LL-L "Migration" 2005.08.15 (11) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 15.AUG.2005 (11) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Críostóir Ó Ciardha <paada_please at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Migration" 2005.08.15 (02) [E]

Dear all,

For those list members not conversant in Standard German, the following
English-language resource provides an excellent background of the Aussiedler
matter in Germany today, with particular attention paid to requirements
involving a knowledge of Standard German ("Hochdeutsch").

http://www.germanlawjournal.com/pdf/Vol05No07/PDF_Vol_05_No_07_761-789_Public_Koppenfels.pdf

I sent this under "Migration" but it may be more appropriate in "Resources".

Go raibh maith agaibh,

Criostóir.

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From: Felix Hülsey <felix.huelsey at gmx.de>
Subject: Lowlands-L: Migration

Dear all,

Críostóir wrote:

"As someone fascinated by the Aussiedler phenomenon - especially with
regard
to the qualitative experiences of Aussiedler in Germany - do any list
contributors have details on the uptake of Low Saxon or other Lowlandic
variants by Aussiedler in Germany today? Is it simply the case that
Aussiedler whose native language is Russian or Romanian are obliged to
learn
Hochdeutsch upon their state-insisted "integration" into north German
society, even if the areas in which they live are still Low Saxon or
Frisian
speaking?"

Having taught German to Aussiedler from Russian speaking areas until
very recently - which I always enjoyed doing - I think I can comment on
this one.

The official policy in Germany is of course to teach these people
standard German and nothing else. Until last year, they got courses from
the Arbeitsamt and now from the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge
which can take up to 6 months depending on their previous knowledge of
German.

If they wanted to learn the local Low Saxon (or Bavarian or whatever)
variant, they would have to do it in their spare time. I cannot imagine
anyone of them ever doing this; you can believe me it is hard enough
for them to learn sufficient German to find work as quickly as possible,
and that is what they want - they are usually extraordinarily ambitious
and do not like relying on Arbeitslosengeld 2 at all.

Críostóir asked:

"How many Aussiedler have "re-settled" in traditionally Lowlandic
areas, given that the German Government now channels migrants to certain
districts where they are legally compelled to remain?"

I do not have any numbers here, maybe you can find them somewhere on the
website of the Bundesamt (www.bamf.de).

But let me explain what "compelled to remain" means: Aussiedler (and
Kontingentflüchtlinge, too) have to live in the municipality they were
assigned to for their first three years in Germany, but only as long as
they get welfare money. As soon as they make their own living, this rule
does not apply any more, they do not have to wait out the three years,
but can move wherever they want.

As far as I know, the "channelling" is not arbitrary. They can state
their favourite place (e.g. where relatives are already living) and
normally they get to live in that place or at least nearby.

While some of the Aussiedler I gave lessons to claimed to have spoken
"Platt" (whatever they meant by that), I could never get anyone to speak
it to me. Either they were ashamed of it or thought the standard German
they were learning would be corrupted by it.

It was the same even for Yiddish! I sometimes had older people who spoke
it, but never in the open, though they did not hesitate to say that they
were Jews. If there were any communication problems with me, they tried
Russian (of which I understand not more than a few words) or even gave
up, but never spoke Yiddish, though they must have noticed that it could
have been of some help. Strange, isn't it?

Greetings from Cologne
Felix Hülsey

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