Missingsch: Difference between revisions
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A more technical definition of “Missingsch” is that it is a type of German variety with a “Low German” ([[Low Saxon language|Low Saxon]]) [[substratum]]. This is the result of linguistic, cultural, educational and political [[Germanisation]] of the region that is now Northern [[Germany]]. This process of Germanisation began in earnest in the late [[seventeenth century]], after the demise of the [[Hanseatic League]] and thus the erosion of its [[Middle Low German|Middle-Saxon]]-speaking power. Pressures to adopt German and at the same time insufficient access to formal (by now solely German language) education in the lower social classes led to various stages of transition from “Low German” to “High German.” These generally low-prestige language varieties continued to be spoken (rarely written) until the late [[twentieth century]], though some people still continue and promote them now, very often for their supposed entertainment value, typically in comical veins. From a linguistic point of view, these varieties did not become extinct as such. They merely developed into more “cleaned-up” northern varieties of German, varieties that use numerous Missingsch elements, especially in their casual registers. |
A more technical definition of “Missingsch” is that it is a type of German variety with a “Low German” ([[Low Saxon language|Low Saxon]]) [[substratum]]. This is the result of linguistic, cultural, educational and political [[Germanisation]] of the region that is now Northern [[Germany]]. This process of Germanisation began in earnest in the late [[seventeenth century]], after the demise of the [[Hanseatic League]] and thus the erosion of its [[Middle Low German|Middle-Saxon]]-speaking power. Pressures to adopt German and at the same time insufficient access to formal (by now solely German language) education in the lower social classes led to various stages of transition from “Low German” to “High German.” These generally low-prestige language varieties continued to be spoken (rarely written) until the late [[twentieth century]], though some people still continue and promote them now, very often for their supposed entertainment value, typically in comical veins. From a linguistic point of view, these varieties did not become extinct as such. They merely developed into more “cleaned-up” northern varieties of German, varieties that use numerous Missingsch elements, especially in their casual registers. |
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There are numerous parallel cases to that of Missingsch |
There are numerous parallel cases to that of Missingsch. These are found in many situations in which languages came to be supplanted by other languages. Within a Northern European context there is the case of [[Stadsfries]] in the northern parts of the [[Netherlands]] and the case of [[sociolect]]s of [[Scottish English]] that have particularly strong [[Scots language|Scots]] characteristics. |
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Historically, "Missingsch" comes from [[Hamburg]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], [[Danzig]] and other towns, which lay in the Low German speech area, where High German was an important influence for the inhabitants, so that they decided to speak High German. The term is derived from "Meißnerisch", the [[Central German]] dialect of [[Meißen]] in [[Saxony]], which was an influential supra-regional form of German, with high status, from the 15th century until the establishment of the Modern Standard German. |
Historically, "Missingsch" comes from [[Hamburg]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], [[Danzig]] and other towns, which lay in the Low German speech area, where High German was an important influence for the inhabitants, so that they decided to speak High German. The term is derived from "Meißnerisch", the [[Central German]] dialect of [[Meißen]] in [[Saxony]], which was an influential supra-regional form of German, with high status, from the 15th century until the establishment of the Modern Standard German. |
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Revision as of 20:39, 7 December 2007
Missingsch is a type of Low German-coloured dialect or sociolect of German. It is characterised by Low-German-type sentence construction and the presence of numerous loanwords (especially calques) from Low German in German (“High German”).
A more technical definition of “Missingsch” is that it is a type of German variety with a “Low German” (Low Saxon) substratum. This is the result of linguistic, cultural, educational and political Germanisation of the region that is now Northern Germany. This process of Germanisation began in earnest in the late seventeenth century, after the demise of the Hanseatic League and thus the erosion of its Middle-Saxon-speaking power. Pressures to adopt German and at the same time insufficient access to formal (by now solely German language) education in the lower social classes led to various stages of transition from “Low German” to “High German.” These generally low-prestige language varieties continued to be spoken (rarely written) until the late twentieth century, though some people still continue and promote them now, very often for their supposed entertainment value, typically in comical veins. From a linguistic point of view, these varieties did not become extinct as such. They merely developed into more “cleaned-up” northern varieties of German, varieties that use numerous Missingsch elements, especially in their casual registers.
There are numerous parallel cases to that of Missingsch. These are found in many situations in which languages came to be supplanted by other languages. Within a Northern European context there is the case of Stadsfries in the northern parts of the Netherlands and the case of sociolects of Scottish English that have particularly strong Scots characteristics.
Historically, "Missingsch" comes from Hamburg, Bielefeld, Bremen, Danzig and other towns, which lay in the Low German speech area, where High German was an important influence for the inhabitants, so that they decided to speak High German. The term is derived from "Meißnerisch", the Central German dialect of Meißen in Saxony, which was an influential supra-regional form of German, with high status, from the 15th century until the establishment of the Modern Standard German.
Missingsch is not a dialect of Low German, but rather a Low German-coloured accent.
In the novel Schloss Gripsholm Kurt Tucholsky broaches the issue of Missingisch and provides samples.
Grammar and Pronunciation
The grammar of classical "Missingsch" is mostly Low German, and the vocabulary is a mixture of High German and Low German.
Some examples (Low German, High German, and English in parenthesis):
- Lang mich mal die Kanne Miich (Lang mi mol de Melkkann) (Gib mir bitte das Milchkännchen) (Give me the milk pitcher please)
- Sitzen gehen schallst du erst, wenn de Vadder da is (Sitten gahn schallst du iers, wenn de Vadder dor is) (Du wirst dich erst hinsetzen, wenn dein Vater da ist) (Only sit down when father is there)
- Ich tu dich blots ankucken, denn wirst du klar kriegen was die Klock geslagen hat. (Ik do di blots ankieken, denn schallst du klorkreegen, wat de Klock slaan hett) (Ich schaue dich nur an, dann wirst du schon wissen, was die Uhr geschlagen hat) (I only have to look at you, then you'll know what's what)
In the last example, it becomes very obvious that "Missingsch" is not a Low German variety: it uses "was" instead of the Low German "wat". More distinctive is the use of the High German "ich" instead of the Low German "ik".