Origin of the „ß“
The development of the „Eszett“ (ß) in the German script is historically conditioned and closely linked to changes in the German language and writing. The letter „ß“ has its origins in the Fraktur scripts of the Middle Ages. During the course of the Germanic sound shift, which spanned several centuries, a fusion of the „Long s“ with the letter „z“ took place starting from the 14th century.
This process continued in the Antiqua script in the 15th century. During this time, the „Long s“ merged with the „Round s“ to form what we now know as the „Eszett“ (ß). This development led to the formation of a position-dependent allograph or ligature, indicating the use of the „Sharp s.“ Thus, the „Eszett“ or „Sharp s“ emerged as an independent letter in the German alphabet.
The precise interpretation of the allography, specifically the evolution from „sz“ to „ß“ in Gothic scripts and from „ss“ in Antiqua scripts, remains a subject of scholarly debate. In linguistics, an allograph refers to one of various possible spellings or graphic representations of a specific character. This particularly applies to cases where different spellings represent the same phoneme, expressing the same linguistic sound – for example, „oe“ to „ö“ or „ss“ or „sz“ to „ß.“
The development of the ligature „ß“ (Eszett, Sharp s) based on the „Wilhelm-Klingspor-Schrift“ by Rudolf Koch (1876–1934). On the left are the two „s“ (Long s „ſ“ and Round s „s“) of a Fraktur script. On the right are the ligatures for „tz“ and „ß.“ The prevailing view is that in Fraktur scripts, the ligature „ß“ evolved from „ſz,“ while in Antiqua scripts, it originated from „ſs.“
In Southern Germany and Austria, the symbol „ß“ is predominantly referred to as the „Sharp s,“ while in Central and Northern Germany, it is more commonly known as the „Eszett.“ This phenomenon has led to the hypothesis that, in all likelihood, regions with a traditionally Catholic background (such as Bavaria and Austria) derive the term primarily from the monastic (humanistic) Antiqua tradition. On the other hand, regions with a traditionally Protestant background (such as Schleswig-Holstein or Lower Saxony) may tend to associate the term more with the role of Fraktur in the Reformation, including scripts like Schwabacher and Luther Fraktur.
The spelling reform of 1996 and the correct usage
With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, the independent letter „ß“ finally emerged. However, this letter was only present in lowercase form since, both then and until today, there were no German words starting with „ß.“ As a result, there seemed to be no need for an uppercase version. Many centuries have passed, and „ß“ continues to be a part of the German language. Nevertheless, using „ß“ is not straightforward, as there are numerous exceptions and rules surrounding its usage.
In older texts, the letter „ß“ is used much more frequently. This tendency is particularly observed in the older generation. This is because a German spelling reform came into effect in 1996, significantly altering the spelling of words with the „s“ sound. Although this reform took place a while ago, older individuals might not have fully adapted to the new spelling for „ß.“ The most noticeable change was that many words that were previously spelled with „ß“ are now written with a double „ss.“ In older texts, you may encounter words like „daß,“ „Kuß,“ or „Abschluß.“
The rules for the letter „ß“ according to the spelling rules of 1996 state that it is used when the vowel (vowel sound) is pronounced long, for example: „Floß“ (raft), „Spaß“ (fun), „Maßstab“ (yardstick). The „ß“ thus lengthens the vowel. Additionally, „ß“ is used after a long umlaut (ä, ö, ü), for example: „Füße“ (feet), „Gefäß“ (vessel), „süß“ (sweet). The „ß“ is also employed when it follows a diphthong (double vowels like eu, ei, au, etc.), for example: „heißen“ (to be called), „Gießkanne“ (watering can), „Schweiß“ (sweat). If a word ends with a diphthong followed by a hard „s,“ it is always spelled with „s“ and never with „ß,“ for instance: „Eis“ (ice), „sneeze,“ „go out.“
Links
https://www.typolexikon.de/eszett-scharfes-s/#Fussnote-12359-2-3
