Word of the Year (Switzerland)
A separate word of the year has been chosen in German-speaking Switzerland since 2003. Previously, a common word of the year was chosen for the entire German-speaking area , but after this increasingly had a pure reference to Germany , Austria in 1999 and Switzerland in 2003 decided to choose their own word of the year. In addition, a word and phrase of the year are chosen in Switzerland ; irregularly also other distinctive expressions. In addition to the choice for German-speaking Switzerland, the word of the year is also available for the Romansh- speaking area. Since 2017, experts from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences have been determining the word of the year together with language professionals and taking into account audience suggestions (German and French-speaking, from 2018 Italian-speaking, from 2019 Romansh language communities).
The Swiss Association of the Deaf, in turn, has been determining a Sign of the Year since 2016.
German language area
general overview
| year | Word of the year | Bad word of the year | Set of the year | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | concordance | Sham invalids | "Choose Blocher, he deserves this punishment." | |
| 2004 | Meh Dräck | Eco-terror | "Switzerland - zero points." | Press release of the year : « Croissants stolen - On Sunday morning, shortly after 7:00 am, the St.Gallen city police had to move to the main station. A young man stole two croissants from the station kiosk without paying for them. When the person was checked more closely, a large amount of prescription drugs could be found. The man is brought to the investigation office in St.Gallen to report. » |
| 2005 | Aldization | experience-oriented fans | "Germany, here we come!" | |
| 2006 | smoking ban | extended suicide | "I can do it!" | |
| 2007 | Death tourism | Climate compensation | "The Rütli is just a meadow with cow dung." | Dialect word of the year : pimping |
| 2008 | rescue package | Europhoria | "We don't just have to use the carrot, we also have to use the stick." |
Abbreviation of the year : HarmoS New word of the year : doodeln |
| 2009 | Ban on minarets | Valve clause | "I am not well integrated in Switzerland - I am Swiss!" | Youth word of the year : Sbeschtewosjehetsgitz |
| 2010 | Deportation | FIFA Ethics Committee | "Switzerland is a frustrating Alpine democracy." | Youth word of the year : hobbyless |
| 2011 | Euro discount | Technology ban | "Life is not a boni farm." | Youth word of the year : Mopfer |
| 2012 | Shitstorm | Bio | "Vada a bordo, cazzo!" | Youth word of the year : shaz |
| 2013 | Signal box malfunction | systemically relevant | "Aff!" | |
| 2014 | # | Density stress | "It remains volatile." | Financial word of the year : zero interest rate policy |
| 2015 | Shopping tourist | Asylum chaos | "You can't buy a World Cup." | Financial word of the year : Swiss franc shock |
| 2016 | Filter bubble | Domestic priority light | "Maybe in the future we will have to deliver the grenades without a logo so that nobody knows where they come from." | Expression (gesture) of the year : dabbing |
| 2017 | #me too | 2nd place: laugh away; 3rd place: influencer | ||
| 2018 | Double-headed eagle | 2nd place: framework agreement ; 3rd place: 079 | ||
| 2019 | Climate youth | 2nd place: OK Boomer ; 3rd place: flight shame |
Word of the year
| year | Word of the year | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | concordance | Concordance democracy as the attempt to involve as large a number of actors as possible (parties, associations, minorities, social groups) in the political process and to make decisions by reaching a consensus. |
| 2004 | Meh Dräck | (More dirt) ; Term coined by the casting show jury member Chris von Rohr , which demanded more authenticity from the candidates. |
| 2005 | Aldization | Defined as «The increasing search of even better-earning consumers for the cheapest offer in more and more areas of consumption». |
| 2006 | smoking ban | Initiative to introduce a smoking ban . |
| 2007 | Death tourism | Increased occurrence of people who travel to Switzerland to receive euthanasia there; especially in relation to the Dignitas association . |
| 2008 | rescue package | In the course of the financial crisis from 2007 . |
| 2009 | Ban on minarets | Controversy over the construction of minarets and pending referendum. |
| 2010 | Deportation | Federal popular initiative “For the deportation of criminal foreigners (deportation initiative)” . |
| 2011 | Euro discount | In connection with the favorable exchange rate of the franc against the euro . |
| 2012 | Shitstorm | Clarification of the power, but also the dangers of social media . |
| 2013 | Signal box malfunction | Symbolizes the year that was rich in SBB breakdowns and poor in formative events, at the same time a metaphor for a country that does not want to move. |
| 2014 | # | The sign # (Gartehag, double cross ) was chosen, as it is often used in social media in combination with a keyword as a so-called hashtag . |
| 2015 | Shopping tourist | Switzerland wants to remain a high-price island and still benefit from the low prices abroad. The reception centers for economic refugees from Switzerland are the shopping centers from Konstanz to Lörrach . |
| 2016 | Filter bubble | “Paradox: the more networked the world, the more isolated the individual is in his niche from like-minded people. [...] These virtual rooms, also called 'echo chambers', in which one is only ever confirmed in one's own preferences and views, are not only chosen by the web user, but are reinforced by algorithms: social media like Facebook are like that programmed that like to like and like-minded to like-minded. " |
| 2017 | #me too | «In 2017 the word works like no other. It indicates; it draws the repressed into light for a long time, it short-circuits social media and public discourse. This is how it takes place within days from the film business in Hollywood to everyday life here and now - also in Switzerland. Here #metoo is the word that went viral in 2017. " |
| 2018 | Double-headed eagle | |
| 2019 | Climate youth |
Bad word of the year
Since 2003 , a private jury has determined a word of the year .
