Die Grenzen des Sagbaren

The article deals with the limits of what can be said, which are often criticized in public discourse and are seen as a restriction of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression. It is argued that freedom of expression should not be confused with the right to express any opinion. Apart from legal provisions, reference is made to social conventions, which also play an important role in determining what is considered sayable or unsayable in a society. Complaints about restrictions on freedom of expression often go hand in hand with politically motivated efforts to undermine linguistic conventions in relation to minorities and the controversial topics of migration and coming to terms with the past.