LL-L: "Language politics" 29.JUN.2000 (02) [E/LS]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUN.2000 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subjecxt: Language policies

[The following is in Low Saxon (Low German) and English.]

Leve Leeglanners,
Dat dat offietschelle Gellenlaten nich dat Enn vun de Kabbelee in de
Sprakenpolitiek bedüüdt, tjer, dat wardt de Nedderdüütschen in Düütschland
nu in eensen to wies.  De Druck vunwegen Gellenlaten vun jüm er Spraak in
de noorddüütschen Länner was tomeerst vun de Europäers kamen.  Mank de
Lüüd' vun't Amt in Düütschland swingt de Reakschonen tomeerst so twüschen
"Tüünkraam! Daar will ick niks vun weten" un "Tüünkraam! Daar will ick
gegen an gaan," man dat dait se man bloots dinken.  Nu hebbt wie 't mit
"passive aggressive" un mit Stenen up'n Padd leggen mank de Bürokraten to
doon.  Bie de INS-Presse (vun't Instituut för nedderdüütsche Spraak in
Bremen) köönt Jie düt elkeen Maand nalesen (man laider bloots up
"Hoog"-Düütsch), so ook in de Juni-Uutgaav':
http://www.hprg.de/ins-presse/.  Ünner "Behördeneinfalt gegen
Sprachenvielfalt" leest wie dütmaal, dat 't Patent- und Markenamt in
München "Nee" seggt hett to't Anmellen vun de eerste "Gebrauchsanweisung"
up Nedderdüütsch -- so eenfach "Nee" ... ofschoonst dat nu 'n offietschelle
Regionaalspraak is.  Un ünner "Sprachencharta wird konterkariert" köönt Jie
nalesen, dat 't nedderdüütsche Leer-Bodd an de Universiteet Bremen nu in
Gefaar is -- "aus personalwirtschaftlichen Gründen", een vun de Quanten, de
de Bürokraten upleevst bruukt.  Man good, dat 't INS so deegt an'n Ball
blifft un den Spijökenkraam in de hele Welt künnig maakt.  (Wenn dat ook up
Ingelsch weer, denn kunn dat internatschonale Blameern vun de Bürokraten
noch duller warden.)  Tjer, 'n gode Naricht is ook daarbie: de
N3-Fernsehshow "Talk op Platt" will nu ook wat för de Lütten doon un söökt
na Kinner, de up Nedderdüütsch vorlesen wüllt un köönt.
Gröten,
ReinhardRon

Dear Lowlanders,
That official recognition does not necessarily spell the end of a struggle
in language politics is something Low Saxon (Low German) speakers in
Germany are now learning over and over.  Pressure to recognize their
language in the North German states had primarily come from the European
administrative level.  Among German bureaucrats there is a range of
reactions, mostly between "Balderdash! Leave me alone with that stuff!" and
"Balderdash! I'm going to fight it!" though rarely if ever said out loud.
So we are dealing with cases of "passive aggressive" and spanners in the
works.  You can read all about it, albeit unfortunately only in "High"
German, at the web site of the INS-Presse (http://www.hprg.de/ins-presse/)
of the Institute for Low German Language in Bremen.  In the June issue you
will read under "Behördeneinfalt gegen Sprachenvielfalt" that the German
Patent Office in Munich has denied the first application for Low Saxon
user's instructions ... yes, simply denied despite the fact that it is an
official language.  Under "Sprachencharta wird konterkariert" you will read
that continuation of Low Saxon course offerings at the University of Bremen
is now in jeopardy -- "due to human resource problems," one of the favorite
excuses on the part of bureaucrats.  Kudos to the INS for keeping its eye
on the ball and for regularly announcing these types of bureaucratic
shenanigans to the whole world.  (The shaming effect would be stronger if
this was done in English as well.)  Well, there is some good news as well:
the N3 TV program "Talk op Platt" is going to include the little ones and
is currently looking for children willing and able to be Low Saxon readers.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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