European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse The minds behind German s a Der die Das Dudt n editor Giinther Drosdowski says in the people not a Bunch of scholars o , stories by Ron Jensen Page g c Hen Rudyard Kipling penned a the Jungle books late last Century he May have amused his daughter for whom the Book was written but he confused the German speaking world. The word Quot Jungle translated into a ads Chung i Quot quite easily. But choosing an article to put m front of it was something else again. In English there would be no problem. The word the a is an All purpose article suitable for everything front firetrucks to lilacs but German has three ways to say a the Quot a Der die and Das a and hardly any Rule at All about which is Correct Oreach word. The method in which an article was eventually chosen for Quot dec hunger Quot provides a bit of insight into a pan of the language that posters those trying to learn it. It is not enough to learn ample that a Lens scr Quot is the German a word for window. One must also learn the article a Das renter. By for his a new word a cd Schungel Quot Back in 1894. Germans used All three. A some people said a Der dec hunger a some Germany where rhe German Lane Aee i Only word so blessed. Drosdowski nes Reers or Only one article Lor use Honor but questions remain How who Quot it Wal. About a cd Schungel Quot that makes foe masculine Quot article proper who decided Well the answer is simple. Most Copl said it that Way. That a it. It was a very democratic pro. A mandate from the populace. The people vote so to speak informal without even knowing it. A Long Wall inf Mannheim Institute is hidden by a series files stuffed with millions of cards. One card is an example of the popular usage word culled from current newspapers m Zines and books. A group of free Lance readers through Germany Are on the Lookout for Partiful words selected by the Institute. The read Send examples of the usages of these Wor the Institute where they Are placed Nihi after a few years of filing the folks Al will go through the files. They look fore in meaning for one thing since definition evolve through use and misuse. As Dros says a in language Only the change is co but they also look for the article. Are using a Der a a a die or a Adas Quot with a word the language Quot the journalist starts it All a tie Edisio the journalist of course is probably t Licking the person interviewed who is co the article used by his colleagues and ass so if it is a certain Way in print it is tha elsewhere. But the card files arc not in total Garft there will be a certain number of usage three articles Drosdowski a Institute cd the one most often used for publication next edition of the dictionary. A we Only follow the usage Quot he says certain while you find out that one am it is not a dictatorial decree Demic lawgiver. What about those articles anyway p Sor a they symbolize what we Call the a re Cal gender a a Drosdowski says. A a the gig ical gender has nothing to do with the a natural Quot sunday
