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This article gives basic information about the German Duden dictionaries.
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Konrad Duden - The Duden-„Inventor”
Konrad Duden, a German philologist born 1829 in Wesel, fostered through out his life the standardization and unification of the German orthography. In 1880 he published the „Vollständige Orthographische Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache” ("The orthographic dictionary of the German language), the so called „Urduden”.
Konrad Duden died 1911 in Bad Hersfeld, where you will find the "Dudenstein", a memorial set up for him. Konrad Duden started the success of the dictionary, which up to day is the most important reference in the whole German speaking area whenever it comes to correct writing.
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On June 7, 1880 the publishing house "Verlag Bibliographisches Institut in Leipzig" publishes a book with the title „Vollständiges Orthographisches Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache” by Dr. Konrad Duden. This first edition of the Duden had 187 pages, covered 27.000 headwords, and was sold at the reasonable price of one German Mark.
The reception the „Urduden” received was a very good one. This success was not only based on the good pricing, but mainly because of the easy use of the Duden and the important help it gave to it's readers. Since this first edition the duden keeps the same aim: giving fast help while you are on the job.
The contribution of the Duden to unify the German orthography was immense. Soon this book was used in schools, by publishers, lecturers and printers. This work by one single man managed to do what countless conferences haven't had managed: to base the German writing on one common ground.
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Today, 129 years after its first edition, the content of the Duden The German Spelling Dictionary has multiplied by five.
The 25th edition covers 35.000 headwords, give more than 500.000 examples, definitions, details on syllabication, pronunciation, grammar, etymology and style.
With the recent writing reforms in Germany the Duden is again the source to be consulted as the official language guide.
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