{"id":21093,"date":"2026-05-28T15:18:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T13:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=21093"},"modified":"2026-06-12T15:23:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:23:01","slug":"bremen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/21093\/bremen\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting people into \u201cPlatt\u201d again: \u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient.\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Centuries ago, Low German was spoken by everyone throughout Northern Germany. Nowadays, High German is seen as the standard language, and Low German is no longer naturally passed on in many families. Reaching new generations of speakers is difficult. But despite the struggle, the language is far from its death, you just have to know where to look.   <\/strong><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What the numbers say<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><div class=\"flourish-embed\" data-src=\"story\/3699773\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><div class=\"flourish-embed\" data-src=\"story\/3701525\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Data from 2016 compared with data from 1994. In 1994 only four choices were given. The categories of&nbsp;<em>reasonably well&nbsp;<\/em>and&nbsp;<em>only a few words&nbsp;<\/em>used in 2016 are the equivalent of&nbsp;<em>a bit<\/em>, the single category used in 1984. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2016 the Institut f\u00fcr Niederdeutsche Sprache (INS) did a study about the current status and use of Low German. It is difficult to determine how much people understand and speak a language. The categories in the figure above are subjective impressions as respondents have to classify their skills themselves. However, there is a clear decrease visible in both Low German speaking and understanding. The percentage of people that understand Low German very well has almost halved. The percentage of people that speak it very well shrunk more than three times.&nbsp;In both years, significantly more people can understand Low German than speak it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The INS is working on a new study for current data. Nele Otten, who runs the Low German library from the INS, hopes that it will show that Low German is slightly on the rise now. Partly because she hopes that then politicians will prioritize protecting it. Germany signed the \u201cEuropean Charta for Regional or Minority Languages\u201d, therefore they recognize Low German as a regional language and promised to protect and promote it. Still, in 2025 Low German was not mentioned in the coalition agreement at all, reported the Niederdeutschsekretariat.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Looking at the past <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To understand the struggles Low German faces now, we need to dive into the history first. Middle Low German, the precursor of Low German as we know it now, was the language of The Hanseatic League. The shift to High German being the standard took centuries, explains Thorsten B\u00f6rnsen, the managing director of the L\u00e4nderzentrum f\u00fcr Niederdeutsch. \u2018Language is always political\u2019, he says. \u2018It is all about who has the power.\u2019 As the importance of the Hanse started to decline, the trading power started to shift from the North to the South. B\u00f6rnsen: \u2018Rich merchant families sent their sons to Southern Germany in order to learn High German, because it became more important as a business language.\u2019 As they returned, they started spreading High German. First throughout the upper class, then to the middle class, and so on. Eventually, the invention of radio and television played a big role. \u2018Suddenly everybody, even in the smallest village, had the opportunity to listen to High German every day\u2019, B\u00f6rnsen explains.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#7a0f0f;color:#7a0f0f\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#c99774b0\">The terms Low German (Plattdeutsch) and High German (Hochdeutsch)&nbsp;come from the area\u2019s where it is spoken. High German originated in the south, where there are mountains. Low German comes from the upper, flat part of the country. Even though both the languages are called German, they differ strongly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#7a0f0f99\">Listen here to Nele explaining more about the linguistic differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"> <div class=\"humamaudio\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:600px;height:40px;margin:20px 0px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/stream.hu.nl\/players\/vEtT778L-gUDjC9bv.html\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-1280x1707.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-1250x1667.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7980-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nele Otten in front of the Low German library in Bremen. Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#7a0f0f;color:#7a0f0f\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"21344\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-1280x1706.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-1250x1666.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8032-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"21742\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21742\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-1280x1707.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-1250x1667.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8097-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"21345\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-1280x1707.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-1250x1667.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8066-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Photo&#8217;s: Daphne Kooy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#7a0f0f;color:#7a0f0f\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Slowly but surely, High German became the standard, even up to the point where it was discouraged to talk anything other than it. \u2018In the 50s, 60s, and even in the 70s, it was forbidden to talk Low German in schools\u2019, B\u00f6rnsen says. \u2018They thought it would be an obstacle for learning High German. There are tons of prejudices about Low German, like that it is spoken only by farmers or people in the countryside, and that they are far from being educated. That is not encouraging you to speak your mother language.