LL-L "Language varieties" 2004.04.23 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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From: sam s claire <gamlhs at juno.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2004.04.22 (08) [E]

Lowlanders: This is not a scholarly comment on Afrikaans, just a
reflection.  I was once in the company of a couple who spoke same with
each other.  With my though meager grasp of German and Yiddish, I somehow
was able to grasp the gist of their conversations.  I was fascinated that
I could do so.  Sam in Baltimore.

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From: Utz H. Woltmann <uwoltmann at gmx.de>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2004.04.22 (01) [E]

Moin Ron,

you wrote:

>David, I suggest that you and your community disregard any "should"- and
>"should not"-type suggestions from people in Germany (except this
suggestion
>of mine ;-) -- but then again I'm not in Germany but in the U.S.).  Your
>dialect is your own and does not need to be tweaked by any outsiders.  It
>should be regarded as being its own entity.  It is about time people back
in
>Europe get used to the fact that there are American dialects of the
>language, and their speakers should try to continue their own traditions as
>Americans, yet also as members of the world-wide language community.
>
David wrote:

"My mother has come up recently with a couple of sayings, of which I am
trying
to find the "correct" spelling and translation of...

Were any of these words used in other places?

Whatever help, suggestions, comments, etc. you may be able to offer me would
be greatly appreciated."

I´m sorry, I only wanted to help David. May be my English grew a little bit
rusty and there were too much "shoulds" in my mail. I don´t really need
English and esp. the American dialect is not in use in Germany. At school we
learn Oxford English. From the U.S. we´ve got only some Americanisms like
'junk food' or 'friendly fire'. And - be sure - it was not my intention to
disturb your inner American affairs or traditions.

So I´ve now learned two lessons from you:
1. It´s much more beter vör mi Platt to snacken as Engelsch (in Tokunft
ward ik nie nich wedder wat in Engelsch schreven) un
2. keen ok jümmer üm Hölp fraagt, segg nix - mag ween, dat dat´n
Amerikaaner is.

Szkoda!

Utz H. Woltmann

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

Beste Utz,

[English below]

Daar hest Du schients wat in'n verkehrten Hals krägen un wat persöönlich
verstahn, dat nix mit Di to doon harr.  Ik heff daarvun schräven, wat David
œver de Utspraak vun jüm ähr _sk..._ schreev', dat een ut Ollenborg sä, dat
de Utspraak mit _sch..._ richtiger weer.

Dat gifft 'n basig Verschääl twüschen helpen, wenn 'n üm Hülp bäden wardt,
un Spräkers vun 'n annern Dialekt vörschrieven, woans se wat "bäter" to
seggen hebbt ("prescriptivism").

Ik will hœpen, dat Du mi nu bäter verstahn un vunwägen dat Missverstahn nich
den Moot verlesen deist.

***

Daar hest Du schynts wat in d'n verkeyrden hals kregen un wat persöynlich
verstaan, dat niks mit Dy tou doun har.  Ik hev daar vun schreven, wat David
över dey uutspraak vun jüm eer _sk..._ schreyv', dat eyn uut Ollenborg
seed', dat dey uutspraak mit _sch..._ richtiger weyr.

Dat givt 'n basig verscheel twüschen helpen, wenn 'n üm hülp beden wardt, un
sprekers vun 'n annern dialekt vör-schryven, woans sey wat "beter" tou
seggen hebt ("prescriptivism").

Ik will höpen, dat Du my nu beter verstaan un vun wegen dat misverstaan nich
d'n moud verleysen dayst.

***

You misunderstood something there, have taken as personal something that had
nothing to do with you.  I was referring to what David related about their
pronunciation _sk..._, namely that someone from Oldenburg told them that the
_sch..._ pronunciation was more correct.

There is an enormous difference between responding to someone's request for
help and telling speakers of another dialect how they ought to say things
("prescriptivism").

I hope you understand me better now and do not allow this misunderstanding
to discourage you.

Kumpelmenten,
Reinhard/Ron

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