LL-L "Language varieties" 2009.04.15 (09) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 15 April 2009 - Volume 09
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From: Roger Thijs, Euro-Support, Inc. <roger.thijs at euro-support.be>
Subject: LL-L "Language varieties" 2009.04.15 (01) [E]

Maybe this quote from a url from the Research Center of the Africamuseum in
Tervuren can contribute to the discussion around dialects:

The majority of these languages can be subdivided in* dialects*, i.e. *regional
varieties that are mutually intelligible*.
...
In certain countries a particular *dominant dialect* may attain the status
of *national language*. From a linguistic point of view, this dialect and
the dialect of a neighbouring state can in reality be varieties of one and
the same language. This is the case of *Kinyarwanda* (Rwanda) and
*Kirundi*(Burundi), which are, together with
*Kiha *(Tanzania), sufficiently homogenous to be considered by linguists as
a single language, even if this language does not have a specific name [see
map 1].

quoted from url:
http://www.africamuseum.be/research/anthropology/linguistic/research/anthropology/linguistic/languages

For the first definition Low Saxon and Dutch could be variants of a same
group, in case they are considered mutually intelligible.
If they are or were, they could be defined as different national languages
for the second definition.
This does not separate Holland Dutch from Groningen Low Saxon though.

Regards,
Roger

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