The German Language

Dictionaries, Dialects, History

(Call Number Range PF 3001-5999)

Historical Dictionaries

Old High German / Althochdeutsch

Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language -- Old High German, 750-1050 -- Dictionaries

Althochdeutsches Wrterbuch. Karg-Gasterstdt-Frings.

The definitive dictionary of the German language as it was written from 750-1050. Entries include grammatical information, later forms of the word, definitions, examples of use from literary sources.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3974 .A5 1968 Quarto

Althochdeutsches Wrterbuch. Schtzeichel

A concise dictionary, based on the main literary works of the period. Gives modern German equivalents for each word. Search under B for words not found under P; D for T. For words beginning with C, search also under G, K, orZ.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3975 .S33 2006

Althochdeutsches Wrterbuch. Schade

2 volumes. A handy, short-entry dictionary with references to source texts.

Digital copy available from Libraries Catalog (forthcoming)

Middle High German / Mittelhochdeutsch

Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--Middle High German, 1050-1500 -- Dictionaries

Mittelhochdeutsches Wrterbuch. Benecke-Mller-Zarnacke.

The standard dictionary for Middle High German, 1050-1500. Arranged by etymological root, with quotations from poetic sources. Needs to be used with an index, since the entries are NOT alphabetical. See next entry.

Being transferred to D Level: PF 4324 .M91 1854-66(also in Special Collections)

Mittelhochdeutsches Handwrterbuch. Lexer

2 volumes. Concise entries in alphabetical order, with volume and page references to Benecke-Mller-Zarnacke. An index to the above title.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 4327 .L4 1992

Wrterbuch der mittelhochdeutschen Urkundensprache. Kirschstein.

Another ongoing project. A scholarly dictionary based on a corpus of Old German texts to 1300. Up to verswern has been published.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 4327 .W67 1994

Mittelhochdeutsche Wrterbuche Online [Link]

Modern High German / Frhneuhochdeutsch

Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--Early modern, 1500-1700Dictionaries German language--Dictionaries

The GRIMM: 1. Deutsches Wrterbuch. Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm. 16 volumes

The classic etymological German dictionary (the German equivalent of the OED), that th aimed to give an exhaustive account of New High German from the end of the 15 century, with illustrations of usage and history by means of quotations. Completed in 1961 after over 100 years.

General Reference:

PF 3625 .G72 1854

2. Quellenverzeichnis: (Vol. 17) an alphabetical list of about 60,000 sources cited in the
Wrterbuch.

General Reference:

PF 3625.G72 1854

3. The revised and expanded edition (Neubearbeitung ) of the Grimm Wrterbuch is an ongoing publication. Volumes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are in General Reference (PF 3625 .G72 Quarto), shelved at the end of the original edition. 4. Grimms deutsches Wrterbuch
Searchable version of this major dictionary This free site includes only the original 16 volume work [1854-1960], not the Neubearbeitung [1965-].

[Link]

Frhneuhochdeutsches Wrterbuch. Robert R. Anderson, Ulrich Goebel, Oskar Reichmann. Berlin : de Gruyter, 1986-

Another ongoing project. Volume 1 includes: Introduction, List of Sources, Bibliography of secondary literature. Up to stosser has been published.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 4591 .F78 1989

Modern Language Dictionaries

German /German Dictionaries
Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--Dictionaries

Deutsches Wrterbuch. Gerhard Wahrig

A single volume (3 columns per page) dictionary; with a comprehensive guide to grammar at the front.

General Reference: D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3625 .W137 2000 QUARTO PF 3625.W137 2000 QUARTO

Duden : das grosse Wrterbuch der deutschen Sprache in zehn Bnden. 10 volumes.
A dictionary for late 20 century German language. Includes colloquial usage, regional and national variations, technical terms, abbreviations, acronyms, some proper names. Entries give pronunciation, etymology, definitions, and quotes from contemporary literature and the press.
th

General Reference :

PF 3625 .D825 1999

Duden deutsches Universalwrterbuch in einem Band.

A dictionary of current German. Entries include examples of usage, information on spelling, pronunciation, grammar, etymology, and regional variations.

General Reference: D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3625 .D83 2001 PF 3625 .D83 1983

Deutsches Wrterbuch : Bedeutungsgeschichte und Aufbau unseres Wortschatzes. Hermann Paul.