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, people stopped passing it on to their children and grandchildren. Ulrike Stern is a research associate at the Competence Centre for the Teaching of Low German. Stern calls those who didn\u2019t learn the language from their parents \u2018the generation in between\u2019, or \u2018the lost generation\u2019. She sees it as a pity, but doesn\u2019t blame the parents at all. \u2018They wanted the best for their children\u2019, she explains. \u2018And of course if you learned in your own life that the language you spoke gave you difficulties, you try to teach your children the other language.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Stern, it is important to reach \u2018the lost generation\u2019. Nowadays children have options to learn Low German in school, but adults don\u2019t have many possibilities to learn the language later in life, Stern explains. That is why in 2024, the Competence Centre released \u2018Platt mit Beo\u2019, a language learning app. It is targeted at people with an interest in the language, but little or no prior knowledge. Both Stern and B\u00f6rnsen emphasize the accessibility of this format, as you can use it whenever and wherever you want. \u2018It is a good bridge\u2019, B\u00f6rnsen nods. \u2018Especially for people who are just nosy and curious, they just want to try it out.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21556\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-1280x1707.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-1250x1667.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN7998-1-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#ffae00a8\">Beo is German for Myna, which is an endangered bird that can talk really well. It was a deliberate choice to use a bird rather than a human, to prevent accidental stereotypes about what \u201cLow German speakers\u201d look like.Together with Beo, you learn words, phrases and grammar, but also context and information about the language. If you get something right, Beo chirps happily. If you give a wrong answer, he scolds.&nbsp;You can choose to learn East or West Low German, and there are plans to add more regions in the future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the release the app has been downloaded over 85.000 times, so the interest in Low German is there. B\u00f6rnsen notices that the attitude toward the language is changing. \u2018People are more self-confident about their language. In the 70\u2019s or 80\u2019s you would have hidden that you were a native speaker. But now people are quite proud of it, and they want to learn it.\u2019 He sees this in Bremen with &#8216;hipster bars&#8217;, that are called &#8220;Moin Moin&#8221;, or &#8220;Voterkant&#8221;. \u2018The vocabularies become trending\u2019, B\u00f6rnsen smiles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But also the older generation now sees that their mother language is appreciated more. B\u00f6rnsen: \u2018You have to imagine that at one point it was not allowed to speak our language in schools, and now it is taught at universities. There is an enormous gap and increase of good reputation.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#197d5c;color:#197d5c\" \/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21741\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1080x810.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-1250x938.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8139-1-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#5ec4548a\">It is impossible to miss this word when you&#8217;re in Bremen, &#8220;Moin&#8221;. It is a Low German greeting that even tourist shops are filled with nowadays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#e5181885\">Listen here to learn more about it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"humamaudio\" style=\"position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:600px;height:40px;margin:20px 0px;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/stream.hu.nl\/players\/S8MIZwSU-gUDjC9bv.html\"><\/iframe><\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background is-style-wide\" style=\"background-color:#197d5c;color:#197d5c\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shift in interest and attitude helps, but there is more needed to make sure the next generations keep talking Low German. \u2018We badly need educational schools\u2019, B\u00f6rnsen says. \u2018The language is not sufficiently transferred from one generation to another within the family. So, we need the support of all kinds of public education.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"><div class=\"flourish-embed\" data-src=\"visualisation\/29307568\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">B\u00f6rnsen is not the only one who thinks this is important. In the study from the INS, people were asked which institutions are especially responsible for promoting Low German. Schools and kindergartens were mentioned way more than families and Low German speakers. Stern sees a problem in this. \u2018To be honest, that doesn\u2019t work\u2019, she says. \u2018When a teacher says you have to learn something, it doesn\u2019t work. In the last years, young people have been very interested in the language, Low German is cool. But as soon as you have it as a school subject, it\u2019s not cool anymore. Especially if the teacher isn\u2019t cool\u2019, she laughs. Despite this, Stern sees that schools and kindergartens are \u2018left\u2019, to pass on the language. \u2018We lost the chance to have the language there where it belongs: in the family\u2019, she nods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient. But we don\u2019t know if one day it will wake up.\u2019 -Ulrike Stern<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the University of Greifswald, where Stern teaches, it has been possible to study Low German as a master or minor for over 30 years. Since 2021 it is also possible to choose the language as a teaching subject within the primary school teacher program. If and how Low German is taught differs per school and state, and it can therefore be challenging for teachers and schools to figure out the best approach.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Stern looks at the bigger picture, her main aim is a \u2018language journey\u2019. This means getting children familiar with languages around them at a young age, because this is a language sensitive phase. She emphasizes that the goal shouldn\u2019t be that they will only speak Low German and nothing else.\u00a0\u2018When we teach Low German, we teach history, we teach geographics, we teach environmental education. It is more than just a language, it\u2019s also a big part of our culture.