LL-L "Language survival" 2010.12.29 (05) [EN]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 29 December 2010 - Volume 05
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>

Subject: Language survival



Lowlanders,



As many of you probably know by now, Low Saxon (Low German) is used in
various parts of the Americas as well, and not only by Mennonite. In the USA
there are still older people for whom it is their first language. Their
children and grandchildren tend to know it poorly or not at all, and of
those many learn (Standard) German in school, probably because Low Saxon has
never been made an educational subject. (I believe a similar situation led
to the demise of Low Saxon in Denmark where the "German" minority can only
choose between Standard German and Standard Danish as their primary
languages of education.)

I found a video recording of a Low Saxon conversation of an American couple.
According to their grandson, they know only Low Saxon and English, not
German, which seems to indicate that they are American-born.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMiElxOaHIo



Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA



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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMiElxOaHIo
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