Sorabe

The sorabe ( Serbšćina ) is a Langue pertaining to the Slavic group of the North-West of the family of the Indo-European languages. Language of old Slavic of the Elba, also called " Serb of Lusace or Serb white " established in the East of the Germany to the Life century, he is still spoken today in Lusace in the past Serbia Blanche, province historical with horse on the Länder of Saxony and Brandebourg, by some: 45000 speakers.

There are two written languages, including/understanding each one several dialectal alternatives:

  • the haut-sorabe ( Hornjoserbsce ) into High-Lusace (: 30000 speakers)
  • the bas-sorabe ( Dolnoserbski ) into Low-Lusace, threatened of extinction. (: 10000 speakers)
Also: 5000 sorabes speak a dialect about transition between the top and the bas-sorabe, commonly called sorabe means.

The sorabe is located between the Czech and the Polish and is written in Latin characters supplemented by some signs Diacritique S. The top sorabe is phonetically close to Czech but has a connected lexicon with Polish, whereas bottom sorabe contrary is phonetically close to Polish but uses a lexicon closer to Czech and German. It is a regional language of Germany, recognized according to the European Charte of the regional or minority languages. The language is partially used in the road signs, in the area of Cottbus.

History

First prince known Sorabe was Drvan. Dervar joined into 631-632 the alliance of the king Samo in fight against the Avars and the Francs. It was also at the origin of the first division of the Serbes. Indeed, his/her son, with the name forgotten by the history but called the Prince de White Serbie, thus guided with his request part of the Serb people towards the Byzantine Empire, the Balkans, following the request for assistance of the emperor Héraclius for the account of which they fought against the Avars.

It is really surprising that these two languages survived during the centuries. The company sorabe was a well isolated company. Divided into two religious communities, the language sorabe differed from village in village. The same situation can be noticed too today. It is thus important to know that there exists Lusace Catholique, and another evangelic. Catholic Lusace strongly resisted the German rush.

Nowadays

Haut-sorabe

The haut-sorabe always has many dialectal varieties. Currently, there are three written media, extremely important, which propagate the language and the culture sorabes. The first is the newspaper Serbske Nowiny , newspaper secularized. The second, Katolski Posoł , which represent the daily newspaper of the catholic community, and the last, Pomhaj Bóh , made for and by the evangelic community. On TV and with the radio, there are emissions in high-sorabe language. The haut-sorabe should remain still a long time in the family of the European living languages. First of all, because this language is spoken in the institutions: Domowina (representing the interests of the population sorabe), Maćica Serbska z.t. (company of sciences sorabe) or the Institute of sorabistic with Leipzig. But also thanks to the transmission of the language to the children.

Bas-sorabe

The knell is likely to sound for the bas-sorabe because this language is spoken only by some 10.000 speakers (as a native tongue) and some young graduates. The Tyzenik za serbski lud is a newspaper in bas-sorabe.

Grammatical characteristics

The variation has seven Cas:
  • personal
  • genitive
  • accusative dative
  • instrumental
  • rental
  • vocative

There are three numbers, namely the singular, the duel and plural:

  • ruka : the hand (singular)
  • ruce : two hands (duel)
  • ruki : more than two hands (plural)

An old verbal form (synthetic preterite), disappeared in the other languages from the Western Slavic group was preserved in the haut-sorabe, but practically disappeared in the bas-sorabe which preserved on the other hand the supin.

The haut-sorabe is a particular language. It preserves old features of the old common language such as the duel.

Example: Moj smoj dwaj precelej. We two are (two) brothers.

dwaj dubaj dwaj precelej dwaj dnjej dwe zoni dwe pisani

The top sorabe is a remarkable example of a language which during centuries fought with the German language and which still remains. The translation of the Bible and the creation of a rich literature made it possible the haut-sorabe to persevere on the European scene. Currently, of the projects in the kindergartens of Lusace are introduced to preserve this beautiful inheritance. Lusace is divided into areas called zupas. But these areas do not have any administrative or political value. They exist only within the Union of associations sorabes Domowina .

Others

  • code ISO 639 -2 of the sorabe: wen
    • code ISO 639 -2 of the haut-sorabe: hsb
    • code ISO 639 -2 of the bas-sorabe: dsb

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Arts center of information sorabe
  • History of the language sorabe
  • a Slavic language in Lusace (Germany)

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