Sprachverfall

Sprachverfall, literally “language decay,” is a term used in German linguistic and public discourse to describe the perceived deterioration of a language’s quality, vitality, or prestige. It is largely a normative concept, reflecting attitudes about what a language should be rather than a measurable linguistic state. Proponents typically associate Sprachverfall with changes seen as undesirable: deterioration of pronunciation, simplification of grammar, loss of inflection, erosion of orthographic standards, or an expansion of lenient vocabulary through borrowings and slang.

In practice the term arises in contexts of language contact, globalization and media influence, where speakers mix languages, adopt loanwords, or use more informal styles. Critics argue that language change is normal and inevitable, and that terms like Sprachverfall conflate normative judgments with linguistic description. From a descriptive perspective, changes in syntax, morphology, vocabulary, or pronunciation can reflect social dynamics, contact phenomena, or community identity rather than decay.

Sprachverfall is often connected to debates about language policy, education, and national or cultural identity. It has been used in public discourse to justify protection of standard varieties against perceived erosion. In academic linguistics, the term is generally avoided in favor of language change, variation, or sociolinguistic factors.

Related concepts include Sprachwandel (language change), Sprachverschlechterung (linguistic deterioration), prescriptivism, and descriptivism.