5.1 Language Ideologies and Language Criticism in German

Abstract

This article will introduce language ideologies prominently reflected in German Studies and associated with forms of language criticism. These language ideologies are closely linked to milestones in the standardisation of the German language, to thinking surrounding the diversity of variants and the related issue of language prestige, to the establishment of a national language, as well as to the delicate balance between the roles of ‘lay persons’ and experts, which, in the 21^st century, has led to an increased academisation of the discourse as well as a growing debate surrounding the question of whether language is or should be ideological, ideologically laden or non-ideological.
Figurative language, as a condensate of socio-culturally entrenched language ideologies, lends itself to identifying hardened concepts about language. In German Studies, metaphors are a typical linguistic-historical point of reference in the study of language ideologies. To illustrate the function of metaphoric language, this article will therefore employ the metaphoric image of the plant: an image that has remained a fairly con sistent pattern from the 17^th century until the present.