[Lexicog] The influence of Shakespeare on the English language and of Luther on German

[Fritz Goerling]

Hi, Margaret,

 

You are a good debater. There were other translations into German before Luther, but Luther’s imposed itself. Many of the words he coined were copied by later German translators of the Bible (also “Linsengericht”). And there are as many translations of the Bible in German as there are in English. I am sure even coinages and expressions from the fairly literal King James version have “made it” into everyday speech in English.

“Sündenbock” (in English “scapegoat”) is an especially good word creation by Luther. I dare to say “scapegoat” is also a good one.

Which translator coined it? William Tyndale or John Wycliffe? Do you or anyone on the list have the answer?

 

Best wishes,

 

Fritz

Hi Fritz,



On 5/20/07, Fritz Goerling <Fritz_Goerling@ <mailto:Fritz_Goerling at sil.org> sil.org> wrote:

Margaret,

 

Luther's influence in enriching the German language should not be overestimated but not underestimated either.

As you know German, here are a just a few examples from Luther's coinages of new words and reinterpetations of words:

 

Wortsch�pfungen Luthers: Gnadenbild, -lehre, Gottesbild, - liebe, Glaubenskampf, Glaubenssache, S�ndenbock, Feuereifer, Linsengericht, Hochmut, Wohlgefallen, Bubest�ck, Machtwort, nacheifern, geistreich; Stein des Ansto�es, ein Dorn im Auge, durch die Finger sehen, Wer anderen eine Grube ....

Neubedeutungen: Beruf, Bu�e, fromm, gerecht, entr�stet, anfahren ("heftig ansprechen)"



I must admit that I was not thinking of Luther's effect on Christian and Biblical language, but on the German language in general. I am sure you are right about these terms. The fact that Luther created the German versions of Biblical sayings, such as einem anderen eine Grube graben does go without saying. But did he really create 'Linsengericht'? Surely as long as there are Linsen and Gerichte, someone else would have done it? 


Regards
Margaret

 

 

 

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