LL-L "Language survival" 2003.05.03 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 03.May.2003 (02) * 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) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From:  "Peter Snepvangers" <snepvangers at optushome.com.au>
Subject: "Language survival"

Hello Ron, Kenneth, Lowlanders,
.....The problem, though, is that young people don't learn the dialects
and they don't carry on the dialect to future generations. This is due
to
many factors, and we have to look at what we can do in order to change
that.....
Here are a couple of links from an Australian perspective.
http://members.optushome.com.au/joopmul/dutch.html
http://www.dimia.gov.au/statistics/publications/community_profiles/NetherlandsNet.pdf

I am fascinated with the discussion and dilemmas thrown up regarding
dialects vs language and the future survival of such. When my father was
alive he told me Limburgs was a language
like Dutch was a language. He told me a language was only a dialect with
enough money to support an army (though I prefer the explanation on your
links to the Scots site better). As a
second generation Dutch/Australian I have a usable Dutch speaking and
understanding grasp from my parents with some writing (perhaps old
fashioned style). My parents spoke Limburgs
and some other dialects/languages fluently (intermittently at home, but
predominantely Dutch and English). Limburgs was used as a third laguage
only coming to the fore during social and
cultural occassions with like minded migrants. The Dutch weekly
newspaper my parents read had a policy for many years of only writing in
Dutch as a means of preserving the Dutch written
tradition in the "new country". Unfortunately this disenfranchised the
second generation as we could not read it at all. We learnt about the
Homeland by reading in English and the
methodology used to learn the language was purely an oral tradition. I
am now teaching my 4 year old daghter Dutch and would love to also teach
her a Low Saxon language (Limburgs or
not). The problem for me is where or how do I go to learn? Universities
in Australia basically only teach French, German, Spanish, Chinese
languages, Indonesian with not much Dutch (let
alone Lowlands Sassich). In Australia it is very very difficult to find
a speaker of Limburgs to listen to and learn from. To find a public
institution or private company able to teach English
speakers is almost impossible. Accessibility seems to be the major issue
in learning a language. If I look to the internet (the great provider!!)
I discover many links, dictionaries and other
useful forums and information on Lowlands languages.
Perhaps we should forget the political, historical, geographical etc
reasons for languages dying out and concentrate only on the things that
make a living language, well, live. The idea of a
common written/spoken form to me seems a fundamental step in making the
whole thing accessible. The idea of dictionaries on the web is a must
today. Why more sound files are not used
in web based dictionaries is a mystery.  Many of todays youth would
learn a Lowlands language if the way and means were readily available. I
believe in Europe there has been some what of
a renaissance in Limburgs, Frisian, Scots and other "minority"
languages. The product will sell itself if its structure is robust
enough to stand on its own. I also found a great dictionary with
some sound files for kids on a Limburg site.
http://www.logos.it/pls/dictionary/new_dictionary.elenco_dizio_project?pjCode=10&lang=LB&u_code=4395
More tools like this would increase the audience. Structured online
courses affiliated with a university would help reach the great diaspora
of young people who "don't learn the
dialects and they don't carry on the dialect to future generations." My
brother is visting today so we thought we might listen to a CD - "Ich
ken
een aardig maedje"
Tot Siens
Peter Snepvangers
Turrella, NSW, Australia

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