LL-L: "Lowlands-L" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 20.MAY.1999 (04)

Thu May 20 22:57:06 UTC 1999

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 20.MAY.1999 (04) * ISSN 1089-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/~sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
 Users Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachian, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian,
 L=Limburgish, LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic
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From: Pat Reynolds <pat at caerlas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Judaica

Dear Fellow Lowlanders,

I am very glad to be back among you.  I was subscribed to LL-L many
months ago, set myself to nomail while I moved house ... and then
couldn't find the address to set myself back to mail.  Fortunately,
during the move to the new server, the subscription was altered, and I
am getting messages again.

I have two questions/comments: when I was here before, the list
concerned itself with culture in all its forms (material, linguistic,
etc., etc.), but now it seems to be just languages.  The new welcome
text doesn't specify what the subject areas for discussion are - are
topics outside of languages still welcome?  If not, does anyone know of
a list where one can talk about such things?

If, therefore, this is beyond the bounds of the list, please forgive me:
I would like to read a good general introduction to Jewish history in
the area - does anyone have any suggestions?  I am particularly
interested in the period 1500-1800.

Secondly, my email programme (Turnpike) does not seem to be able to
choose which charset will be used.  Also, the programme is set up so
that the 'reply to' addres is not LOWLANDS-L at LINGUIST.LDC.UPENN.EDU, but
the listowners' personal address: this is probably why people are
sending messages to him, rather than the list.  It _is_ possible to
change the address manually, but it is very easy to forget and hit the
'reply' button!

Best wishes to all
--
Pat Reynolds
pat at caerlas.demon.co.uk
   "It might look a bit messy now, but just you come back in 500 years time"
   (T. Pratchett)

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at geocities.com>
Subject: Lowlands-L

Hi, Pat!

I, too, am very glad that you have returned to the fold.  Hopefully you will
find operations on the new server to be more convenient.  Please take a look at
the general user's manual at
<http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>.  Please also see if you can
find help regarding your specific email program.  These days only very few
programs can not be set for reading the extended character range.  As for the
return address, this has been resolved since the "Judaica" issue to which you
responded was sent out.  I announced this change.  Please take a look at our
archive at <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>.

You wrote:

"I have two questions/comments: when I was here before, the list
concerned itself with culture in all its forms (material, linguistic,
etc., etc.), but now it seems to be just languages.  The new welcome
text doesn't specify what the subject areas for discussion are - are
topics outside of languages still welcome?"

Pat, the new welcoming text (generated by Listserv at LINGUIST) says, among
other thing, the following (my capitals):

"You have been  added to the LOWLANDS-L mailing list  (Discussion list for
Germanic Lowlands languages and CULTURES) by ..."

"Cultures" is clearly spelled out, as you can seen.  Furthermore, our homepage
says, among other things, the following:

"Lowlands-L: an e-mail discussion list for people who share an interest in
Lowlands languages and CULTURES"

... and it then goes on defining what "Lowlands languages and culture" is
supposed to denote.  On the specific pages (which appear in several language
varieties) it is stated:

"Lowlands-L is an automated worldwide electronic mail list for those who are
interested in the languages and CULTURES of the lowlands adjacent to the coast
of the North Sea and of Baltic Sea (hereafter "Lowlands")."
.....
"The primary focus of Lowlands-L is on the Germanic languages and their CULTURAL
environments that developed and remain in the Lowlands (Dutch, Frisian, Low
Saxon [Low German]) as well as those that descended from these languages or from
their predecessors and are used elsewhere (Afrikaans, Emigré Dutch/Frisian/Low
Saxon, Lowlands-based pidgins and creoles, and also English and Scots*). Other
languages and their CULTURAL environments may be discussed within this context."

.....
"The basic goals of Lowlands-L:
* to facilitate global communication and collaboration among those who are
interested in Lowlands languages, CULTURES and related topics
* to promote and facilitate research and teaching of Lowlands languages and
CULTURES to promote the use of Lowlands linguistic and CULTURAL data in general
research and publications
* to support efforts to protect, revive and advance endangered Lowlands
languages or language varieties
* to pay attention to minority Lowlands languages and CULTURES, including those
that are being denied official recognition
* to serve as a forum for exploring common and diverse features of Lowlands
languages and CULTURES
* to provide opportunities to enjoy and enhance mutual intelligibility among
Lowlands languages in multilingual exchanges
* to strengthen linguistic, CULTURAL and social ties among users of Lowlands
languages, their descendants and their friends "

On our archive page the heading is as follows:

"Archives of  LOWLANDS-L -- Discussion list for Germanic Lowlands languages and
CULTURES"

Given all this I do not quite understand why you would question whether cultural
topics are still permissible.   I assume you have come to doubt it because of a
preponderance of linguistic topics in recent times.  Please rest assured that
this preponderance is in no way mandated.  Posting submissions dealing with
culture, history, literature, etc., are just as welcome as are those dealing
with language.  The fact that there have been more postings about language does
not mean that Lowlands-L policies have changed, though it may mean that there is
a majority of subscribers, or at least *active* subscribers, interested in this
area.  It is up to the subscribers to determine what gets discussed.  If no one
posts anything about non-linguistic topics, then no such discussions can
develop.  I can only encourage you to open discussions in which you are
interested, as long as they qualify at least vaguely as "Lowlandic."

I hope this has clarified it for you.

I will respond to your question about Jewish history in a separate issue.  We
have to keep "Lowlands-L" and "Judaica" apart.

With best regards,

Reinhard "Ron" Hahn
Administrator
Lowlands-L

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