Set of the year
| year | Set of the year | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Choose Blocher, he deserves this punishment." | Commentary in a column in the Tages-Anzeiger by cabaretist Franz Hohler in the run-up to the Federal Council elections in 2003 in relation to politician Christoph Blocher ( SVP ). |
| 2004 | "Switzerland - zero points." | After the contribution of Piero Esteriore the Euro Vision Song Contest 2004 . |
| 2005 | "Germany, here we come!" | Successful qualification of the Swiss national football team for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. |
| 2006 | "I can do it!" | Statement by Doris Leuthard before her election as Federal Councilor . |
| 2007 | "The Rütli is just a meadow with cow dung." | Quote from Ueli Maurer on the discussion about the federal celebration on the Rütliwiese . |
| 2008 | "We don't just have to use the carrot, we also have to use the stick." | The German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück on dealing with Switzerland as an alleged tax haven . |
| 2009 | "I am not well integrated in Switzerland - I am Swiss!" | Answer of the U-17 soccer world champion Granit Xhaka to a reporter question. |
| 2010 | "Switzerland is a frustrating Alpine democracy." | Minuted in 2008 by Peter R. Coneway, US Ambassador in Bern , in an internal dispatch published by Wikileaks in 2010 . |
| 2011 | "Life is not a boni farm." | |
| 2012 | "Vada a bordo, cazzo!" | ( Ital. , analogously: “Go damn it back on board!”) In connection with the sinking of the cruise ship Costa Concordia as a symbol for today's attitude, “the bosses go, the employees bathe everything”. |
| 2013 | "Aff!" | Reaction of Federal President Ueli Maurer to a cameraman who harassed him in the Federal Palace. |
| 2014 | "It remains volatile." | Frequent statement by Swiss meteorologists about the weather forecast in the very changeable and bad weather summer of 2014. |
| 2015 | "You can't buy a World Cup." | Original quote from Sepp Blatter : "You can't buy a World Cup." The jury was impressed by the fact that despite Sepp Blatter contradicts all revelations in 2015. |
| 2016 | "Maybe in the future we will have to deliver the grenades without a logo so that nobody knows where they come from." | Statement by the Aargau SVP National Council Andreas Glarner on the evening before August 1st in an interview with the Aargau regional broadcaster Tele M1. An " IS " attacker had used Swiss grenades in a terrorist attack in Turkey, which led to calls in Switzerland for a ban on the export of war material. |
More expressions
| year | Expression | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Press release of the year : « Croissants stolen - On Sunday morning, shortly after 7:00 am, the St. Gallen city police had to move to the main train station. A young man stole two croissants from the station kiosk without paying for them. Upon closer inspection of the person, a larger amount of prescription drugs could be found. The man will be reported to the St. Gallen Investigation Office in this regard. " | |
| 2007 | Dialect word of the year : pimping | |
| 2008 | Abbreviation of the year : HarmoS | Harmonization of compulsory school |
| 2008 | New word of the year : doodle | From the English word for "scribble" |
| 2009 | Youth word of the year : Sbeschtewosjehetsgitz | "S'Beschte wo's je het's git's" ( the best that has ever existed ) as a replacement for "geil" or "mega" |
| 2010 | Youth word of the year : hobbyless | |
| 2011 | Youth word of the year : Mopfer | |
| 2012 | Youth word of the year : shaz | for "sweetheart" 'loved or adorable person' |
| 2014 | Financial word of the year : zero interest rate policy | |
| 2015 | Financial word of the year : Swiss franc shock | |
| 2016 | Expression / gesture of the year : dabbing | "The gesture of holding one bent arm in front of your forehead and stretching the other out at the same angle is increasingly used by young people in Switzerland as well. [...]" (from the jury's statement) |
French language area
| year | French word of the year (mot romand de l'année) |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | harcèlement | "Harassment" - The word includes various types of harassment that the public has so far been silent about. 2nd place: congé paternité; 3rd place: influenceur / influenceuse |
| 2018 | charge mental | 2nd place: sécheresse; 3rd place: infox |
| 2019 | vague verte | 2nd place: féminicide; 3rd place: flygskam |
Italian language area
| year | Italian word of the year (parola svizzera dell'anno) |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | gesto dell'aquila | 2nd place: notte tropicale; 3rd place: criptovalute |
| 2019 | onda verde | 2nd place: sciopero delle donne; 3rd place: 5G |
Romansh-speaking area
