LL-L "Language use" 2003.10.08 (08) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 08.OCT.2003 (08) * 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: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Orthography"

> From: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
> Subject: LL-L "Orthography" 2003.10.07 (06) [E]
>
> Oh dear. You're not usually this judgmental... but we all have
> issues we get
> passionate about, and this seems to be one of yours. Forgive me for saying
> this, but you're dishing out blame just the same.
>
> I can't imagine anyone who would reject a uniform Lower Saxon spelling out
> of "fear of new things and fear of failure". But I can easily imagine many
> people who don't want their own local version of Platt "mixed in"
> with those
> of other areas, because it's THEIRS, an old comfortable slipper that fits
> them nicely. Maybe that's a good metaphor for those "closet" Lower Saxon
> speakers anyway - they wouldn't dream of getting themselves a
> different pair
> of slippers, not even a newer version of the same model - but they also
> wouldn't dream of wearing them outside the house.
>
> I'm not saying that's a good thing. But that seems to be the way it is.

There are two main attitudes towards language death.

One is that it doesn't matter, the purpose of language is communication, and
we only need one for that. Fair enough, if that's what you believe. In fact,
I suppose that plenty of people believe that language death is a good thing,
and that the day all language barriers are broken down because everyone
speaks only English (or maybe Esperanto) will be a day of celebration for
all mankind.

The other is that language death is a bad thing. If you believe this then
you have certain social responsibilities. To keep it confined to the hearth
becuse it feels personal and is in danger of damage in the outside world is
a bit like keeping your children locked in the cupboard for fear of what can
happen to them outside. You might as well not have children if their
development is so constrained, you might as well be speaking English or
Highland German if you don't share anything with the rest of the world for
fear of the personal consequences of language development or unification.

I agree that this is sometimes the way it is, but it's only because of
ignorance and censure, There's no reason to defend or perpetuate such
attitudes.

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language use

Sandy:

> The other is that language death is a bad thing. If you believe this then
you have
> certain social responsibilities. To keep it confined to the hearth becuse
it feels
> personal and is in danger of damage in the outside world is a bit like
keeping your
> children locked in the cupboard for fear of what can happen to them
outside. You
> might as well not have children if their development is so constrained,
you might as
> well be speaking English or Highland German if you don't share anything
with the
> rest of the world for fear of the personal consequences of language
development
> or unification.

Nice one, Sandy!

For future purposes, how about using "grandmother" instead of "children"?
People like to think of LS and other "outmoded" indigenous, overshadowed
languages as "dear mother languages" and at the same time as "old and in the
way," to be confined to their corners by the hearth, to be preserved as they
are, to be gazed upon and and snuggled up to whenever comfort is needed.
It's a scary thought: Grandma leaving the house alone, where all and sundry
can stare at her, perhaps shout abuse at her, trip her ... or mislead her on
people's wicked ways.  Why -- Grandma might come home wearing acid-washed,
frayed jeans and using ... like ... you know ... teenage jargon.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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From: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Orthography" 2003.10.08 (06) [E]

Gary,

from now on I'll concede to ANYTHING you say, just as long as you don't make
me go through this again!! Please - I'll mend my wicked ways. :-)

The biggest problem with Lower Saxon is that there are so many different
flavours of it. But I suppose we can simply have a standard language, Higher
Lower Saxon (!) with a unified spelling, and various local dialects thereof,
and everyone lives happily ever after...

Gabriele Kahn

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