Low German's Struggle: Between Indifference, Ignorance, and Linguistic Instrumentalism

Abstract

This paper discusses and examines the current situation of Low German, an indigenous and endangered language spoken in northern Germany and parts of the Netherlands. Although the German state supports the use and maintenance of the Low German language, this article argues that indifferent attitudes towards the language, the lack of passing it on along generational lines, and new developments such as linguistic instrumentalism make it increasingly difficult to keep Low German from further erosion.