\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-800x1066.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-1280x1706.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-1250x1666.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8001-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An example of a Low German study book that is used in schools. Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-1080x1440.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-500x667.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-1280x1707.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-scaled.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-1250x1667.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8068-400x533.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A memory card game in Low German. Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div style=\"height:76px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked why it is so important to invest in the regional language, B\u00f6rnsen doesn\u2019t have to think long. \u2018It\u2019s cultural heritage, it belongs to our culture and history. We have tons of poems, books and lyrics in Low German, nobody would understand them anymore.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1080x810.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1920x1440.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-1250x938.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8074-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In Schnoor, Bremens oldest district, you can see a lot of Low German on signs, buildings and street names. Photo: Daphne Kooy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His goal? \u2018Protect the language\u2019, he says, \u2018and, which is even more important, develop it further.\u2019 He explains that protecting is not enough, because it means you just put a fence around what\u2019s already there. But the language also needs to grow. B\u00f6rnsen gives as an example that there needs to be vocabulary developed for international crises. \u2018In order to survive, we have to be a modern language.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018I would be grateful if the prejudices in the heads of the people would slowly go away\u2019, Stern answers when asked about her goals for the upcoming years. \u2018But that is not something we can reach within one generation. It\u2019s not a sprint, it\u2019s a marathon.\u2019&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Want to read more?<\/strong> Check out this magazine article to find out how 27-year-old Nele Otten from the Low German library in Bremen reaches the young generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/Beyond-Hansa-magazine-inside.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Beyond Hansa magazine inside.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-a852eeef-3814-4b6a-bc25-fcaf2b797400\" href=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/Beyond-Hansa-magazine-inside.pdf\">Beyond Hansa magazine inside<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/Beyond-Hansa-magazine-inside.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-a852eeef-3814-4b6a-bc25-fcaf2b797400\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Centuries ago, Low German was spoken by everyone throughout Northern Germany. Nowadays, High German is seen as the standard language, and Low German is no longer naturally passed on in many families. Reaching new generations of speakers is difficult. But despite the struggle, the language is far from its death, you just have to know [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1788,"featured_media":21287,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-acls","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Getting people into \u201cPlatt\u201d again: \u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient.\u2019 - International Journalism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Getting people into \u201cPlatt\u201d again: \u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient.\u2019 - International Journalism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Centuries ago, Low German was spoken by everyone throughout Northern Germany. Nowadays, High German is seen as the standard language, and Low German is no longer naturally passed on in many families. Reaching new generations of speakers is difficult. But despite the struggle, the language is far from its death, you just have to know [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/21093\/bremen\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"International Journalism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-28T13:18:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-12T13:23:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/378\/2026\/05\/DSCN8117-2-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Daphne Kooy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Daphne Kooy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Daphne Kooy\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/47eaeaa1b49018baf9c0d7526bb38d63\"},\"headline\":\"Getting people into \u201cPlatt\u201d again: \u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient.\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-28T13:18:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-12T13:23:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1786,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/378\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/DSCN8117-2-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cultural Journalism\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/\",\"name\":\"Getting people into \u201cPlatt\u201d again: \u2018The language isn\u2019t dead, it is a coma patient.\u2019 - International Journalism\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/378\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/DSCN8117-2-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-28T13:18:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-12T13:23:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/47eaeaa1b49018baf9c0d7526bb38d63\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/21093\\\/bremen\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/378\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/DSCN8117-2-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/svjmedia.nl\\\/internationaljournalism\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/378\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/DSCN8117-2-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1920,\"caption\":\"If you look around you, you can find Low German in many places. 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