LL-L "Language use" 2005.08.26 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 06.JAN.2005 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or
lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net Server Manual:
http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
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 (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

From: "jonny" <jonny.meibohm at arcor.de>
Subject: LL-L "Language use" 2005.08.25 (01) [E]

Hi, Jacqueline, Ron,

Jacqueline:
> 1st. The languages of the Northwestern European coastal areas as far East
> as
> the Elbe and maybe further were spoken by a population which had two major
> ways of making a living; farming and seafaring. Whether we come by it
> genetically or by way of the mutual dependency which the alternating
> remoteness and proximity of farming and seafaring entail, I do not know.
While researching materials for a chronicle about my home village I could
find out (in comparing special linguistical peculiarities, of course,
Reinhard ;-)) that there indeed was a strong West-to-East migration along
the coast. I guess it having been started approximately at the 9th century
p.c.n., maybe even earlier, to re-settle the wasted area after a great part
of the Saxons had left the region and sailed to the British islands.
I guess the first people to take possession of the increasing islands and
marshlands weren't well organized. Everything went on very peacefully- they
came in small groups and had to depedend on the goodwill of the surrounding
population.
Later the immigration of Dutch settlers in greater dimensions became
organized by the Archbishops of Bremen- you can still find out the areas of
these settlers if you look on the diversity of dialects within our regional
'Platt'.

> 3rd. I also think that it was this anti-hyrarchy mindset which made the
> Northwest of Europe such a fertile ground for the Reformation when it
> came.
That's a very interesting aspect, Jacqueline, and you really find this
anti-hyrarcish mindset all along the continental coast of the North Sea.
Just these days I read some remarks of the British historican Simon Schama
about the 'hydrografical societies' in the Netherlands. He says, one
explanation for the great success, the 'heyday' there in the middleages was
the victory about the sea in building dikes; people felt themselves as 'the
chosen ones'.

Ron:
> Jonny, it doesn't take a linguistics degree to figure out that the
> language varieties are related and mutually comprehensible.  This alone
> would help to create a bond.  Add to this what Jacqueline says above, and
> add on top of these social considerations the underlying awareness of
> German encroachment, the common "us vs them" attitude.  What you are
> dealing with are linguistically and culturally related minorities that are
> up against the same domination and have figured out that differences among
> them are minimal and do not stand in the way of communicating in a
> familial manner.
Yes, Ron- this 'German encroachment' I have to agree did work in the
(German) Lowlands in a very special way. People here, in the coastal
regions, always felt uneasy with all that 'Heiliges Römisches Reich' and the
later 'Deutschtümelei'. When looking at the history of our homeland you'll
find out a very strong restistance against any trials to integrate these
folks into greater political structures. Remember the idiom 'Leever dood as
Slaav' ('to prefer death before slavery') of the Dithmarscher, and all the
historical reports regarding the struggle for independence of the Kehdinger,
Stedinger, Wurster etc.. Often enough there had been alliances of coastal
'tribes' against any foreign conquerers coming from wherever.

My own father once told a curious story about his experiences with folks in
the Eastern Friesland area: when visting people there (it was in the fifties
of the 20. century) for professional reasons he often was invited to have a
'koppje' of tea with them. They said: 'Kam 'rin! Laat uns praaten! Wat givvt
Nieget in Dytsland?' ('Come in! Let's have a talk! What's new in Germany?').

> But if saving the language
> saves the mindset I am all for it.
Well, Jacqueline- I think there is a little piece of hope. Young people on
both sides seem to be more and more interested in those facts- could there
rise up any anti-reaction against the increasing globalization and
root-cutting?

Kind regards

Johannes "Jonny" Meibohm

================================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
======================================================================