Der Duden in 12 Bänden, Band 7: Das Herkunftswörterbuch

Der Duden in 12 Bänden #7

by Dudenredaktion (Other)

Etymologie der deutschen Sprache. Die Geschichte der deutschen Wörter bis zur Gegenwart

This dictionary explains the etymologies of word, such as the development of a word from the language it had originated in, the cognates of a word in other languages, and what it originally meant. It also explains modern foreign words and the origin of over 400 idioms.

Genres: Reference, Language, Nonfiction, German Literature, Linguistics, Germany

960 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Seit über 130 Jahren ist Duden die maßgebliche Instanz für alle Fragen zur deutschen Sprache und Rechtschreibung.

Der Name Duden steht für Standardnachschlagewerke zur deutschen Sprache und bürgt für höchste lexikografische Kompetenz. Die Wörterbücher der Dudenredaktion zeigen nicht nur das breite Spektrum der deutschen Gegenwartssprache, sondern sie geben vor allem Sicherheit in allen sprachlichen Belangen. Das Portfolio des Dudenverlags umfasst (digitale) Wörterbücher und Nachschlagewerke, Ratgeber und Übungsbücher.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

You will probably notice that like with all of the Duden German language reference books, for Das Herkunfstwörterbuch (which is basically etymological in scope, in other words Das Herkunftswörterbuch is a dictionary where the A to Z listed German vocabulary words presented are explained and analysed as to their linguistic history and origins) there are rather many editions available (and that if you are indeed interested in Das Herkunftswörterbuch, you should in my opinion ONLY consider a post 1996, post the orthographical reforms edition, and furthermore, that the earliest editions of Das Herkunftswörterbuch only seem to contain the dictionary part and not yet any linguistic and historical supplements). Meticulously researched is the 2001 edition of Das Herkunftswörterbuch and presented in a dense, but still and nevertheless comparatively easy and understandable format that is basically (as already alluded to above) a one volume tome of German nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives and the like (and also including very many idiomatic expressions), showing both their general meanings and definitions, but in particular, focussing primarily and specifically on their particular historical linguistic backgrounds, if these words are based on Indo-European roots or from whatever linguistic tradition and background they hail, and whenever the historical and cultural, linguistic affiliations of a given included example are unknown or still controversial (albeit you do in my opinion have to have a pretty decent, at least high intermediate level of German language fluency to use and also to enjoy Das Herkunftswörterbuch).

And while the main dictionary part of the Das Herkunftswörterbuch of course and naturally presents basically just an alphabetical listing of featured German words and their specific historical and cultural backgrounds and roots, the linguistic supplements included throughout Das Herkunftswörterbuch are a much appreciated added bonus, as they feature necessary information and details such the reasons why some words (and some types of words) have not been included in Das Herkunftswörterbuch, a general introduction to etymology and etymological research and also details on word meanings and language change, as well as a section showing how during the post WWII years of a divided Germany (1945-1989), some of the specifically cultural vocabulary of the GDR and the FRG changed and went their separate ways and often became quite as differentiated as the culture and the attitudes of East and West Germany (and not to mention that the inclusion of a bibliographical section in Das Herkunftswörterbuch, which is is short but more than sufficiently detailed, is definitely appreciated). Therefore generally four stars for Das Herkunftswörterbuch if I were just to consider how much I have enjoyed (as an etymology geek) reading through the presented information, but lowered to three stars, as I do find it really user and reader unfriendly to have the information on linguistics etc. spread rather haphazardly throughout the dictionary section and that I honestly would enjoy Das Herkunftswörterbuch considerably more if those details would appear either before or after the A-Z section (as an introduction or as an afterword).