A single-volume dictionary with entries for 11,000 words, often with lengthy discuission of their historical development, supported by literary quotations and references to other dictionaries. List of sources. Subject index (gives access to words derived from particular languages, used by certain authors, etc.)

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3625 .P328 2002

Wrterbuch der deutschen Gegenwartssprache. 6 volumes

A dictionary of contemporary German, using examples from modern writers, with references to sources. Produced in the former East Germany, so a valuable record of words coined there or with a distinctive meaning there. List of sources in volume 6.

General Reference:

PF 3625 .W622

German / English Dictionaries

Library of Congress Subject Heading: German languageDictionaries--English English language--Dictionaries---German

Langenscheidt encyclopaedic Muret-Sanders German dictionary. 2 volumes English to German, 2 volumes German to English
The most comprehensive bilingual dictionary, with nearly 400,000 entries that include pronunciation guides.

General Reference:

PF 3640 .L242

The Oxford-Duden German dictionary : German-English, English-German.

The product of nearly 10 years joint work by the Oxford University Press and the Dudenverlag. Claims to be the first bilingual dictionary produced by a team based in both language areas. Many useful appendices relating to both languages including grammar, usage, and letter-writing.

General Reference:

PF 3640 .O94 1997

Harrap's standard German and English dictionary. 3 volumes

An incomplete project (A-R) but the most comprehensive available for what it covers.

General Reference:

PF 3640 .H3 1963 Quarto

Collins German-English, English-German dictionary : unabridged. by Peter Terrell, et al.

Emphasis on current spoken and written language. Grammars of both languages, as well as a Language in use section.

General Reference:

PF 3640 .H28 1997

LEO English-German dictionary

One of the most popular online dictionaries

[Link]

FreeDic Wrterbuch
Another online dictionary

[Link]

BEOLINGUS: Online German-English dictionary [Link]

Etymology
Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language -- Etymology -- Dictionaries

Etymologisches Wrterbuch des Deutschen. W. Pfeiffer. 3 volumes.

Gives date of first appearance and many citations to sources. List of sources in vol. 1.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3580 .E88 1989

Etymologisches Wrterbuch der deutschen Sprache. F. Kluge.

The standard etymological dictionary. Frequently revised and reprinted. MSEL owns 13 editions.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3580 .K5 2002

Trbners deutsches Wrterbuch, im Auftrage der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fr deutsche Wortforschung. Alfred Gtze. 8 volumes
Intended as an abridged version of the Grimm for home use. Particularly valuable for etymologies and historical surveys of the changing meaning of words. Lengthy entries followed by detailed references.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3580 .T86 1939 QUARTO

History of the German Language

Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--History

Geschichte der deutschen Sprache. A. Bach.

A detailed history of the language in 12 chapters with 230 sections, each of which has a th substantial bibliography. 23 maps, Subject index. The 8 edition is in MSEL. Previous editions in the LSC under PM75 .B12 call number.

Being transferred to MSEL D Level Blue Labels (PM 75 .B12 1965)

Sprachgeschichte: ein Handbuch zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und ihrer Erforschung. W. Besch et al. 3 volumes

179 chapters on aspects of German historical linguistics. Well organized and extremely detailed, with numbered paragraphs, maps, charts and tables. All chapters have extensive bibliographies. Author and Subject indexes.

D Level Blue Labels:

PF 3075 .S63 1998 QUARTO

German: a linguistic history to 1945. C.J. Wells.

A detailed historical survey in 10 chapters, well illustrated with tables, maps, and quotations. Select bibliography after each chapter. A wealth of references (p. 436-88) and an extensive general bibliography (p. 489-542). Indexes of names, topics, and places.

Being transferred to MSEL D Level Blue Labels (PM 75 .W43 1985)

A history of the German language : with special reference to the cultural and social forces that shaped the standard literary language. John T. Waterman. LSC: PM 75 .W3 1976

Kleine Enzyklopdie. Deutsche Sprache.

In einem Band, eine umfassende Orientierung ber die Wissenschaft von der deutschen Sprache.

