Dear Susan,
the Reformed Orthography was created during the 1980es and early 1990s
in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It was agreed upon during the
"Wiener Orthographiekonferenz" in 1994 and presented to the politicians
in all German speaking countries.
In Germany, the conference of the ministers for culture (including
education) of the Länder (KMK) decided to accept and implement these new
rules. The relevant ministries of the Länder did so afterwards. Due to
the strange educational system in Germany, this is near-law status. That
means, that in Germany the Reformed Orthography is compulsory _in
schools only_. Many but not all other institutions, companies … accepted
the Reformed Orthography as well without being forced to do. The
constitutional court even protected the population from being forced to
use the Reformed Orthography (with exception to the educational system).
In Austria, the relevant federal ministry implemented these rules and
they apply to state institutions.
In Switzerland, the rules are compulsory in the educational system with
exception to Kanton Bern.
In Luxembourg, they are compulsory in the educational system.
In South Tyrol, they are compulsory in the educational system and the
state institutions.
Conclusion:
There is no LAW for the Reformed Orthography in Germany, except in the
educational system.
The reform applies similarly to all German speaking countries.
Source: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rechtschreibreform_von_1996
ciao
Toscho
Am 13.01.2014 16:02, schrieb Susan Dittmar:
Dear Phil,
Philip Taylor schrieb:
My 1999 edition of the Collins German Dictionary (reformed orthography)
gives only "wusste", and gives it as the preterite of "wissen".
Does "wußte" exist in the Reformed Orthography, and if so,
with what meaning ?
it does not exist in the Reformed Orthography, that's right. But there's
strong resistance, as you probably already noticed, against this
reform. So although Law decided for "wußte" to no longer be correct,
most people here (at least most of those who finished school before the
reform) still use, and insist on, the old form.
Btw, the reform only applies to Germany. To my knowledge it does not
apply to other German-speaking countries like Austria and Suisse.
Hope that helps lessen the confusion,
Susan
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