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German in space and time is a central aspect both from a scientific perspective and from the perspective of one´s own identity preservation within the language island situation. MsGerhild Rudolf’s thesis offers an analysis of the choice of languages within the Evangelical Church A.B. in Romania (ECR) and at the same time a general overview of language change processes within the ECR. There is an irreversible paradigm shift that is taking place along with the ongoing transition from a monolingual to a bilingual linguistic culture in worship. The status of German in the public use of language is also reflected, the efforts of preserving the German language and culture are presented from a current perspective, and the importance of the German minority is discussed historically and in a forward-looking manner. The thesis offers sufficient reason as well to think about future research on the role of the church and of German from different perspectives, to also emphasize the relevance of interdisciplinarity
An essential factor for the naming practice lies in the language(s) spoken by that certain family. In the nowadays very common multilingual families in Transylvania, the so called ‚mixed marriages’, the linguistic contact also becomes manifest in the field of onomatology. Out of the vast subject matter, four aspects will be approached: the decline of the tradition of naming a child after a parent; naming practices following ethnic reasons in order to denote a certain identity; naming preferences for international names in mixed families; the increasing diversification and inter-culturality of name-giving due to globalization and the impact of social media. Concrete examples – based on bap tis mal registers of the local Lutheran Church – illustrate the monitored trends.
The article intends to present some facts about the medieval history of the Saxons in the Wallachian town of Câmpulung Muscel/Langenau. German-speaking colonists were settled in Langenau around the 13th century, and their traces can be followed until the middle of the 18th century. A German language document from the 16th century will serve as an illustration, depicting the relations between the Transylvanian Saxons from Râșnov/Rosenau and the population of Câmpulung Muscel/Langenau. The linguistic peculiarities of the document are discussed, as well as the problems of its transcription, which led to different publication variants. This document is also interesting because it contains many Romanian names of persons.
Transylvanian Saxons' migration from Romania to Germany: the formation of a 'return' diaspora?
(2013)
Processes and patterns of migration on a global scale have changed in profound ways during the last two decades (Smith and King, 2012). In the European context, this is exemplified by transformations to the traditional mobility patterns from East to West Europe (Koser and Lutz, 1998), with migrants more likely to be involved in temporary circular and transnational mobility (Favell, 2008). Since the end of the Second World War, historical and political events in Europe have facilitated the mobility of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe to Germany. Subsequently, the fall of the Iron Curtain has permitted unrestrained East-West movements, which resulted in mass migrations towards the West and diaspora fragments in the East. However, after settlement in the West, ethnic Germans have also been absorbed within wider temporary and transnational movements (Koser, 2007). Within this context, this thesis examines the post-migratory lives of three generations of Transylvanian Saxons in Germany by exploring the cultural, social, economic and political dimensions of this community. This thesis aims to contribute to on-going academic debates about diasporas by explicitly responding to Hoerder s (2002) call for more studies on ethnic German diasporas. It shows that Transylvanian Saxons, who relocated to the ancestral homeland, do not disrupt identities and lives forged in diaspora, but rather, they negotiate complex identities and belongings in relation to both home and homeland . It reveals a double diaspora and the necessity to perceive identity and diaspora as dynamic processes and constantly evolving in relation to time, space and place. This double diasporic allegiance in the case of the Transylvanian Saxons suggests interrogating the formation of a return diaspora and its importance for processes of international migration.
The materialis based on the fact that German citizens which have been born in Transylvania (Saxons) and immigrated to Germany return even “in death” to their homeland, be that through the choice of the medium where the death notice is published, or through the content of the death notice itself. The article follows the mechanisms through which this reference is built and analyzes the objective, geographical and cultural referentiality as well as the subjective recollections of the former, now far away, homeland, relying on death notices published in the Siebenbürgischen Zeitungbetween January 2012 – December 2015 und January 2017 – March 2018.
Aspekte der Raumgestaltung in Andreas Birkners Erzählung "Der Brautschmuck des Sebastian Hann"
(2016)
Since the twentieth century, literary critics have identified as study component space and its meanings in literary texts. The Russian semiologist Yuri M. Lotman developed a theory based on the concept of space divided into several subspaces necessarily delimited by a boundary. These spaces are characterized by opposite features on topological, topographical and semantic level. Based on this theory, this paper aims to examine from this point of view the story Der Brautschmuck des Sebastian Hann [The Bride’s Jewels of Sebastian Hann] written by the Romanian German-language author Andreas Birkner. Concrete examples are given listing aspects of Lotman's theory , which enable reception of both the text and the author from a different perspective.
The paper aims at presenting the Boer Wars (1881–1882 and 1899–1902) as they are reflected in „Siebenbürgisch-Deutsches Tageblatt”, the most important daily newspaper of the Transylvanian Saxons. From the beginning of the second conflict, the Saxons felt great sympathy for the Boers, because they considered them relatives due to their Germanic roots. They also drew a parallel between the Boers’ fight for independence and their own fight against the attempt of forced Hungarization by the authorities from Budapest. In the newspaper there were published not only articles about the armed conflicts but also contributions on the way of life and the habits of the Boers. A novel on the topic of the “Jameson Raid” which took place on New Year’s Eve 1895/1896 was also published. During the “Second Boer War” the Saxons created “Associations of Boer Friends” aimed to help their “brothers” from South Africa who lived in great misery.
The German-speaking Saxon minority from Transylvania, a region in Romania, has almost disappeared due to the historical events after World War II and the fall of communism in December 1989. Therefore, the literary work that was created before 1990 is often considered to be a “lieu de mémoire”, a place of remembrance, for the Saxon culture. This article deals with the question whether Maria Haydl’s short stories can be considered as such or do they show too much influence of the politically imposed writing style in order to be authentic.
The following essay illustrates the extraordinary love story between Clemens Rescher and Rodica Neagoie. These key characters are representative figures for the nation they belong to. Clemens is a Transylvanian Saxon and Rodica a Romanian. Despite all contradictions, they fall in love, spend time together, travel to the Black Sea and plan their future. Even though they are bound to each other by strong feelings, this love cannot overcome all the preset cultural, ethnic and social obstacles. Clemens and Rodica become the victims of the world they live in.
The following essay is based on the narrative Die schiefe Fassade der Kindheit. Erfundene Familienkunde written by Eginald Schlattner. The action takes place in Transylvania, a region where several nations live together. The key concepts are identity and alterity, because only by analysing the other one can find and understand one’s own identify. The traits of the communities living together are portraited by Aunt Maly, a strong supporter of the German traditions and by Grisi, the grandmother, who presents the mentality of her people as opposed to the Romanian people. The story also reveals the conflicts between these two ethnical groups. Nevertheless life in Transylvania can be seen as an example of how people belonging to different cultures can peacefully live together.