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 being held back by 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. |
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 being held back by 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. |
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From a linguistic point of view, Missingsch 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. As such, Missingsch has been influencing the development of Standard German, mostly indirectly by way of influences of northern German dialects. Obvious examples are Low Saxon loanwords such as ''tschüß'' ‘bye’ (cf. Low Saxon ''adschüüß'', ''tschüüß''). Most influences are not as clearly detectable as they involve lexical and [[idiom|idiomatic]] choices. |
From a linguistic point of view, Missingsch 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. As such, Missingsch has been influencing the development of Standard German, mostly indirectly by way of influences of northern German dialects. Obvious examples are Low Saxon loanwords such as ''tschüß'' ‘bye’ (cf. Low Saxon ''adschüüß'', ''tschüüß''). Most influences are not as clearly detectable as they involve [[lexicon|lexical]] and [[idiom|idiomatic]] choices. |
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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. |
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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Revision as of 22:15, 7 December 2007
Missingsch is a type of Low German-coloured dialect or sociolect of German. It is characterised by Low-German-type structures 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 being held back by 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, Missingsch 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. As such, Missingsch has been influencing the development of Standard German, mostly indirectly by way of influences of northern German dialects. Obvious examples are Low Saxon loanwords such as tschüß ‘bye’ (cf. Low Saxon adschüüß, tschüüß). Most influences are not as clearly detectable as they involve lexical and idiomatic choices.
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.
While there have been many varieties of Missingsch throughout Northern Germany, those of larger cities are best known, such as those of Hamburg, Bielefeld, Bremen, Flensburg and Gdańsk/Danzig.
The name “Missingsch” refers to the city of Meissen (Meißen) whose German dialect was at one time considered exemplary and became an influential supra-regional form of German, with high status, from the fifteenth century until the establishment of the Modern Standard German. Missingsch is the Low Saxon equivalent of what in German is Meißnerisch, rather than, as often stated, derived from it.
Contrary to popular belief, Missingsch is not a dialect of Low German. Furthermore, Missingsch it is not simply “German with a Low German accent,” as it is often described. Its “Low German” (Low Saxon) influences are not restricted to its phonology but involve morphological and syntactic structures and also its lexicon (sentence construction) as well. It is a type of German variety with the minimally qualifying characteristic of a clearly noticeable “Low German” (Low Saxon) substratum.
Traditional German varieties of Berlin qualify as Missingsch as well, though few people think of Berlinerisch as a Missingsch variety these days. Berlin is still surrounded by traditionally Low-Saxon-speaking areas of the southeastern or Brandenburg type. Before it became the center of the Prussian state, Berlin, too, was Low-Saxon-speaking. As such it adopted German earlier than did other northern centers. Typical Berlinerisch is thus technically a Missingsch group with an additional Western Slavic (probably Old Lower Sorbian) substratum, since before Saxon colonisation the area was Slavic-speaking.
In the novel Schloss Gripsholm by Kurt Tucholsky broaches the issue of Missingsch 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".