Sütterlin
Encyclopedia
Sütterlinschrift or Sütterlin for short, is the last widely used form of the old German blackletter handwriting
(Deutsche Kurrentschrift). In Germany, the old German cursive script developed in the 16th century, replacing the Gothic handwriting at the same time that bookletters developed into the Fraktur typeface. Some people refer to all old German handwriting scripts as Sütterlin, although variants of the Kurrent script were in use centuries before graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin
(1865–1917) was born. Sütterlin was commissioned to create a modern handwriting script by the Prussia
n ministry for culture in 1911 and his handwriting scheme gradually replaced the older cursive scripts. The word Sütterlin is nowadays often used to refer to all varieties of Old German handwriting, although this specific script was only taught in all German schools from 1935 to 1941.
n ministry for culture had asked for "modern" handwriting scripts to be used in the offices and to be taught in school. Sütterlin created two scripts in parallel with the two bookletter schemes that were in use (see Antiqua-Fraktur dispute
). The Sütterlin scripts were introduced in Prussia
in 1915, and from the 1920s onwards began to replace the relatively similar old German handwriting (Kurrent
) in schools. In 1935 the Sütterlin style officially became the only German script taught in schools.
The Nazi Party banned all "broken" blackletter
typefaces in 1941, including Sütterlin, erroneously claiming them to be Jewish. However, many German speakers brought up with this writing system continued to use it well into the post-war period.
Sütterlin was taught in some German schools until the 1970s, but no longer as the primary script.
diacritic
from a small 'e' written above the modified vowel can be seen.
Sütterlin is based on the old German handwriting, which is a handwriting form of the Blackletter
scripts such as Fraktur
or Schwabacher
, the German print scripts which were used during the same time.
It also had the long s (ſ)
, as well as several standard ligatures
such as (f-f), (ſ-t), (s-t), and of course ß
(ſ-z or ſ-s).
For most people outside of Germany, as well as younger Germans, Sütterlin is nearly illegible — even more so than Fraktur
printing. Because of their distinctiveness, Sütterlin letters can be used on the blackboard for mathematical
symbols which would use Fraktur letters in print. The Sütterlin lower-case d is used in proof-reading for delete and stands for Latin dele
atur - let it be deleted.
Kurrent
Kurrent is an old form of German language handwriting based on late medieval cursive writing, also known as Kurrentschrift or Alte Deutsche Schrift...
(Deutsche Kurrentschrift). In Germany, the old German cursive script developed in the 16th century, replacing the Gothic handwriting at the same time that bookletters developed into the Fraktur typeface. Some people refer to all old German handwriting scripts as Sütterlin, although variants of the Kurrent script were in use centuries before graphic artist Ludwig Sütterlin
Ludwig Sütterlin
Ludwig Sütterlin was a graphic artist who lived in Berlin, Germany, and was most notable for designing and creating the old German blackletter handwriting Sütterlinschrift or simply Sütterlin....
(1865–1917) was born. Sütterlin was commissioned to create a modern handwriting script by the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n ministry for culture in 1911 and his handwriting scheme gradually replaced the older cursive scripts. The word Sütterlin is nowadays often used to refer to all varieties of Old German handwriting, although this specific script was only taught in all German schools from 1935 to 1941.
History
The PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n ministry for culture had asked for "modern" handwriting scripts to be used in the offices and to be taught in school. Sütterlin created two scripts in parallel with the two bookletter schemes that were in use (see Antiqua-Fraktur dispute
Antiqua-Fraktur dispute
The Antiqua–Fraktur dispute was a typographical dispute in 19th- and early 20th-century Germany.In most European countries, blackletter typefaces such as the Fraktur were displaced with the creation of the Antiqua typefaces in the 15th and 16th centuries...
). The Sütterlin scripts were introduced in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1915, and from the 1920s onwards began to replace the relatively similar old German handwriting (Kurrent
Kurrent
Kurrent is an old form of German language handwriting based on late medieval cursive writing, also known as Kurrentschrift or Alte Deutsche Schrift...
) in schools. In 1935 the Sütterlin style officially became the only German script taught in schools.
The Nazi Party banned all "broken" blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
typefaces in 1941, including Sütterlin, erroneously claiming them to be Jewish. However, many German speakers brought up with this writing system continued to use it well into the post-war period.
Sütterlin was taught in some German schools until the 1970s, but no longer as the primary script.
Characteristics
The Sütterlin lower-case 'e' resembles two slanted bars, in which the origin of the umlautUmlaut (diacritic)
The diaeresis and the umlaut are diacritics that consist of two dots placed over a letter, most commonly a vowel. When that letter is an i or a j, the diacritic replaces the tittle: ï....
diacritic
Diacritic
A diacritic is a glyph added to a letter, or basic glyph. The term derives from the Greek διακριτικός . Diacritic is both an adjective and a noun, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritical marks, such as the acute and grave are often called accents...
from a small 'e' written above the modified vowel can be seen.
Sütterlin is based on the old German handwriting, which is a handwriting form of the Blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
scripts such as Fraktur
Fraktur (typeface)
Fraktur is a calligraphic hand and any of several blackletter typefaces derived from this hand. The word derives from the past participle fractus of Latin frangere...
or Schwabacher
Schwabacher
The German word Schwabacher refers to a specific blackletter typeface. The term derives from the town of Schwabach.-Characteristics:The small-letter g and the capital-letter H have particularly distinctive forms.-History:...
, the German print scripts which were used during the same time.
It also had the long s (ſ)
Long s
The long, medial or descending s is a form of the minuscule letter s formerly used where s occurred in the middle or at the beginning of a word, for example "ſinfulneſs" . The modern letterform was called the terminal, round, or short s.-History:The long s is derived from the old Roman cursive...
, as well as several standard ligatures
Ligature (typography)
In writing and typography, a ligature occurs where two or more graphemes are joined as a single glyph. Ligatures usually replace consecutive characters sharing common components and are part of a more general class of glyphs called "contextual forms", where the specific shape of a letter depends on...
such as (f-f), (ſ-t), (s-t), and of course ß
ß
In the German alphabet, ß is a letter that originated as a ligature of ss or sz. Like double "s", it is pronounced as an , but in standard spelling, it is only used after long vowels and diphthongs, while ss is used after short vowels...
(ſ-z or ſ-s).
For most people outside of Germany, as well as younger Germans, Sütterlin is nearly illegible — even more so than Fraktur
Fraktur (typeface)
Fraktur is a calligraphic hand and any of several blackletter typefaces derived from this hand. The word derives from the past participle fractus of Latin frangere...
printing. Because of their distinctiveness, Sütterlin letters can be used on the blackboard for mathematical
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
symbols which would use Fraktur letters in print. The Sütterlin lower-case d is used in proof-reading for delete and stands for Latin dele
Dele
A dele or deleatur is a proofreading symbol used to mark something for deletion.-Name:Dele, the more common term in modern American English , coincides with the imperative form of the Latin delere...
atur - let it be deleted.
Overview of the letters
A aB b
C c
D d
E e
F f