LL-L: "Low Saxon" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 25.JUN.1999 (02)

[Ron Hahn]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 25.JUN.1999 (02) * ISSN 1089-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at geocities.com>
Subject: Low Saxon (Low German)

Dear Lowlanders,

Many of you may be interested in the following news reports concerning Low
Saxon (Low German, usually referred to in German as _Plattdeutsch_ and
_Niederdeutsch_).

Best regards,

Reinhard/Ron

==

In the latest issue of _contact bulletin_ of The European Bureau for Lesser
Used Languages (which, by the way, still does not show Low Saxon as on of
the languages at their web site http://www.eblul.org/):

BILINGUALISM IN NURSERY SCHOOLS: PLATTDEUTSCH

While the majority of East Frisians want to preserve their language, only
10% of the children are being taught it. The East Frisian _Landschaft_, a
regional institute for science, culture and education, has conducted an
experiment entitled "Bilingualism in nursery schools" with children between
the ages of 3 and 6.

During the 1997/98 school year, 12 nursery schools (613 children) took part
in the experiment and in the current school year, 32 are involved
(approximately 2,000 children), all on a voluntary basis. This voluntary
spirit was essential, given that there is as yet no binding legal basis in
Germany for bilingual work in nursery schools. This situation will remain
unchanged with the coming into force of the European Charter of Regional and
Minority Languages on I December 1998. In the longer term, however,
bilingual work in nursery schools needs to be given legal protection so that
it is recognised as a mark of quality.

Plans to set up private monolingual nursery schools in the regional language
have been set aside in order initially to attract maximum support for
bilingual education. During the first year of the project, the main focus
was on informing and involving parents. This strategy has paid off, as has
been demonstrated by the high level of participation and the positive
response to the experiment. The experiment also has repercussions within
families: some parents have started to speak to their children in
Plattdeutsch. In the long term, it may be possible to develop more ambitious
models (monolingual nursery schools in the regional language, for example).
Teams of nursery nurses were consulted before the experiment began and
informed about the methods involved in bilingual education. With this
information they then created their own particular work programmes for their
nursery schools. Most of the nursery schools chose a system where each group
of children being looked after by two people, one of whom spoke High German
and the other Plattdeutsch with them. Some nursery schools chose time-based
models (at certain times, only High German or only Plattdeutsch were
spoken). Others did not have sufficient staff who spoke Plattdeutsch and
experimented with outside helpers (mothers or grandmothers who spoke
Plattdeutsch) and "language godparents".

The central theme of the second project year, in addition to the development
of didactic aspects, will be the question of how to continue with bilingual
education in primary schools. Nursery schools and schools are administered
in Germany by different ministries and are not all run according to the same
didactic principles. A considerable amount of pioneering work is still
required to guarantee smooth transitions from one educational institution to
another.

Cornelia Nath
(Head of the regional language department of the East Frisian Institute)

==

Below is my English digest of the German press releases for June 1999
(http://www.hprg.de/ins-presse/index.htm).

LOWER SAXONY OBSTINATE RE LOW SAXON (LOW GERMAN)

Low Saxon (Low German) language activists appear to have a drag-out fight
ahead of them also in the German state of Lower Saxony.  The powers that be
seem hardly impressed by the official recognition of Low Saxon as a regional
language in Germany (and the Netherlands) within the framework of the
European Language Charter.  They rejected the request that the post of Low
Saxon Commissioner be established, and they also voted down a motion to
include a reference to Low Saxon in the state constitution.  On Juli 9,
1999, the Niedersachsentag will discuss possible ways of complying with the
Charter in the light of the current situation during its meeting in
Bückeburg.  Considering the latest setback, activists are realizing that
supraregional lobbying and planning is called for.  Come election time,
former state parliament representative Helmuth Möhring will question those
seeking reelection about their reasons for voting against proposals
supporting Low Saxon, and he will have them know that they would make far
more attractive candidates if they backed measures that help to protect and
support the original language of the land.

Further information: Helmuth Möhring, Lüneburg, Tel. (04131) 6 24 44, and
Cornelia Nath, Head of the Fachgruppe Niederdeutsch of the Niedersächsischer
Heimatbund, Aurich, Tel. (04941) 17 99-58.

LOW SAXON (LOW GERMAN) GOES EUROPEAN

Low Saxon is at long last being represented by the German Committee of the
European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages.  At its meeting in Ramsloh in the
beginning of June, it appointed as interim representatives for Low Saxon
Cornelia Nath (Head of the Plattdütskbüro of Eastern Friesland and also
Consultant of the Institute for Low German Language, Bremen) and Jan Wirrer
(Bielefeld University, and The Association for Low German Language
Research).  Germany is thus beginning to catch up with the Netherlands where
representatives of the regional language Low Saxon have been collaborating
with representatives of minority languages for years.

Further information: Institut für niederdeutsche Sprache, Bremen, Tel.
(0421) 32 45 35; INS.bremen at t-online.de.

UP, UP AND AWAY FOR LOW SAXON (LOW GERMAN)

Bremen is at the forefront once again: for almost half a year now it has
been offering Low Saxon guided tours through the hi-tech halls of its
airport, and there has been uninterrupted demand for them.  Dieter
Mindermann, former head of Bremen's Lufthansa branch, had noticed that
interested listeners tended to be more impressed if technical processes were
explained to them in their native language.  This has inspired him to make
available technical and procedural explanations in Low Saxon translation.

Further information: Media Office of Bremen Airport, Tel. (0421)
55 95-215, and Dieter Mindermann, Tel. (04202) 7 13 86.

EFFECTS OF EUROPEAN CHARTER

North German Radio will be hosting a town meeting discussing the positive
and negative effects of the European Language charter with regard to
education.  Venue: Historisches Museum in Hannover.  Date/Time: June 25,
1999.  It will be broadcast on July 5, 1999, at 8:00 p.m.

Further information: Manfred Scharfe, NDR-Landesfunkhaus Niedersachsen,
Hannover, Tel. (0511) 9 88-21 08.


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