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New alphabet for Germany: Why cities now stand for letters!
Zwickau discusses the reform of the spelling board: New regulation is based on city names and breaks with historical burdens.
New alphabet for Germany: Why cities now stand for letters!
Three years ago, the German Institute for Standardization made a fundamental change to spelling in the German-speaking world. The new spelling board, in effect since May 2022, replaces the old board, which was based on first names. Instead of relying on these traditionally loaded names, the new variant now offers spelling based on German city names. For example, it says “A for Aachen” or “F for Frankfurt”. This spelling reform is intended not only to be more intuitive, but also to leave behind the deep-rooted historical legacy associated with the ancient tablet.
The old spelling board not only had a problematic history, as it was adapted during the Nazi era and systematically removed Jewish names. Rather, it also represented an imbalance in gender representation, with 16 male names to just 6 female names. Dr. Michael Blume, the anti-Semitism commissioner in Baden-Württemberg, was instrumental in initiating this reform and hopes that the new plaque will set an example for a more modern and fairer society. However, despite this progress, there are concerns and problems with the acceptance of the new spelling board. Many people stick to the old method.
Acceptance problems of the new spelling board
Although the new board has been introduced, some institutions, such as police and fire departments, still rely on their internal systems. This is not least because many companies are reluctant to make the effort to switch to the new spelling board. This shows that awareness of tradition and a certain hesitation in implementation go hand in hand.
A possible explanation for the hesitant adaptation could be the fact that important international standards, such as the NATO alphabet, place a clear focus on communication in order to avoid misunderstandings. These standards seem to many to be a tried and tested method that is difficult to overcome.
A completely different discussion presents itself in another area of social change. For example, significant changes have also occurred in healthcare, particularly in the area of Medicare Advantage plans. The Humana Choice PPO Plans provide easier access to any Medicare-approved doctor, whether in or out of the provider network. But if you want to benefit from the lower costs, you should use in-network providers if possible, as they generally offer financial advantages.
The flexibility of PPO plans often comes with higher monthly premiums, but they include all the benefits of Medicare Parts A and B, and many also offer prescription drug coverage. This provides an enormous degree of flexibility and an annual cap on maximum spending, which provides an additional level of security for those insured.
When these two topics are compared, you can see that the change in our society is accompanied by challenges both in language and in healthcare. While the spelling shows a broader social reflection on the values and norms of living together, the health system offers many opportunities with new offerings that are accompanied by increased flexibility. It remains exciting to see how both areas will develop in the coming years.