Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache und Literatur St. Gallen

The Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache und Literatur St. Gallen (GdSL) is one of the oldest cultural institutions in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Founded in 1911 by Paul Oettli, a scholar of Swiss-German name studies, the association has devoted itself for more than a century to the cultivation of the German language and to contemporary German-language literature. In its early decades it was particularly active in promoting dialect (Mundart) literature, supporting writers such as Frieda Hilty-Gröbli and Clara Wettach, and it also engaged in political advocacy on behalf of language and culture. After the Second World War the GdSL shifted its focus toward contemporary literature. Under presidents such as Hans-Rudolf Hilty and later Fred Kurer, it brought major literary figures to St. Gallen, including Carl Zuckmayer and Peter Handke in the 1970s, and organized the 3rd International Writers' Congress in 1957 and an international poetry meeting in 1978. The association has consistently provided a stage for local and regional voices while also opening niches for newer literary formats. Today the GdSL is a membership-based association that organizes readings, lectures and sofa readings (Sofalesungen), supports authors from Eastern Switzerland, and serves as the umbrella organization for the Wortlaut St. Gallen literature festival, which it has run since 2014. It also co-founded the Literaturstadt St. Gallen platform, a shared calendar for literary events in the city. Its activities are held under the label "Literatur in der Hauptpost" and, since 2019, it has collaborated with the Sofalesungen association to present debut authors in private settings. The GdSL remains a volunteer-run organization governed by a board, and it continues to seek new board members to steer its future.

The Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache und Literatur St. Gallen (GdSL) was founded in 1911 in St. Gallen by Paul Oettli, a researcher of Swiss-German name studies. From its earliest years, the association played an important role in the cultivation of the local dialect (Mundart) and was also politically active. Its work gave momentum to St. Gallen dialect literature, with authors such as Frieda Hilty-Gröbli and Clara Wettach. From 1918, the St. Gallen grammar school teacher Hans Hilty, husband of Frieda Hilty-Gröbli, served as president of the association. He wrote several texts on the cultivation of the dialect and in 1928, on behalf of the language society and the St. Gallen heritage association, edited the collection "Sanggallerland – Sanggallerbruuch. Lieder, Gedichte, Prosa". From the mid-20th century, the association, together with the literature professor and dialect writer Georg Thürer, advocated further for the Alemannic dialect and also more generally for contemporary German literature. The writer and editor Hans-Rudolf Hilty (1925–1994), son of Hans and Frieda Hilty, and the theatre maker, teacher and writer Fred Kurer (born 1936) served as presidents and had extensive contacts with writers in Switzerland and throughout the German-speaking world. In 1957, Hilty organized the 3rd International Writers' Congress in St. Gallen. In 1978, the association hosted a meeting of poetry authors from various countries. Around the turn of the millennium, the St. Gallen poet Christian Mägerle (1946–2014) was president of the association. Around 2010, Mägerle's group thought that the language society might soon be finished due to the state of language culture, but it continued thanks to initiative-taking individuals. As of 2018, the author Rebecca C. Schnyder, born in Zurich in 1986 and living and working in St. Gallen, led the association's board. In 2008, the association, which traditionally had ties to the chair of German language and literature at the University of St. Gallen and to the Cantonal Library Vadiana, launched the St. Gallen literature festival "Wortlaut". Since 2016, it has held its events under the label "Literatur in der Hauptpost". It also supports the St. Gallen theatre Chällerbüni. It has built a special platform for authors from Eastern Switzerland, published on the internet under the title "Literaturnetz Ostschweiz", which provides information about the life and contemporary work of writers from the region. At the 2012 general assembly, a new board was elected, which gave the GdSL a new appearance and developed a concept programme. Until summer 2016, events were planned and carried out in three programme series: "Eingeschrieben. Recommandé", "Luftpost" and "Post Scriptum". Beginning with the autumn 2016 programme, the GdSL has conducted all events under the title "Literatur in der Hauptpost". Since 2019, the GdSL has organized readings in small circles in private spaces in the city and region in cooperation with the Sofalesungen association. These sofa readings present young authors with their literary debuts. Since 2014, the GdSL has also served as the sponsor of Wortlaut – St. Galler Literaturfestival. In addition to its activities as an organizer, the GdSL is a membership association that offers free entry to its events and invitations to the opening of the Wortlaut festival.

• 2019

  The GdSL begins cooperating with the Sofalesungen association to hold readings in private spaces.

• 2016

  All events are held under the title "Literatur in der Hauptpost".

• 2014

  The GdSL becomes the sponsor of Wortlaut – St. Galler Literaturfestival.

• 2012

  A new board is elected at the general assembly, giving the GdSL a new appearance and developing a concept programme.

• 2008

  The association launches the St. Gallen literature festival "Wortlaut".

• 1978

  The GdSL organizes an international poetry meeting.

• 1957

  Hans-Rudolf Hilty organizes the 3rd International Writers' Congress in St. Gallen.

• 1928

  Hans Hilty edits the collection "Sanggallerland – Sanggallerbruuch. Lieder, Gedichte, Prosa" on behalf of the language society and the St. Gallen heritage association.

• 1918

  Hans Hilty becomes president of the association.

• 1911

  Founded in St. Gallen by Paul Oettli.

A volunteer-run literary association and cultural institution dedicated to contemporary German-language literature, with a strong regional focus on Eastern Switzerland and a tradition of promoting dialect literature.

• Wortlaut – St. Galler Literaturfestival

  A literature festival in St. Gallen, founded in 2008 and run by the GdSL since 2014.

• Literatur in der Hauptpost

  The umbrella title for all GdSL events since autumn 2016.

• Sofalesungen

  Readings in small circles in private spaces, presenting young authors with their literary debuts, organized since 2019 in cooperation with the Sofalesungen association.

• Literaturnetz Ostschweiz

  An online platform providing information about the life and contemporary work of writers from Eastern Switzerland.

1. 1Startseite - GdSL St.Gallengdsl.ch
2. 2Geschichte - Die GdSL - GdSL St.Gallengdsl.ch
3. 3Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache und Literatur St. Gallen - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache und Literatur St. Gallen - Wikipedia (Alemannic)als.wikipedia.org