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From: deb5@midway.uchicago.edu (Daniel von Brighoff)
Subject: Re: Verb moods
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References: <32D04BD9.24D9@postoffice.worldnet.att.net> <5as9pa$5md@dfw-ixnews8.ix.netcom.com> <E3o69H.D8n@midway.uchicago.edu> <32D288DB.71A6@online.no>
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 06:47:18 GMT
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In article <32D288DB.71A6@online.no>, Anders Blehr  <ablehr@online.no> wrote:
>Daniel von Brighoff wrote:
>
>> In other words, Konjunktiv II can always replace Konjunktiv I.  The latter
>> seems to be purely literary, with no footing in the dialects, and can only
>> be used for indirect discourse--where it can always be replaced by the
>> indicative (with a slight change in syntax).  I think it's better viewed
>> as a specialised variant form of the subjunctive rather than as a distinct
>> mood.
>
>The Konjunktiv I is always used to indicate indirect speech in radio and
>TV broadcasts, and is also used in everyday speech, although not very
>commonly.

Sorry, my phrasing was misleading.  When I said "literary", I meant
"characteristic of the formal standard variety".  Standard German was
originally a purely literary dialect; it did not acquire a standard
pronunciation ("B"uhnenausprache") until last century and, arguably, did
not become the native speech variety of a substantial number of Germans
until this century.  

Konjunktiv I is consistently employed by news announcers and other
broadcasters who are reading from a teleprompter or other written aid.  It
is rarely heard from DJs or in programmes where colloquial speech is being
reproduced.

-- 
	 Daniel "Da" von Brighoff    /\          Dilettanten
	(deb5@midway.uchicago.edu)  /__\         erhebt Euch
				   /____\      gegen die Kunst!
