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languages:lower_sorbian_in_germany

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Lower Sorbian in Germany

Language designations:

  • In the language itself: Dolnoserbski
  • ISO 639-3 standard: dsb

Language vitality according to:

*UNESCO makes no distinction between Lower and Upper Sorbian

Linguistic classification:

A little history

Lower Sorbian (dolnoserbska rěc or Wendish) and Upper Sorbian (hornjoserbska rěč) are western Slavonic languages spoken in Lower Lusatia (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.

Read more in Mercator's Regional Dossier

Language area

Lower Sorbian (dolnoserbska rěc or Wendish) and Upper Sorbian (hornjoserbska rěč) are western Slavonic languages spoken in Lower Lusatia (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.

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Demographics


Language and education legislation:

European legislation:

Lower Sorbian is covered under Part III of the Charter

Modified: 23-08-2016, 16:24

National legislation

Lower Sorbian is not an official language in Germany: the only official language in Germany is German.

Modified: 23-08-2016, 16:24

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:

Educational materials

Educational materials are developed by WITAJ Language Centre


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 1).

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 2).

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

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

Educational materials

Educational materials are developed by

Different methods are available for teaching Sorbian as a first language, and as a foreign language.


Adult education


Evaluation of language education

Saxony: external evaluation of Sorbian language education is carried out by the Saxon Education Institute.


Educational resources

  • Serbski Muzej, Sorbian museum with many educational activities.

Online resources:

1) , 3)
Paragraph 2, Saxon Education Act 2004
2) , 4)
Sorbian / Wendish Schulverordnung, 2000
languages/lower_sorbian_in_germany.1475747154.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016/10/06 11:45 by johanneke

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