LL-L 'Language proficiency' 2007.01.07 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L - 07 January 2007 - Volume 02
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From: jonny <jonny.meibohm at arcor.de>
Subject: LL-L 'Etymology' 2007.01.06 (03) [E]

Beste Marcus and Ron,

Marcus wrote:
I too don't believe, that people assume, that East Frisian is the "best" or
"real" Low Saxon. People always esteem their own dialect as the best (and
I'm
fine with that).

and Ron:
I can only guess that among the reasons for this are that the language in
those parts is in better shape as far as usage is concerned and also that
German speakers can understand even less of it when they hear it -- which
may make them think it's more "authentic."

Well- there's some stuff here that could be made clearer by some additional
Sunday's comment, I think.

For me there's no doubt that in the entire area of the Lowsaxon-language(s)
there are really enormous regional differences mainly caused by the
frequency in which the language is still used more or less in daily live.

Of course a language isn't ‚good' or ‚bad' per se- but, as Ron mentioned,
speakers can use it in a good or bad way.
How ‚good' a speaker is normally depends on the circumstances and the
‚milieu', the linguistically background he's living in. I don't believe that
normally (e.g. with the exception of the one or other 'linguistiocal
athlete' ;-)) one could really become a good speaker without exercising a
language for a good while- in speaking it!

Let me tell two examples from my own family.

First have a look upon that part of my relatives still living in or coming
from the area of the Lueneburg Heath. That generation which stands above me-
my uncles and aunts, now around eighty years old- altogether are able to
talk LS, but they don't use to speak it even amongst themselves. But they do
(nolens-volens) with me and my brother, though our dialect is completely
different and they have some difficulties to understand.
The generation of my cousins (and their friends, as far as I know them) just
may be able to understand their own dialect but are completely unable to
speak any LS- though all of them grew up in a small village on a farm.
If they nevertheless try to do it, it's not authentic- it's indeed a poor, a
bad language...

Things are very different with my relatives (by marriage) in Eastern
Friesland! During a family day last year there met about 100 people from all
over the world, but the main language still was EFLS and all
first-generation emigrants were able to speak it authentically- so it was a
good language...

And this isn't a question of the special two families- it's due to the
situation within two LS-regions: in Eastern Friesland the language is still
alive and used by the majority(??) of the inhabitants in their daily life
whilst in the Lueneburg area you won't find too many ‚authentic' speakers
today.
Different from Frisia where still today babies grow up with both, Standard
German and EFLS, in many other originally LS-regions there is no will and
wish to continue the linguistical traditions.
(So these circumstances might be a reason why, for my knowledge, we havn'
t/hadn't? got any active 'Haidjer' here on the list.)

Let me add one word about my own.
I count myself lucky for having been forced to learn LS during my childhood,
and I had and still have to speak it with a lot of people surrounding me as
a main language. During all my life, though, Standard German did rule, and
so I've to confess that this language is the one I'm able to manage better,
in special when I have to write it or must explain difficult matters.
So- comparing my own ability in speaking LS with that of my (LS-)teachers of
youthen times I always find my language skills lacking of authenticity. I
myself think it to be poor and bad but others, never having been in contact
with people like those, esteem it to be good...

A language for my opinion only then is authentically if it's close to the
daily life's needs; a bad one is watered by nescience, bad education and the
dominance of a stronger one. This is the real situation in the by far
greater part of the LS-regions. All well meaning attempts and efforts to
change it 'from above' must fail as long as the basic doesn't follow.

BTW: I personally don't think EFLS to be the ‚most authentic' dialect of the
German LS-group as far as the 'Saxon' element is regarded. I 'feel' there's
too much Frisian and Franconian influence within. But I love it...

Moien Sünndag ouk!

Greutens/Regards

Johannes "Jonny" Meibohm
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