| year | Romansh word of the year (pled svizzer da l'onn) |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | mesiras da save | Advises. for "austerity measures" |
| 2005 | Porta Alpina | Underground train station in the middle of the Swiss Gotthard base tunnel |
| 2006 | sessiun | Advises. for “ Session ” - was on everyone's lips due to the implementation of the autumn 2006 session of the Swiss parliament in the Surselvian language area ( Flims ) |
| 2007 | elecziuns | Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is elected to the Federal Council in place of Christoph Blocher |
| 2008 | Europeada | The first football tournament for the European language minorities takes place in Graubünden |
| 2009 | vaccinaziun | Advises. for "vaccination" related to avian flu |
| 2010 | gnochergnar | Advises. for «cuddling» - in the years during the turmoil surrounding Rumantsch Grischun as the school language, the focus was on «beautiful, hearty» words as the word of the year. |
| 2011 | all day | Advises. for "fooling around" |
| 2012 | arsuc | Advises. for "shoehorn" |
| 2013 | raffader | Advises. for «rip-offs», is related to the rip-off initiative |
| 2014 | far linlogn | Advises. for "dawdle" |
| 2015 | shishuri | Advises. for "confusion" |
| 2016 | barbagiat | Advises. for "sore muscles" |
| 2017 | floods | Advises. for "Cumulus Cloud, Spätzli or Knöpfli" |
| 2018 | derschalet | Advises. for "nightmare" |
| 2019 | luf | Advises. for “Wolf” - 2nd place: diaspora; 3rd place: unda verda |
From 2004 to 2018 the Word of the Year was chosen by RadioTelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha with the involvement of the audience and a jury. From 2019 the word of the year will be chosen by the ZHAW in cooperation with the Lia Rumantscha .
Swiss-German sign language
Since 2016, the Swiss Association of the Deaf has been awarding a Sign of the Year for Swiss-German Sign Language .
| year | gesture | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Donald Trump | Fought against “ vegan ”, “ Netflix ”, “ deportation detention ” and “ Guy Parmelin ”. The decisive factor was the simple gesture that refers to the "trumpy head of hair". |
| 2017 | Roger Federer | Due to his comeback, the gesture "Roger Federer" also experienced a comeback. |
| 2018 | Alain Berset | During the August 1st speech by Federal President Berset on the Rütli, which was translated into sign language, he and his colleagues in the Federal Council were shown his signs. The related video went viral among the deaf community. |
| 2019 | Greta Thunberg |
See also
- Word of the Year (Germany)
- Word of the year (Liechtenstein)
- Austrian word of the year
- Word of the year (South Tyrol)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Manuela Nyffenegger: Swiss word of the year: “Meh Dräck” - in future scientifically sound In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung of January 9, 2017
- ↑ Word of the Year Switzerland - Your vote is in demand | ZHAW Applied Linguistics. Retrieved on July 29, 2017 (German).
- ↑ a b Hannoversche Allgemeine: “Gesture of the Year”: Donald Trump , accessed December 16, 2016, accessed December 6, 2017
- ↑ Press release ( memento of March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) on the website of the City of St. Gallen.
- ↑ NZZ online, December 1, 2014.
- ↑ NZZ online, November 30, 2015.
- ↑ #metoo is the Swiss-German word of the year on srf.ch, accessed on December 8, 2017.
- ↑ Word of the Year Switzerland | ZHAW Applied Linguistics. Retrieved on February 14, 2018 (German). .
- ↑ Word of the Year Switzerland | ZHAW Applied Linguistics. Accessed December 9, 2018 (German). .
- ↑ "Climate Youth" is the German-speaking word of the year 2019. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . December 3, 2019, accessed December 5, 2019 .
- ↑ SRF 3 , December 2, 2015.
- ↑ watson , December 7, 2016.
- ^ Word of the Year Switzerland at zhaw.ch Applied Linguistics , accessed on December 9, 2017.
- ↑ “S'beschte wo's je hets gits” , NZZ, June 16, 2009.
- ↑ Radio SRF 3: Swiss Word of the Year 2016 is a filter bubble
- ↑ Summary of the reasons in French under: Word of the Year Switzerland on zhaw.ch Applied Linguistics , accessed on December 9, 2017.
- ↑ Word of the Year Switzerland | ZHAW Applied Linguistics. Retrieved on February 14, 2018 (German).
- ↑ SGB-FSS: "Donald Trump" is Sign of the Year! , accessed December 6, 2017
- ↑ SGB-FSS: "Roger Federer" is Sign of the Year , accessed on December 6, 2017
- ↑ "Alain Berset" elected Sign of the Year . SGB-FSS, accessed December 5, 2019.
- ^ "Alain Berset" is Sign of the Year . SRF. November 11, 2018, accessed December 5, 2019.
- ↑ "Greta Thunberg" is the sign of the year 2019 . SGB-FSS, accessed December 5, 2019.
- ↑ This is what Greta Thunberg looks like in sign language . 20 minutes. November 28, 2019, accessed December 5, 2019.