Language changes – and it changes most noticeably during crises. The expulsion of the Huguenots in the 17th century by France’s King Louis XIV was, of course, a misfortune for the Protestants. For the German language, however, the Huguenots were an asset. As an example, the word “Kinkerlitzchen” should be mentioned, which goes back to “La quincaillerie”, the iron goods and tool trade with which the French tried to make a fresh start in Germany. The numerous conflicts with Italy have also left their linguistic traces in this country. The term “Larifari”, for example, is based on the triad of notes a, d and f (probably influenced by military music), for which “La”, “Re” and “Fa” are common in Italian. But meanings of German expressions such as “make from the field”, “hand over the spoon” or “only understand the train station” only found their current meaning through various crises and wars.
Now the question arises as to which linguistic innovations – apart from the onomatopoeically unsightly “boosters” – the pandemic brings with it. There are actually some words and phrases that cause very different associations today than they did before Corona. In 2019, when people heard the word “breakwater”, they would have thought of concrete blocks in front of dead coasts. It’s over. And just recently, primarily feelings were understood as “intense”. If a person heard the exclamation “Health!” Two years ago, it was usually preceded by a sneeze. And “Is the seat next to you still free?” was only meant to be polite and not virological. Back then, the fact that “glasses fogged up” meant that someone came from the cold and not that their mask was stupid. And if you had a “close relationship” with a contact person, it was usually very pleasant.
Is it actually worse if you constantly get a basket, or if the rubber tears in the most stupid situation?
(Photo: Daniel Hofer)
But now people have to think twice when they read: “Sebastian Kurz loses his immunity”. How is that meant? Also the sentence often heard when entering the German retail trade these days: “Wait, I’ll give you a basket!” used to have a completely different meaning. As well as crossing a “threshold”, possibly by the bride and groom.
The prickly virus also has something good: at least you only freeze virtually in the home office.
(Photo: imago / Westend61)
But now that the head of the Robert Koch Institute warns of a “bad Christmas” and the term “school-free” simply makes you shudder, even the Larifari phrase “stay confident” no longer helps. Because even if tomorrow is a new day, during the video conference with colleagues it will most likely be again: “You are frozen.” So it is changing, our language. And people today feel “naked” especially when they are not wearing a mask. Or when he finds out when using local public transport: “My rubber just tore.”
So it is better to finally “take a trick” (which of course used to mean the card game). And if you haven’t done that yet, you really have “a shot” (or you still haven’t heard it).