fact_sheets:sorbian_in_germany
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Table of Contents
Lower Sorbian in Germany
Language name:
Dolnoserbski
Language code according to the ISO 639-3 standard:
dsb
Status in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages:
Lower Sorbian is recognized as a national minority (part III of the Charter)
Language vitality according to:
| UNESCO | Ethnologue | Endangered Languages |
|---|---|---|
| Definitely endangered | –your text here– out of 10 (10 means extinct) | Threatened |
Online resources:
- Sociolinguistic bibliography at Glottolog: http://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/lowe1385
- Record at Olac
- Record at Wikipedia
Mercator's Regional Dossier:
About the Lower Sorbian Language
Lower Sorbian (dolnoserbska rěc or Wendish) and Upper Sorbian (hornjoserbska rěč) are western Slavonic languages spoken in Lower Lusation (located in the German state Land of Brandenburg) and Upper Lusatia (located in the German state Free State of Saxony). Especially Lower Sorbian dialects are vanishing due to the major role of formal learning of the standard language in school. In central parts of Upper Lusatia there are still villages where Upper Sorbian is the first language and the family language of all generations. In Lower Lusatia the language is rarely passed on to to the next generation.
Location
operating instructions
Various functions are available as part of the map.
mouse/touch operation
- moving by grabbing the map with a mouse-click you can move the map around
- overview map using the < button in the bottom right of the map you can expand an overview map
- zooming in and out using the + and - buttons in the top left of the map you can obtain more or less detail in the map
- switching themes or maps clicking on the ≡ icon on the right-hand side of the map you can view and select available maps and themes
- retrieving information the map may contain elements that contain more information, by clicking these a popup will show this information
- fullscreen display using the ⛶ button the map can be maximized to fullscreen display, use the ▢ button to return to page display.
keyboard operation
Keyboard operation becomes available after activating the map using the tab key (the map will show a focus indicator ring).
- moving using the arrow keys you can move the map
- overview map using the + button in the bottom right of the map you can expand an overview map
- zooming in and out using the + and - buttons in the top left of the map or by using the + and - keys you can obtain more or less detail in the map
- switching themes or maps clicking on the ≡ icon on the right-hand side of the map you can view and select available maps and themes
- retrieving information the map may contain elements that contain more information, using the i key you can activate a cursor that may be moved using the arrow keys, pressing the enter will execute an information retrieval. press the i or the escape key to return to navigation mode
- fullscreen display using the ⛶ button the map can be maximized to fullscreen display, use the ▢ button to return to page display.
It's possible that some of the functions or buttons describe above have been disabled by the page author or the administrator
| id | symbol | latitude | longitude | description |
|---|
Demographics
Percentage of Frisians that speak the Frisian language in different age classes:
source:1)
- ~ 94% in Frisian understand Frisian.
- ~ 67% speaks the language (reasonably) well.
- ~ 15% writes the language well
Writing skills seem to have improved somewhat in the last few years2).
0-3 Years old: preschool education
Legislation
Brandenburg: daycare centres are obliged to teach about Sorbian language and culture. They receive financial support from the Foundation for Sorbian People. The Federal State is obliged to support Sorbian education of the group leaders and to provide pedagogical materials.
Saxony: the State provides Sorbian groups with additional financial support for staff and education materials.
Teacher training
Training in Sorbian for group leaders is provided:
- In Upper and Lower Lusatia by the WITAJ Language Centre;
- In Lower Lusatia by the School for Lower Sorbian Language and Culture;
- In Upper Lusatia by the Serbske kubłanske srjedźišćo LIPA (Sorbian
Family and Education Centre “LIPA” registered association).
Educational materials
- The Tomke project, started by the Afûk in 1997 to stimulate Frisian language development in preschoolers. Tomke is a small Frisian boy that appears in tv adventures, books and a website.
Practice
Frisian is used mainly in individual contacts with children or parents. When reading or singing Dutch is used much more often.
Read more
5-10 or 12 years old: primary education
Legislation
Saxony: the Sorbian language may be used as a language of instruction, and taught as a subject. Basic knowledge about the history and culture of the Sorbs has to be taught at school 3).
Brandenburg: schools are obliged to inform parents about the possibilities to learn Sorbian. Basic knowledge about the history and culture of the Sorbs has to be taught at schools 4).
Teacher training
In Lower Lusatia, Arbeitsstelle Bildungsentwicklung Cottbus is responsible for training teachers in the Sorbian language.
Educational materials
Educational materials are developed by
Different methods are available for teaching Sorbian as a first language, and as a foreign language.
In practice
Regard for the minority language in class
Teacher skills
12-16/18 years old: secondary education
Legislation
Since 1993, the Dutch law on secondary education prescribes that Frisian is an obligatory subject in the two lowest grades. However, since 2006, the provincial government may grant schools exemption from this rule.
Teacher training
- The NHL and University of Groningen train Frisian language teachers.
Educational materials
- Searje 36: digital learning method to learn Frisian in the first year of secondary education.
Practice
Read more
Adult education
- Frisian language courses for adults are organised by the Afûk.
- The two-year bachelor Minorities and Multilingualism offers optional courses that focus on Frisian.
Read more
Evaluation of language education
The inspectorate (Inspectie van het Onderwijs) inspects Frisian primary and secondary language education every few years.
Educational resources
- Taalweb Frysk, developed by the Fryske Akademy: tools for writing Frisian.
- Praat mar Frysk, campaign set up by the Afûk to promote the Frisian language.
- Tresoar, Frisian historic and linguistic centre.
- Omrop Fryslân, Frisian broadcasting service.
- Heit & Mem, Frisian magazine for parents.
- Kanon fan de Fryske Skiednis, Canon of the history of Frisia.
- Sintrim meertaligens (Center for multilingualism)
- Frysk.nl, guide for Frisian at school
- It Fryske berneboek (The Frisian children's book)
fact_sheets/sorbian_in_germany.1466078218.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/06/16 13:56 by johanneke