LL-L "Language varieties" 2003.04.08 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 08.APR.2003 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Clark Hapeman <egsidf at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2003.04.07 (04) [E]


Ed Alexander, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada:

As I was writing that last e-mail about the Hutterites, I was debating
whether or not to put Mennonites or Hutterites. All of these people get
confusing to me sometimes. I just know a lot about the Palatine Germans
because my ancestors came from there (well, some of them).

Clark Hapeman

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From: James Ward <jamesward at earthlink.net>
Subject: Language varieties

Ron wrote:

> As for linguistic classification, "Plautdietsch" is clearly Lowlands
> Saxon (i.e., one of the Saxon-based varieties or groups of varieties
> that with some Lowlands Franconian varieties have been lumped together
> as "Low German" in German, "Low German also being used as a linguistic
> label for the branch to which Lowlands Saxon and Franconian varieties
> belong).

As long as the subject of Franconian has come up in passing:  what is
the basis for using the word "Franconian" to refer to both "low" and
"high" dialects or languages?  Is it mostly a geographical designation,
or was there presumably some linguistic unity (Frankish?) spoken in a
relatively homogeneous community which was then differentiated by the
sound shift which produced the "high" languages?  (And why should that
sound shift not occur throughout the Frankish-speaking area?)

This has mildly baffled me for a couple of years now -- just not enough
to make it a consuming passion which might actually resolve the
question!  But I would certainly appreciate any clarity anyone might be
able to offer...

James Ward

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