Beyond Kiezdeutsch: What Youth Language Can Teach Us About German
How contemporary youth language challenges stereotypes — and why it belongs in the German classroom
1. From Kanak Sprak to Kiezdeutsch: Rethinking “Broken German”
“Wallah, ich geh Kino.”
— Kiezdeutsch
Few linguistic phenomena have sparked as much public debate in Germany as Kiezdeutsch. Since the early 2000s, the variety has been discussed not only within linguistics but also in wider public discourse. While some critics have interpreted it as evidence of language decline, linguists have highlighted it as an example of creativity, multilingualism and language change.
The linguist Heike Wiese first described the phenomenon in 2006 in her essay “Ich mach dich Messer”, using the term Kiez-Sprache in reference to Feridun Zaimoglu’s groundbreaking work Kanak Sprak.
Published in 1995, Zaimoglu’s Kanak Sprak – 24 Mißtöne vom Rande der Gesellschaft (“24 Discordant Voices from the Margins of Society”) shook up the German literary scene. Through twenty-four semi-fictional interviews, the author gave voice to migrants, former guest workers (Gastarbeiter) and their descendants, exploring the question: “How do Kanaks live in Germany?”
The term Kanake, originally used as a derogatory label for migrants from Turkey and other parts of Southeast Europe, underwent a process of reappropriation. A similar development can be observed with the term queer, which has been reclaimed by many members of the LGBTQ+ community as a positive identity marker.
According to Zaimoglu, Kanak Sprak contributed to this process of linguistic and cultural redefinition. His characters, with their unconventional grammar and distinctive voices, can be understood not as examples of linguistic deficiency but as expressions of identity, belonging and social change.
Like a mosaic, different Kanak identities reveal shared experiences and broader social connections.
In 2003, Zaimoglu — once described as the enfant terrible of the German literary scene — won the Jury Prize at the Ingeborg Bachmann Competition for his story Häute, gaining recognition as one of the most significant contemporary German-language authors.
However, Zaimoglu’s influence extended far beyond literature. His work also inspired linguistic discussions about multilingual youth language and paved the way for researchers such as Heike Wiese.
2. Beyond Berlin: Youth Language in Vienna
Youth language in German-speaking countries is characterised by a creative mixture of linguistic influences, including English features, migrant languages and newly created expressions. In Berlin, this multilingual variety is commonly referred to as Kiezdeutsch, following Wiese’s research. In Switzerland, the term Jugodeutsch can be found.
But what about Austria — and especially Vienna?
This is where Zara Fahim’s research begins.
Zara Fahim, a PhD researcher at the University of Nottingham, investigates how youth language is represented in contemporary German. In her research, she explores the linguistic practices of multilingual young people and examines how different languages interact in urban contexts.
In her talk at the University of Nottingham conference, she offered insights into the use of youth language in the classroom.
Vienna is characterised by a rich multilingual landscape, with languages such as Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BKS), Turkish and Romanian playing an important role in many communities. But what happens when these languages come into contact with each other?
How does multilingualism shape the German spoken by young people today?
3. Why Youth Language Belongs in the Classroom
Introducing youth language into language teaching first requires addressing a widespread misconception: the idea of language decline.
Many linguists reject the idea of language decay, arguing that languages do not become “worse” — they change. Youth language is therefore not a sign of linguistic failure but a reflection of how living languages develop.
Using authentic youth language materials also challenges the traditional approach of relying solely on outdated textbooks and fixed vocabulary lists. Language learning should be as vibrant as the language itself.
Furthermore, youth language can empower learners. When students encounter authentic forms of language that they recognise from their own experiences, they become experts themselves. Although they may not know German as well as their teacher, youth language can become their territory.
Since many features of contemporary youth language include English influences, it may also feel particularly accessible to native English speakers learning German.
Another important advantage is the connection to learners’ lived experiences.
In her talk, Zara Fahim suggested using role play as a pedagogical tool. To illustrate the use of slang, she referred to a viral TikTok incident involving a spilled matcha latte on a Vienna tram (Bim). Learners could create a WhatsApp conversation about the incident with a friend, naturally incorporating elements of youth language.
As preparation, students could be introduced to contemporary German through resources such as Easy German, the Goethe-Institut’s dialect phone project or the annual Jugendwort des Jahres.
4. Speaking Before Speaking Perfectly
Beyond the advantages of authentic material, learners’ lived experiences and their own linguistic expertise, youth language teaches us one important lesson:
Sometimes language learners focus so much on producing perfect grammar that they forget to open their mouths.
Yet the examples discussed above show that so-called “broken German” is not broken at all. It is creative, dynamic and alive.
Perhaps becoming fluent is a little like becoming an adult: nobody grows up without making mistakes first. Teenagers experiment with language before they master it — and language learners do exactly the same.
So embrace your mistakes. After all, every native speaker was once a beginner too.