LSC:

PM 91 .K64 1983

Dialects
Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--Dialects

The dialects of modern German: a linguistic survey. C.V.J. Russ

15 regional chapters on dialects of Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Switzlerland and Alsace. Discussion of each dialects status in the region, historical and geographical background, and detailed description of each. Extensive bibliographies after each chapter.

D Level:

PM 2011 .D52 1990

Wrterbuch deutscher Dialekte: eine Sammlung von Mundartwrtern aus 10 Dialektgebieten im Einzelvergleich. Ulrich Knoop. D Level Blue Labels : PF 5004 .K66 1997

Dialektlexikographie : Berichte ber Stand und Methoden deutscher Dialektwrterbcher. LSC: PM 2066 .D5 1976

Deutsche Dialekte - Linkverzeichnis [Link]

The major dictionaries of German dialects include: (note that many of these dictionaries
are ongoing projects and not yet complete)

Oberdeutsch Badisches Wrterbuch. D Level Blue Labels: PF 5071 .B3O4 1925 (up to scheuer) Byerisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels: PF5316 .S4 1985 4 volumes complete Schwbisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels: PF 5281 .F5 1904 Quarto 6 volumes complete Schweizerisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels: PF5146 .S4 1881 Quarto (up to warn)

Mitteldeutsch Pflzisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels : PF 5432 .C5 1965 QUARTO 6 volumes complete Rheinisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels : PF 5412 .M85 1928 9 volumes complete Sdhessisches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels : PF 5442 .M3 1968 Quarto 5 volumes+ (up to zckering) Schlesisches Wrterbuch. D Level Blue Labels: PF 5562 .M56 1963 QUARTO 3 volumes complete

Niederdeutsch Wrterbuch der westflischen Mundart. LSC: PM 2731 .W84 1882 Niederschsisches Wrterbuch. D Level Blue Labels: PF 5636 .N5 1965 6 volumes + (up to manwessel) Mecklenburgisches Wrterbuch. D Level Blue Labels: PF 5682 .W6 1942 QUARTO 7 volumes complete

Preussisches Wrterbuch. LSC: PM 2822 .F91 (2 volumes) Pommersches Wrterbuch D Level Blue Labels: PF 5797 .P65 1997 unbound fascicules (up to klnner) Wrterbuch der nordfriesischen Sprache der Wiedingharde. LSC: PL 4098 .W8 J5 QUARTO

Slang Dictionaries
Library of Congress Subject Heading: German language--Slang- -Dictionaries

Illustriertes Lexikon der deutschen Umgangssprache. Heinz Kpper. 8 volumes

Gives meanings, dates, and regional distributin where appropriate. Indexes of people, places, and subjects. 1200 color illustrations.

General Reference:

PF 3815 .K87 1982

Researching the German Language

Bibliographie der deutschen Sprach-und Literaturwissenschaft (the Kttelwesch)

An index to (mostly) German periodical articles and book chapters on German language and literature. Annual volumes. An essential resource in German studies.

General Reference: Z 2231 .B58 (1974-) Also available as a database from the Libraries main Web page, under Online Resources-By Subject (1986-) MLA International bibliography
The major database for articles (mostly in English) on the German language (and literature). Another essential resource.

Available from the Libraries main Web page, under Online Resources-By Subject Linguistics Abstracts Online
Contains abstracts of scholarly articles appearing in linguistics journals from around the world. Also includes abstracts from articles in related fields.

Available from the Libraries main Web page, under Online Resources-By Subject

Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts

Covers the study of language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Coverage is also given to various fields of linguistics including descriptive, historical, comparative, theoretical, and geographical linguistics.

Available from the Libraries main Web page, under Online Resources-By Subject

Resources used in this Guide, and for a more complete listing and description of many
kinds of German dictionaries:

Walfords guide to reference material. Volume 3: Generalia, language & literature, the arts. Germanic Languages p. 576-590. D Level: Z 1035 .W25 1993 A Guide to world language dictionaries. Andrew Dalby. German p. 163-179. General Reference: P 361.D25 1998 German Studies Web, from the Western European Studies Section of ACRL. [Link]

Other Resources A history of foreign-language dictionaries. R. L. Collison. LSC: P 327 .C61 1982 Dictionaries of foreign languages. R. L. Collison. D Level: Z 7004 .D5 C6 1955