LL-L "Language contacts" 2004.11.08 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 08.NOV.2004 (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: Helge Tietz <helgetietz at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language contacts" 2004.11.07 (05) [E]


Moin-moin Lowlanders,

Since I am a native Low Saxon speaker from the Rendsborg district which is a
variety of Low Saxon with a Jutish akzentuation and a Danish speaker as well
it is often pointed out by Danes that the way I speak standart Danish sounds
like Synnejysk, inparticular the "rolled r" in worde such as "bror" and the
lack of the "stoet". Since Danish speakers who have a German passport
usually come from the Sydslesvig region it often is assumed by Danes to be
the general German akzent because many Danes are not aware that there is a
Danish minority south of the border. I think it would quickly become obvious
to them if a Bavarian of Hessian speaks Danish that there are huge
differences. When speaking German to Southern Germans I often get asked
whether I am English (or something like that) because to them my High German
akzent sounds "outlandish" as well, in particular the
"st-sp"-pronounciation. But it doesn't really matter to me, to retain m y
local Low Saxon dialect and its pronounciation is more important to me than
to either attempting to imitate "correct" Rigsdansk or High German so I can
live with it. In many ways the Sydslesvigers form an Nordic entity in itself
which is neither German nor Danish, somwhere in between with cultural links
to the Netherlands, particularily the Provincie Frisland, and I usually feel
like that myself but because the Sydslesvig-movement depents on Danish
subsidies to survive nobody really dares to describe us as such because we
might loose then this vital financial help.

Helge

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From: Henry Pijffers <henry.pijffers at saxnot.com>
Subject: LL-L "Language contacts" 2004.11.07 (05) [E]

Ron wrote:
>
> When I listened to what is called _sønderjysk dialekt_ (Southern Jutish
> dialect) I immediately knew that this was "real" Jutish, not Danish with a
> Jutish accent.  What really, really struck me right away were the many
> phonological features shared with the North Saxon dialects of Lowlands
> Saxon.  In fact, they are so numerous and so clearly present that to me it
> sounds like a speaker of Lowlands Saxon is trying to approximate
> Danish.  It is very striking indeed, also as far as intonation is
> concerned.
>
I had a look (well, a listen more specifically...) and I agree, it
really does sound like a (Low) Saxon speaker trying to speak Danish.

 > By the way, I have
> asked Tant Clar to contribute a recording of the wren story, but I'm not
> sure she can do it.
>
Anyone with a taperecorder in the vicinity?

> http://www.elkan.dk/sprog/dialekter.asp
 >
This is totally unrelated to your posting, but I went there, and clicked
on the link to http://www.synnejysk.dk/, a website of the Æ Synnejysk
Forening. One of the first things I saw there was a picture of a farm.
Why do all these dialect site builders always put up pictures of farms,
rural landscapes, etc? I think that's bad for the concerned language's
image, since it leads to people thinking it's a farmer's dialect (as if
people already don't do that enough). It also gives young people the
impression that it's something old fashioned, that it's not worth
keeping it and that they should ditch it. Farms and language are two
separate issues, period.

regards,
Henry

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language contacts

Thanks, guys!

Helge, I'm glad you have pride in your local language.  All I can say to you
is "Hold fast!"

Henry:

>  > By the way, I have
> > asked Tant Clar to contribute a recording of the wren story, but I'm not
> > sure she can do it.
> >
> Anyone with a taperecorder in the vicinity?

Yes, a common friend, and I'm hoping that he and she will oblige.  I don't
want to be too insistent, though.  After all, she just turned 85 and still
keeps writing her weekly newspaper columns, which must take a lot out of
her.

> Why do all these dialect site builders always put up pictures of farms,
> rural landscapes, etc?

I agree.  However, it *is* a fact that these minority languages tend to be
in better shape in rural parts.  My recommendation -- based on psychological
consideration -- is to neither focus on rural symbols nor try to create the
impression that you are dealing with language varieties that are flourishing
in cities.  Neutral visual symbols are best, I think, along with factual
information and, hopefully, some sort of encouraging message.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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