LL-L "Language politics" 2011.06.02 (03) [EN]

[Lowlands-L List]

=====================================================
L O W L A N D S - L - 02 June 2011 - Volume 03
lowlands.list at gmail.com - http://lowlands-l.net/
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
Archive: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-08)
Language Codes: lowlands-l.net/codes.php
=====================================================



From: mike.keach at gmail.com

Subject: LL-L "Language politics" 2011.06.02 (01) [EN]


Beste Mitanand!

Along this theme, consider Switzerland's odd predicament:  Distinct and
unique forms of Allemanisch have been maintained in each and every valley of
that wonderful country. The two "standardized" forms are Bernertüüsch and
Zurirtüüsch - obviously from Bern and Zürich.  But, get down into the Berner
Oberland away from the ski slopes and all bets are off. Just by opening up
your mouth, everyone knows what valley you're from.

Then, to muddy the waters to that of a slough, Schrifftüüsch and broadcast
German is that of what the Swiss dismissively refer to as "Der Grosse
Kanton". (Germany) Few actually speak it in everyday life, yet they suffer
it in print and on air.  It isn't used in governance within Rathausen
throughout the country nor will you hear it in church.  It's quite amazing
to me.

It's terribly fascinating to study these forms and to muse upon what German
originally may have sounded like and how much those old dialects have
evolved independently of one another over the centuries - seemingly unaware
of the 2nd Sound shift that occurred North of the Alps.

You may be interested to know that such oddities even occur here in Florida!
 I live in Tampa and went very far south to the Everglades between Naples
and Ft. Lauderdale. Way out in the counytryside, away from any civilization,
I stopped for gas. Went inside to pay for it and was presented with a
barrage of patoit entirely incomprehensible to these ears. I'm relatively
good at identifying language sources but with this I stood clueless. I
merely nodded, smiled and handed the fellow the money.

I have lately assumed it was a mixture of native Seminole Indian and
something else. But, there you are.

En fin, I think these surviving dialects (if not most offshoot languages)
are around as a "glue" for national / communal identity. We may know we're
Global now and all that that business entails, but humans DO like to
associate with Like. I don't see regional or national languages going away
anytime soon.

BTW: when discussing Switzerland above, I failed to mention the Southeast
corner which employs Romansch!  They're as bad as those north of the
Rostitich. And those various dialects of Romansch date back to vulgarized
Latin brought up by the Romans, for goodness sake!

~Mike von Tampadorf (who apologizes for being so long-winded . . . )

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

 =========================================================
Send posting submissions to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
Send commands (including "signoff lowlands-l") to
listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands.list at gmail.com
http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html .
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=118916521473498
===============================================================
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lowlands-l/attachments/20110602/ba090c2b/attachment.htm>