Burners? Against the feralization of our technical language
06/05/2020
In politics and business, as well as among the general public, the pros and cons of electric cars are being discussed. In this dispute, the well-established promoters of the electric car - to which the future undoubtedly belongs - have achieved an inconspicuous but psychologically significant success: they systematically and succinctly refer to the traditional combustion engine as a "combustion engine".
With this contemptuous term, they are relegating the engine technology invented 134 years ago by pioneers Benz and Daimler to the level of a primitive device. Yes, they are subliminally alluding to the incineration of waste. However, the diesel engine at least will remain indispensable for long-distance transportation for a long time to come.
Because the term "combustion engine" is rarely used in the daily press, its journalists could easily get into the mood for "combustion engine". However, this word embodies the language of the street just as much as "Karre" instead of "Auto". In the meantime, the new slang word has even occasionally reached specialist journals, which can be seen as a particular mental success for the e-car lobby!
P.S. Editor's note: A search for "Verbrenner" on Zwischengas yields 30 results. We will do our best to leave it at that ...
