LL-L: "Low Saxon" LOWLANDS-L, 30.AUG.2000 (04) [E]

Wed Aug 30 17:08:27 UTC 2000

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 30.AUG.2000 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Low Saxon

PRESSE INS (INSTITUT FÜR NIEDERDEUTSCHE SPRACHE), BREMEN
PRESS SERVICE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR LOW GERMAN LANGUAGE, BREMEN
http://www.hprg.de/ins-presse/index.htm

NEWS DIGEST IN ENGLISH, AUGUST 2000
Prepared by R. F. Hahn

MORE ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTRUCTION
"Survival of a regional or minority language does not depend on the fact that
it can be used in communication with administrative authorities."  This was
State Deputy Secretary Hansjörg Geiger's reaction to Delegate Wolfgang
Börnsen's challenge at the Federal Department of Justice in response to a
rejection of a Low German utility model at the German Patent Office in
Munich.  The Federal Government has reacted in a similar fashion.  In its
view, "violation of the spirit of the Charter and contempt for Low German" are
not reflected in the attitude of the Munich office.  Börnsen expressed
disappointment and alleges that this is not in the spirit of the European
Language Charter and of German federalism.  He threatens to involve European
authorities in case the German government refuses to change its mind.
A patent lawyer in Bremen had submitted the documents in question in both High
German and Low German.  The Low German version was rejected with the argument
that the official language is High German.
Further information: MdB Wolfgang Bornsen, Berlin, Tel. (030) 227 - 77 3 77

LOW GERMAN NUMBER CRUNCHING
The Lower Saxony State Office of Statistics is taking its European Language
Charter obligations somewhat seriously.  The 2000 issue of its publication
_Niedersachsen in Nummern_ (Lower Saxony in Numbers) contains the section "Up
Plattdütsch verklaart" (Explained in Low German).  And this brief Low German
introduction is the extent of it.  Everything else is presented in High
German.
Further information: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Statistik, Hannover, Tel.
(0511) 98 98-31 66

TOURIST PROMOTION
Konau, the only remaining intact hoof-shaped marsh village on the Elbe shores,
home of several protected farmhouses and barns, is using Low German in
drumming up tourism.  Situated in the former restricted border zone, Konau
contains leftover watchtowers and various reminders of its collective farming
past.  Low German promotion began with the announcement of an agricultural
machinery exhibition to be opened on September 10.
Further information: Franz Jürgen Lehmkuhl of Förderverein Konau, Tel. (04131)
26 12 01

NEW LOW GERMAN RESOURCE CENTER
A new Low German (Low Saxon) resource center is to be established on September
1 in Solthusen/Salzhausen in the old district of Lunenburg, Lower Saxony, to
help promote Low German in schools.  Educators from the districts
Harborg/Harburg, Luechow-Dannenbarg/Luechow-Dannenberg, Lunenburg, Uelzen,
Salta/Soltau, Fallingbostel and Cell/Celle are entitled to borrow
instructional material from the center.  Continuing training courses will be
offered at the center as well.  Apparently, this is the first center of its
type.  So far there have been positive responses to a pilot training course,
with another such course planned for September.  This has resulted in
financial assistance from the Dr. Gerhard Denckmann Fund and promises of
further funding from the school district Harborg/Harburg.  It is hoped that
this new center will help to counteract the widespread assumption that Low
German is backward and irrelevant to students as well as the alarming trend
toward schools opting out of participation in Low German reading contests.
Further information: Herbert Timm in Wulfsen, Tel. (04173)72 54

LOW GERMAN AS A LITERARY MEDIUM
Ways of motivating students to use Low German as a literary medium will be the
focus of the continuing education conference for Low German community college
course instructors in Bassum, September 22-24.
Further information: Dr. Hans Georg Bulla of Landesverband der
Volkshochschulen Niedersachsen, Hannover, Tel. (0511) 3 48 41 14

EDUCATORS' CONFERENCE DEALS WITH CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
Discussion about Low German literature for children and adolescents will be a
part of the Educators' Conference on Sepember 14 in Sottrum.
Further information: Hans Hinrich Kahrs and Dr. Hans-Eckhard of the
Landschaftverband Stade, Tel. (04141) 4 63 00

LOW GERMAN THEATER WEEK
Original Low German plays are in short supply during the 9th Low German
Theater Week in the Molfsee Open Air Museum.  From 2 to 10 September, Low
German drama groups from the state of Sleswig-Hulsteen/Schleswig-Holstein will
present ten current productions.  These are mostly Low German versions of
English and French plays, including "Watt ji wuellt" based on William
Shakespeare's "As you like it".
Further information: Rainer Seidel of Niederdeutschen Bühnenbund
Schleswig-Holstein, Tel. (04622) 10 38

FREUDENTHAL PRIZE
The Freudenthal Prize 2000 will be shared by Ingeborg Lüddecke (poetry) of
Brögbern/Dollhof near Lingen und Willi Mühl of Stuhr-Varrel (prose).  The
prize in the amount of DM 5000 will be awared in a ceremony in
Snevern/Schneverdingen on September 30.
Further information: Dr. Heinrich Kröger, Soltau, Tel. (05191) 7 19 49

BAD-BEVENSEN PRIZE
Kiel's group Schmelztiegel ("Melting Pot") received the Bad-Bevensen Prize for
Low German Performance.  The vocal and instrumental performance group
specializes in songs and dances of Northern Germany and the Baltic Sea shores.
Further information: Udo Fricke, Stadt Bevensen, Tel. (05821) 89-150

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