During the twentieth century, we have learned that words need not serve the purpose of honest communications. In fact, words are often used to hide truth and become a means of deceiving people. During the Holocaust, Nazi language not only shielded reality from their victims but also softened the truth of the Nazi involvement in mass murder. This manipulation of language is still practiced in the modern world.
|
German Word |
Literal Meaning |
Real Meaning |
|
1. Ausgemerzt |
exterminated (insects) |
murdered |
|
2. Liquidiert |
liquidated |
murdered |
|
3. Erledigt |
finished (off) |
murdered |
|
4. Aktionen |
actions |
missions to seek out Jews and kill them |
|
5. Sonderaktionen |
special actions |
special mission to kill Jews |
|
6. Sonderbehandlung |
special treatment |
Jews taken through death process in camps |
|
7. Sonderbehandelt |
specially treated |
sent through death process |
|
8. Sauberung |
cleansing |
sent through the death process |
|
9. Ausschaltung |
elimination |
murder of Jews |
|
10. Aussiedlung |
evacuation |
murder of Jews |
|
11. Umsiedlung |
resettlement |
murder of Jews |
|
12. Exekutivemassnahme |
executive measure |
order for murder |
|
13. Entsprechend Behandelt |
treated appropriately |
murdered |
|
14. De Sondermassnahme zugefuhrt |
conveyed to special measure |
killed |
|
15. Sicherhistspoilzelich durchgearbeitet |
worker in security police |
murdered |
|
16. Losung der Judenfrage |
solution of the Jewish question |
murder of Jewish people |
|
17. Bereinigung der Judenfrage |
cleaning up the Jewish question |
murder |
|
18. Judenfrei gemacht |
made free of Jews |
all Jews in an area killed |
|
19. Badeanstalten |
bath houses |
gas chambers |
|
20. Leichenkeller |
corpse cellars |
crematorium |
|
21. Hechenhold Foundation |
|
diesel engine located in shack at Belzec used to gas Jews |
|
22. Durekgeschleusst |
dragged through |
sent through killing process in camp |
|
23. Endlosung |
the Final Solution |
the decision to murder all Jews |
|
24. Hiffsmittel |
auxiliary equipment |
gas vans for murder |
Questions
1. Are you aware of any use of language as for example in advertising in American culture that also serves to hide real meaning?
2. Do advertisers often use words deceptively?
3. How do politicians sometimes use language to mask their real values? Give some examples from daily life. What do we mean when we refer to ‘legalese’ or ‘medicalese?’
4. How did the perpetrators of the Holocaust use this to their advantage?