(C19) Between Religion and Politics: Language Confessionalisation in the Early Modern Period?

It is the aim of this project to find out whether and how the processes of confessionalisation affected the use of the written language in the Early Modern period. Two opposing positions are possible in principle: on the one hand, the conception of language as an unmarked means of expression, which is available ‘neutrally’, so to speak, for all social purposes, and on the other hand, the assumption that certain confessional cultural ‘chargings’ are connected with the use of certain forms and varieties of speech.

Considering the aspect of reformation and counter-reformation, it is to be expected for the Early Modern period in particular that the language medium was included as an indicator and factor in a prominent way in the power game of religion and politics. The type and degree of these influences on the content-related and linguistic-formal levels is to be investigated. To this end, single subject areas are to be specifically explored in the project. The following areas of investigation will be defined from time-related, regional and genre-specific points of view, which allow the superordinate question to be examined.
 

Subprojects

Change of the official writing in a municipal language ? The case of Donauwörth

Processor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Macha
Description: Did the re-Catholisation of the town of Donauwörth in Bavarian Swabia have the effect of a confessional re-adjustment of the language? Donauwörth may be considered as a prime example of the “revolution” of a community defined as Lutheran. The forcible establishment of Catholicism in 1609 was – so it is supposed − also reflected in the use of linguistic features in the official municipal writings (council protocols, school regulations, etc.).

Difference in language use in territories? The case of Baden-Baden and Baden-Durlach

Processor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Macha
Description: Unlike the ‘complex of consecutive problems’ of project 1, a ‘complex of coexistent or conflicting problems’ is to be highlighted here. Possible contrasts in confessional cultural and linguistic respects will be investigated by means of two lordships descending from a common dynastic root, which, however, developed along different paths. From the second half of the 16th century until well into the 18th century, the territories of Baden-Baden and Baden-Durlach show distinctly contrary traits as regards Catholicism and Protestantism. Is this also reflected in official writings?

Linguistic embellishment of revocation sermons  – The case of the converts

Processor: Sarah Horstkamp
Description: In the text type of revocation sermons, which has so far been largely neglected in linguistics, spiritual converts commented on their change of confession. These sermons are significant documents for the fact that converts were instrumentalised for purposes of propaganda concerning the faith. The original question of this subproject is whether the confessional change also manifests itself linguistically in the revocation sermons. Beyond that, it is to be investigated what other confessional “characteristics” converts take up to distinguish themselves as adherents to the “true faith”. The predominantly Catholic sermons from Southern Germany are to be contrasted with an Eastern Central German reference corpus.

Differences in language use in text types? The case of inscriptions

In charge: Anna-Maria Balbach
Description: On the basis of German inscription material that had previously been ignored by historical linguistics, the confessionally mixed area of Bavarian Swabia will be analysed as to the use of typical forms and contents of speech. The broad level from spelling to standard forms will be focused on here, always guided by the question: Can confessionally motivated preferences be detected?
Epitaphs and the inscriptions on bells will be singled out from the abundance of different inscription types, as these particularly promise information about the linguistic transformation of confessional requirements due to their proximity to the religious field.
This corpus consisting of over 2,000 inscriptions will be contrasted with a smaller Westphalian reference corpus. Thus, the results from the Southern German region are to be confronted with the Northwest German region and specifically regional characteristics are to be pointed out.

Head

Research assistants

Publication

Conference

• :: Recommend Page
• :: Comment on this page, Link will be opened in a new window