Quoting "Pascal A. Kramm" <pkramm@...>:
> On Sat, 9 Oct 2004 12:28:51 -0400, J. 'Mach' Wust <j_mach_wust@...>
> wrote:
> >He doesn't have to use the |ß|, irrespective of old or new spelling, since
> >he's one of the four million living proofs that you can perfectly write and
> >read German without any |ß|: He's Swiss.
>
> So they don't use any ß at all? How odd... O_o
The non-German part of the world is tempted to say "how sensible". :p
> >The rules for the usage of the |ß|,
> >BTW, have been simplified in the spelling reform.
>
> Nope, the exact opposite is true.
> Before: ss if the two s fall into different syllables (Mes-ser), else ß.
> After: You must now also see if the vowel before is long. If yes, you still
> have to use it. To most people this is too much hassle, so they just ignore
> this and intentionally misspell the words because they can't be bothered.
Actually, I too find the new rules easier. On top of which they allow for more
consistent treatment of vocalic length and don't involve the most annoying
concept of orthographic syllables.
(Unless you're telling us you've got a geminate in _Messer_ ...)
Andreas