LL-L 'Language politics' 2006.09.24 (04) [E]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
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L O W L A N D S - L * 22 September 2006 * Volume 04
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From: 'Stellingwerfs Eigen' [info at stellingwerfs-eigen.nl]
Subject: LL-L 'Language politics'

Jonny wrote:
> For the two of us (Piet, I hope you to agree!)
> it's a completely kind of normality to get over
> any linguistical and political border
> (we've already had the chance to find out how
> to surmount beaurocratic obstacles);
> we don't think it to be something very special.

I do agree, Jonny, yes I do... and just a week ago I had the very same
experience with our Roland at our 'zuderburen'.

> I could tell you some more examples like these, and all
> of them will show that a lot of this stuff of linguistic
> separatism just is an official artefactum which tends
> to come out if official representatives and organisations
> deal with the matter (yes, Ron, I think it's not the
> individuals slowing down the train!).

Again, I agree. Ain't very often (some kind) of scientists and civil
servants the delaying factor in any (wanted) action? They make things
frequently unneeded complex! Does this has affinity with politics, money
and/or power?

Ron wrote:
> > "Hey! You know how weird and touchy the Dutch are!"

Is that so? I'm gonna think about this for a whole week...

Jonny continuous:
> I feel that a new generation on both sides
> of the border is already busy to normalize it
> - and I welcome all the increasing current
> political attempts in this direction.
> BTW: I really don't estimate our 'westerburen'
> to be sooo touchy; they're perhaps the most
> humorous nations of whole Europe,
> with great abilities for self-mockery
> (in special Luc and Piet we all know as lustrous
> exampels for this fact ;-)!

Thank you, Jonny. I can't find the (w)right words...

Bliede dat et morgen weer maendag is en
Mit een vrundelike groet uut Stellingwarf,
Piet Bult

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Language politics 

Moyen, Piet!

You wrote:

> Ron wrote:
> > > "Hey! You know how weird and touchy the Dutch are!"
> 
> Is that so? I'm gonna think about this for a whole week...

In case you misunderstood me and are going to grow strange ideas like mold for
the rest of the week, let me assure you that "Ron quoted" would be better than
"Ron wrote" in this case.  It is not *I* that says this.  I quoted others.  It is
what some Germans say to me when I raise the possibility of Low Saxon
organizations in Germany and the Netherlands cooperating.

As I said, my own experiences seem to point in the opposite direction, and I
suspect that this sensitivity claim is being used as an excuse. All in all, I
meet with far more open minds and cooperation in the Netherlands than in Germany.

This is not to say that all organizations in the Netherlands are on board.  As
most of you probably know by now, the influential Dutch organization Onze Taal
("Our Language") is now opposed to recognizing any further regional or minority
language and seems to be lobbying the government to this end.  It has come out
and said that it now regrets that Low Saxon and Limburgish were officially
recognized in the Netherlands.  In other words, if it could go back, it would
make sure that these two languages officially remain parts of _Nederlands_. From
what I heard and read I gather that the main argument for this is that divisions
weaken the position of _Nederlands_.  I do not buy this argument, since everyone
in the Netherlands (certainly everyone born and raised theire) speaks
_Nederlands_ anyway, though it is true that _Nederlands_ now has fewer *native*
speakers than before.  Is it a numbers game?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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