazi vocabulary in English, French and German
    • 6.1High differences in frequency: Lebensraum and Anschluss
    • 6.2Small differences in frequency: Blitzkrieg and judenrein
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
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