Constructive German linguistic reaction to World War 2?

College Confidential Community
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<p>Since World War 2, Germany of course has gone under a major overhaul, two of which are their language and their beer. While the latter may be of more relevance, the former is the subject of this post and discussion.</p>

<p>Germans have since constructed many words which form a conjunction of two german words to create profound subtleties of meaning that English simply does not have, such as schadenfreude or whatnot. These words are exceptionally useful and I think are indicative of the profoundly constructive way Germany has reacted to World War 2.</p>

<p>But could a declining German economy (and perhaps faltering German beer economy?) overpower this linguistic progress, undermine double and triple unions, and perhaps lead to a 4th or even 5th Reich?</p>

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<p>1) Whatnot is an english word, not part of the German language.
2) I’m not sure how the economy changes the linguistics of Germany. Could you elaborate?</p>

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<p>Hasn’t the German language long had such compound words, even before WW II? I don’t think this is a new development.</p>