[Vision2020] German language loses its longest word

[Kenneth Marcy]

Associated Press
Updated:   06/03/2013 11:37:57 AM PDT

BERLIN -- A tweak to state laws in the German state of 
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to conform with current EU regulations has 
caused an unexpected casualty: the longest word in the German language.

The Rindfleischetikettierungsueberwachungsaufgabenuebertragungsgesetz is 
no more.

The "law delegating beef label monitoring" was introduced by the state 
in 1999 as part of measures against mad cow disease. But the DPA news 
agency reported Monday the law was removed from the books last week 
because European Union regulations have changed.

German still has words like the very robust 
Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitaenswitwe to fall back on -- 
meaning "widow of a Danube steamboat company captain."

DPA reports such words have been so rarely used, however, that they're 
not in the dictionary. There the longest word honor falls to 
Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung: automobile liability insurance.

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