“Gude WI”: Wiesbaden is using the Hessian dialect and a dash of humor on its traffic displays
With tongue-in-cheek sayings in the local dialect, the Department of Transportation is spreading good cheer throughout the city’s traffic. The new messages can be seen at the entrances to the city and along the downtown ring roads.
A touch of Hessian, a dash of humor, and a healthy dose of love for Wiesbaden: The digital traffic displays in Wiesbaden now feature new messages with a local flair. Instead of just the usual traffic announcements, road users will now also see short sayings in the Hessian dialect. The messages can be seen at the entrances to the city as well as along the ring roads in the city center.
The idea behind this: traffic communication doesn’t always have to be strictly factual and instructive. It can also be friendly, entertaining, and delivered with a touch of humor. The displays are meant to reach people, put a smile on their faces, and at the same time show that Wiesbaden has its own language and its very special character.
Marc Dahlen, head of the transportation department, says: “‘Gude WI’ stands for a sense of belonging to our hometown. We love our beautiful city. And as the capital of Hesse, we can sometimes speak the way it comes naturally. We want to bring a little good cheer to the streets with these sayings. After all, traffic is serious enough—so it’s okay to smile every now and then.”
The new messages draw on typical Hessian idioms and connect them to everyday life on Wiesbaden’s streets. Sometimes they’re about staying calm, sometimes about being considerate, and sometimes simply about the good feeling of being out and about in Wiesbaden.
Here are a few examples:
“WI, don’t get all worked up!” “Hey
WI—glad you’re here!” “Always
stay chill!”
“Take it easy—WI is great”
The slogans are deliberately kept short so they can be quickly grasped on the displays. They’re meant to entertain, create a sense of familiarity, and bring a little bit of the Wiesbaden way of life to the streets.
Marc Dahlen says: “We want to show that traffic communication can also be friendly. A little Hessian dialect, a touch of self-deprecating humor, and a whole lot of love for Wiesbaden—it all goes together perfectly. And anyone who smiles briefly at ‘Resch Disch net uff’ might just have a slightly more relaxed start to their day.”
This press release is issued by the Press Office of the State Capital of Wiesbaden, Schlossplatz 6, 65183 Wiesbaden, pressereferatwiesbadende Citizens with questions can contact the responsible department or office.