LL-L: "Classification" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 29.JUN.1999 (09)

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUN.1999 (09) * ISSN 1089-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/~sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Classification

Dear Lowlanders,

In response to being bcc'ed on our previous "Classification" issue, Barbara
Grimes, the editor of _Ethnologue_, kindly responded saying that they based
their entries on information provided by me and on Stephen Barbour and Patrick
Stevenson, 1990, _Variation in German: A critical approach to German
sociolinguistics_, Cambridge University Press.  She goes on saying:

"It is the first scholarly source I have known of in English.
Unfortunately, I do not know German to be able to use those sources."

"The Ethnologue Introduction explains our use of the terms 'language' and
'dialect', used primarily by distinguishing inherent intelligibility
among related varieties, and in some cases by language attitudes."

"We welcome additional information and corrections."

"The next published edition is expected in 2000."

It is quite true that so far there is a scarcity of scholarly information, let
alone in English, that does not follow the traditional, pre-recognition
Germanistics approach of treating Old Saxon as a separate language from Old High
German but today's descendant varieties as German dialects.

In my communication with the _Ethnologue_ staff I tried to convey the fact
that the same language ...

(1) is known by several names, including "Low German," "Low Saxon," and
"Plautdietsch," where "Low German" is typical of German usage but "Low Saxon"
has also been used in some German publications and is the only acceptable name
in reference to the varieties used in the Netherlands, and where "Plautdietsch"
is used only in reference to the varieties used among Mennonites.

(2) is now officially recognized as a regional language in both Northern Germany
and the Eastern Netherlands within the framework of the European Language
Charter.  (This is a fact and requires no scholarly verification.)

For some reason, this seems to have been misunderstood, and "Low German," "Low
Saxon" and "Plautdietsch" ended up being listed as separate languages when they
should should have been listed as a single one.  My subsequent attempts to
rectify this were for naught.

Unfortunately, the error has been carried over to the new edition.  Hopefully,
the 2000 edition will show the correction.

I appreciate Ms. Grimes' prompt response and, on behalf of Lowlands-L wish her
and her colleagues continued success.

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

bcc: Ethnologue Editor <Editor.Ethnologue at sil.org>

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