HAVE GERMAN WILL TRAVEL SPRACHE DEUTSCH / GERMAN language: die Sprache, die Sprachen dialect: die Mundart, die Mundarten der Dialekt, die Dialekte slang: die Umgangssprache, die Umgangssprachen die Sondersprache, die Sondersprachen Low German (Plattdiiiitsch) G ERMANY'S SECOND UNGUAGE. Platt­ deutsch or Low German, is undergoing scholarly documentation in order to "Low" in this case just means the lowlands of preserve its cuftural values for future generations. A comprehensive study of northern Germany, in contrast to the -writ~ n and spoken Plattdeutsch (also highlands of the Alps. Although this dialect is called Niederdeutsch) is being made by the recently established lnstitut fiir also slowly fading away, many speakers still niederdeutsche Sprache in Bremen. see it as a part of their proud heritage, even Although High German is the lingua franca of G erman-speaking areas going so far as to consider it its own language today, scholars consider it important to protect the ro le historically allotted to rather than a dialect. Low German-which, as its name im­ plies, is the popular usage in the lowlands. Low German Middle Low German was the lingua franca of the Hanseatic League. It was the predominant language in Northern Germany. This changed in the 16th century, when in 1534 the Luther Bible by Martin Luther was printed. This translation is considered to be an important step towards the evolution of the Early New High German. It aimed to be understandable to a broad audience and was based mainly on Central and Upper German varieties. The Early New High German language gained more prestige than Low Saxon and became the language of science and literature. Other factors were that around the same time, the Hanseatic league lost its importance as new trade routes to Asia and the Americas were established, and that the most powerful German states of that period were located in Middle and Southern Germany. The 18th and 19th centuries were marked by mass education of Standard German in schools. Slowly, Low Saxon was pushed back and back until it was nothing but a language spoken by the uneducated and at home. Today Low Saxon can be divided in two groups: Low Saxon varieties with a reasonable standard German. influx and varieties of Standard German with a Low Saxon influence known as Missingsch. Sometimes, Low Saxon and Low Franconian varieties are grouped together because both are unaffected by the High German consonant shift. However, the part of the population capable of speaking and responding to it, or of understanding it has decreased continuously since World War II. --Was soll~ on tun? Was bedeutet dos? {Bremen) Plottdeutsch ist ein Diolekt in Norddeutschland. (Tecklenburg} I~_, ~G!llll: • .• ;-• ',:•t ' • .