<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">L O W L A N D S - L - 16 March 2007 - Volume 02</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">=========================================================================</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>></span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
Subject: Language politics</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Dear Lowlanders,</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Yesterday I was told by Geraldine (Nina) Anselma</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: arial,sans-serif;">*</span><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
that last week, on March 7, Papiamento was recognized as an official language of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles. As such it has joined Dutch and English, both of which have been official languages for quite some time.</span>
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">This is great news in that it adds a measure of prestige and protection to Papiamentu, which is much beloved by many in the area. Let us hope that Bonaire will soon follow the lead of Aruba and Curaçao.
</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Here is my introduction to Papiamentu: </span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><a href="http://lowlands-l.net/anniversary/papiamentu-info.php">http://lowlands-l.net/anniversary/papiamentu-info.php</a></span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">While the base of Papiamentu is Romance, it contains a lot of Dutch- and English-derived words (besides West African and Arawak words). It is a very interesting creole language to study.
</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
<br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: arial,sans-serif;">
* Nina is the creator of the Papiamentu translation of the wren story.
(<a href="http://lowlands-l.net/anniversary/papiamentu.php">http://lowlands-l.net/anniversary/papiamentu.php</a>) Hopefully we'll be
adding a sound file to it soon. Also, as soon as this can be
accomplished, there will be a presentation of Nina as a featured guest
contributor at our anniversary site.</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Felisitashonan na e hende di
</span><em style="font-style: italic; font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Kòrsou!</em><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Regards,
</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">Reinhard/Ron</span><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;"><br style="font-family: arial,sans-serif;">