Specht und Gämse: Beiträge zur Rechtschreibung des Deutschen (Symposion Salzburg 1998). Festschrift für Franz V. Spechtler ed. by Siegrid Schmidt et al

Abstract

494 Reviews University of Sheffield, and in futureyears itmight prove valuable to make this colloquium into a wider event, thus encouraging links within the postgraduate community. Some reference to each contributor's broader field of research would also have been a useful addition. Nevertheless, the essays contained within this collection reveal the quality of research that is being undertaken by postgraduates in the field of Hispanic studies, and it is hoped that the Canada Blanch Foundation will continue its support for publications of this sort. University of Bristol Caragh Wells Specht und Gdmse: Beitrdge zur Rechtschreibung des Deutschen {Symposion Salzburg 1998). Festschrift fiir Franz V Spechtler. Ed. by Siegrid Schmidt, Ingrid Bennewitz, and Ulrich Muller. (Goppinger Arbeiten zur Germanistik, 687) Goppingen: Kummerle. 2000. iv + 203pp. ?27. ISBN 3-87452-935-7 (pbk). The present volume of studies to honour Franz Spechtler comprises fifteenitems re? lating principally to the effectsofthe 1996 German spelling reforms,and two medieval literary studies which reflect the honorand's chief area of interest. Alois Brandstetter , in his whimsical remarks on the spelling of Specht and Gdmse, uncompromisingly calls the reform 'unnotiger als ein Kropf, particularly in the non-historical (non-etymological) extension of a to behdnde, beldmmert,blduen, Gdmse, Qudntchen, Stdngel, and uberschwdnglich.The arbitrariness ofthe process (the Riickumlaut verbs dachte< denken, sandte