Stralendorf celebrates Low German town sign - a piece of home feeling!

Stralendorf celebrates Low German town sign - a piece of home feeling!

In Stralendorf, a small town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there is a new reason to be happy: a freshly installed town sign with the Low German name “Stralendörp” welcomes all visitors. The initiative for this sign comes from Anke Dombrowski, the leader of the Low German group, and marks an important step towards strengthening the Low German language. Loud Northern Courier The approval process for the sign took three years, during which numerous institutions, including the local council, the University of Greifswald and the road traffic authority, had to work together.

The inauguration of the new sign was duly celebrated. A choir and members of a seniors' club gathered on site to perform a song composed especially for the community that celebrates the beauty of the region. Mayor Helmut Richter described the sign as a “beautiful piece of Stralendorf history”. Stralendorf has changed a lot recently, thanks, among other things, to a new village community center and the opening of a Norma market, which emphasizes the connection to home even more.

Low German in the fast lane

What many people don't know is that the move to introduce Low German place-name signs is part of a broader initiative aimed at making the Low German language more present in the region. Communities have recently been able to display their names in Low German at town entrances. A new additional sign will be mounted below the regular town sign, which was made possible by a decree from the state parliament. The background to this initiative is to promote the visibility of Low German in public life kultur-mv.de reported.

The promotion of the Low German language has found a permanent place in the state constitution. Municipalities must submit an application to the responsible road traffic authority in order to receive such an additional sign. There is support from the universities of Rostock and Greifswald as well as the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Homeland Association, who provide advice.

Preserve a piece of North German culture

The Low German language has a long history that dates back to the 19th century. Historical discussions about its preservation began with Ludolf Wienbarg, who called for the language to be eradicated in 1834. Today, however, there is agreement among politicians, language associations and the media about the need to preserve Low German as part of North German culture. Various initiatives and local associations are actively trying to preserve the language. In many federal states, such as Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, Low German is already taught in schools, which significantly supports the transmission of this cultural tradition. The University of Münster describes that Low German is not just a dialect, but a regional language that is characterized by a large linguistic distance from Standard German.

The new sign in Stralendorf not only conveys a sense of home, but also preserves an important piece of North German identity. The passing on and maintenance of the Low German language is not only a question of tradition, but also of the cultural diversity of our region.