The Spelling of German Technical Terms. 



A tendency towards a phonetic system of spelling and an oppo- 

 site tendency, influenced by conservatism and a disposition to 

 adhere to the original forms of the many words from foreign 

 sources, have led to a condition marked by a lack of uniformity 

 in the spelling of modern German. In recent years attempts 

 have been made to establish a more uniform system of spelling 

 by conventional agreements among representatives of learned 

 societies and by government authority. As a result of much agi- 

 tation of the subject a literature has sprung up upon "deutsche 

 Rechtschreibung" and various books and pamphlets have ap- 

 peared, some being of an official nature and issued by state 

 governments of the German and Austrian Empires. Among 

 these publications may be mentioned as of interest to students : 



Duden's "Orthographisches Worterbuch der deutschen 

 Sprache," which appeared in 1903 and in several later editions, 

 the last being in 1912 ; 



Vogel's "Ausfuhrliches grammatisch-orthographisches Nach- 

 schlagebuch der deutschen Sprache," the eighth edition of which 

 appeared in 1912 ; 



"Regeln fur die deutsche Rechtschreibung," issued by the 

 Prussian Minister of Education in 1903 and later, including an 

 edition in 1911 ; 



Jansen's "Rechtschreibung der naturwissenschaftlichen und 

 technischen Fremdworter," published in 1907. 



The following is a brief summary of the more important rules 

 governing the spelling of German words, as recognized by the 

 supporters of the movement in Germany : 



1. In words of German origin th gives place to t, as in tun, 

 Teer, Rat, Tran, Ton, Teil, Spat, Tau. 



The h is retained in words of foreign origin, as in Thorium, 

 Theorie, Thulium, Lithium, Lanthanum, Athyl, Ather, Methyl. 



2. The modified vowel sounds are to be indicated by the umlaut 

 only, in the case of capitals as well as small letters; Ae, Oe, ae, 



