LL-L "Language politics" 2007.10.23 (03) [E]

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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 (Zeeuws)

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L O W L A N D S - L  -  23 October 2007 - Volume 03
Song Contest: lowlands-l.net/contest/ (- 31 Dec. 2007)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language politics

Under "Phonology," Jaap reminded us that Zeelandic and West Flemish are very
similar. What I have been observing about them has convinced me that the two
constitute a single dialect group, one dialect continuum, at most two
subgroups of the same dialect group, and that they would generally be seen
that way were it not for the Netherlands-Belgium border between them. In
past times, both of them tended to be called Vlaemsch, Zeelandsch Vlaemsch with
special reference to the coast and to the islands of what is now the
province of Zeeland.

This then is similar to the case Low Saxon in which some people see and want
to perpetuate a separation along the international border.

Is it not also similar to the case of Scots in which some people in Ireland
want to see Ulster Scots (Ullands) officially separate from Scots of
Scotland?

Outside the Lowlands area I can think of a couple or so similar cases.

Were it not for the international border and Sweden's refusal to recognize
any Scandinavian minority language within its borders, Scanian of Southern
Sweden and Danish would probably be considered one language now. As in the
case of Low Saxon, separatists point toward differences as a result of
separation to justify the separation.

In the absence of the international border, Galician of northwestern Spain
and Portuguese of Portugal would probably be considered one language, as
linguists do. Again, there is a dialect continuum, though existing under
Spanish power has resulted in Castilian influences on Galician.

Any other such cases?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

•

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