LL-L "Language varieties" 2003.10.29 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 29.OCT.2003 (02) * 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: sam claire <samclaire at mybluelight.com>
Subject: LL-L

Ron:  I have had a fascination with Germanic languages for a long time. What
I need at this point is a definition of how German is spread over its
geography in a clear and concise manner, i.e., upper/lower/high/low, etc. I
have yet to peruse a clear-cut source explaining the variations.   Sam

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From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
Subject: Language varieties

Sam,

I'll leave detailed answers to those who know more and feel more passionate
about it.  Let me just say a few things.

One could argue that there is reason for deviding non-Frisian and
non-Anglo-Saxon West Germanic into "High German" and "Low German," as it had
been done among philologists (and I hesitate to use the word "linguist"
here) in the past.  In that case, the "High German" varieties are those that
underwent the "High German shifts" (p > (p)f, t > (t)s, k > (k)x, etc.), and
the "Low German" ones are those that did not undergo these shifts.  So, this
is pretty clear typology (though there are transitional varieties that
underwent some shifts but not other shifts).  In this sort of
classification, which is really a feature-based typology, Lowlands Saxon
("Low German"), Hollandish, Brabantish, Flemish, Zeelandic, Afrikaans and
others together constitute "Low German," not only those that nowadays are
called "Low German" with reference to Northern Germany.   In fact,
Hollandish ("Dutch" proper) and other Low(lands) Franconian varieties used
to be referred to as "Nether German" or "Low German" (_Nederduits(ch)_ etc.)
in the past, the name being preserved in _Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerke_
(Dutch Reformed Church) as well as in the English word "Dutch" (< _Duits_ <
_Duytsch_, related to German _deutsch_ and LS _Düytsch_).  As for "Upper
German" varieties, this name tends to be applied to the German dialects used
in higher elevations of the south of Germany and in Austria and Switzerland
(Bayuvarian, Thuringian, Alemannic).

>From a genealogical and sociolinguistic point of view, however, the
divisions can be argued to be different.  Political independence of those
regions that are now Belgium and the Netherlands have allowed the Low
Franconian varieties to develop independently from both German (proper) and
Lowlands Saxon of Germany.  Lowlands Saxon and German (proper) are
genealogically separate.  German descended from what is known as Old (High)
German, while LS descended from Old Saxon (which is also one of the
ancestors of English and Scots), thus two separate languages.  Whilst it is
correct to say that as a result of German domination and what some might
term "oppression" LS of Northern Germany has undergone considerable
Germanization (and those of the Netherlands have undergone considerable
Hollandification), German and LS are still considered separate, and this
view is now regaining popularity, exemplified by the recent official
recognition of LS even in Germany.  As a general rule, German speakers
cannot understand LS (well), unless they have had considerable exposure to
it.  (Speakers of Dutch understand it much better.)  Many specifically Saxon
features are preserved in LS, some of which are shared with English and
Scots.

In this light, it seems more correct to think in terms of "German" on the
one hand versus "(Lowlands) Saxon" and "Low(lands) Franconian" on the other
hand.  Furthermore, it seems less appropriate to think in terms of one
German language encompassing LS.   (Some have suggested that German be
considered "South Germanic" rather than "West Germanic.")

This is complicated by what I consider unfortunate traditional terminology.
"High German" (which, at least in its current use, implies a hierarchical
position) is generally used to refer to Standard German.  In the old mode of
thinking, non-standard dialects of German (proper) also tend to be referred
to as "High German" (and some as "Upper German") in contrast with the
(unfortunate) term "Low German" for LS.  If LS is not considered a part of
German, then these non-standard German varieties should just be called
"German."  To make matters worse, "Saxon" has come to refer to the German
state of Saxony, a state in which only German (and some Slavonic) varieties
are use, no LS varieties at all.  This is due to some dynastic name
transferral of a few hundred years ago (in which a prince from the actual
Saxony of the north was given that more southerly region, and the name
transferral outraged many true Saxons, but their consternation died down
with time).  For some reasons, there is a lot of chauvinism against the
German dialects of Saxony, so reusing "Saxon" for the language of the north
meets with prejudice-based rejection.

I am sure others on the List can offer you more insight.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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