LL-L "Language survival" 2002.10.02 (09) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 02.OCT.2002 (09) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: George M Gibault <gmg at direct.ca>
Subject: LL-L "Language survival" 2002.10.02 (04) [E]

Fellow lowlanders:

Hi and best wishes to all. I agree that the act of the state against
minority languages must be fought politically and in the courts -
absolutely. I have been helping in a case as a matter of fact where native
kids are suing for loss of culture at state enforced "residential schools."
My point was that there is a fine line between government "help" which
supports real community efforts and government "help" which ends up being a
costly waste of tax dollars and generates regional and ethnic animosity and
backlash - as Canada's federal bilingual policy has done in western Canada -
where studies actually show that the French speaking minority has dropped
French FASTER than immigrant minorities speaking "unofficial" languages.  I
would say use political and legal action in defence - to open up
opportunities to use and develop minority languages - but be very careful
about how you use the cold hand of the state to "promote" them. Bottom up
culture and language support feels like democracy: top down feels like
political pandering and in extreme cases forced language learning/use feels
like tyranny. P.S. Prussia derives from Bo Russia (near Russia) Rurik,
foujder of the Kievan Rus dynasty which led to the Czars was a viking.

Cheers                  George

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