On the Pronunciation Dictionaries of Contemporary German: The Concepts of Phonetic Standard and Differences in Specific Phonetic Issues

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the following paper is to discuss some phonetics-based differences between four modern pronunciation dictionaries of the German language: Großes Wörterbuch der deutschen Aussprache (1982), Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch (2009), DUDEN Aussprachewörterbuch (2000) and DUDEN Aussprachewörterbuch (2015). First, attention is paid to the concept of phonetic standard declared by the respective dictionary authors. After that, a number of specific phonetic issues are outlined which pinpoint some striking divergences between the dictionaries under analysis. The divergences occur in description and interpretation of certain phenomena in the field of vowels (diphthongs, half-long vowels, vocalic reductions), consonants (the /r/ allophones, affricates, consonant assimilations) as well as suprasegmental features (word stress marking).