The Schleifer dialect (Sorbian languages: Slepjanska narěč, Lower Sorbian: [ˈslɛpʲanska ˈnarʲɛtʃ], Upper Sorbian: [- ˈnaʁʲɛtʃ]) is a transitional dialect of the Upper and Lower Sorbian languages spoken in the Schleife region. Among the Sorbian dialects, the Schleifer dialect is most closely related to the Muskau dialect [de; ru], whose language territory borders to the east. These two dialects are assigned to Lower Sorbian rather than Upper Sorbian by Slavists.[citation needed]

Schleifer dialect
Slepjanska narěč
Native toGermany
RegionUpper Lusatia
EthnicitySorbs
Native speakers
(undated figure of less than 1,000[citation needed])
Latin (Sorbian alphabet)
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottologschl1238
Linguasphere53-AAA-bah
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The Schleifer dialect is mainly passed on orally and has no modern written language of its own. Therefore, documents in the Schleifer dialect do not correspond to any standardized grammar or are mixed with one of the two standard languages.

The Sorbian half-farmer Hanzo Njepila [de; dsb; hsb; ru] from Rohne, who was the first non-clerical writer to write in Sorbian, wrote his texts exclusively in the Schleifer dialect. One of the largest collections of historical inscriptions in the Schleifer dialect can also be found on the historical gravestones of the cemetery in Rohne.[1]

Within the distribution area, which almost coincides with that of Schleifer Tracht, there are slight differences between Groß Düben and Halbendorf [de; hsb; nl; no; ru] on the one hand, and the other five villages on the other.

The association Kólesko, founded in 2011, is concerned with the documentation, publication and maintenance of the Schleifer dialect, the songs and the Schleifer costume.[2] The Kólesko members Juliana Kaulfürst and Dieter Reddo received the Zejler Award of the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism [de] in 2018 for their "outstanding contribution to the revitalization of the Sorbian grinder".[3]

References

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  1. ^ Trudla Malinkowa (2011). Der alte Friedhof in Rohne/Stare pohrjebnišco w Rownom. Eine Dokumentation (in German). Bautzen: Lusatia Verlag. ISBN 978-3-936758-72-6.
  2. ^ "Kolesko z.t. - Verein" (in German). association Kólesko. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Juliana Kaulfürst und Dieter Reddo erhalten Zejler-Preis 2018" (in German). Sächsische Staatskanzlei. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2021. Wie Kunstministerin Dr. Eva-Maria Stange heute bekannt gab, werden Juliana Kaulfürst und Dieter Reddo mit dem diesjährigen Preis für sorbische Sprache, dem Zejler-Preis, geehrt.