ABSTRACT
Goethe’s language mirrors the wide interests of a man who was active in several fields. Three in particular are outstanding in terms of language use and text production: his justly renowned literary production, his writings on topics from the natural sciences, and his administrative writings as a Geheimrat at the court of Carl August of Sachsen-Weimar. Thus Goethe is a worthy subject for linguistic analysis not just on literary grounds, but also due to his use of technical language in many specialized fields such as anatomy, geology, mineralogy and mining, vulcanology, plant morphology, the theory of vision and colour, the theory of literature and poetry, theatre and theatre management, and administration. In terms of the central domains of language use, Goethe’s sheer breadth provides us with a linguistic cross-section around 1800. In addition, his range allows us to examine the interaction between creative innovation and established linguistic patterns. Goethe’s language is rich in creative usages and innovations in some fields, but conservative and even reactionary in others. Whilst he let the protagonist of Die Leiden des jungen Werthers complain bitterly against the stringent practices of chancery style, Goethe himself defended this traditional and patriarchal style (still in use c.1780) against Carl August’s proposals for modernization (26.5). However, this should not be seen as a contradiction, but rather as an example of Goethe’s adherence to the ideal of linguistic aptness (Angemessenheit) in all contexts – something viewed by Wolfgang Schadewaldt, classical philologist and founder of the Goethe-dictionary, as the major ingredient of Goethe’s linguistic mastery (Goethe-Wörterbuch I, 9*f.).
