Abstract :
Low German, once the dominant language in northern Germany, has been massively eroding since the middle of the last century. Although its final demise has been predicted and feared for over a century, there are currently still more than 2.5 million active Low German speakers in northern Germany (M?ller, 2008). It is commonly assumed that Low German—at the most—retains some marginal functions as a language, (e.g., is spoken at unofficial situations or among family members and friends). This paper discusses the results of a socio-linguistic field study that I conducted in early 2012 in northwestern Germany (in the counties Grafschaft Bentheim and Emsland) to investigate if and to what degree Low German is used in official situations, specifically in and by local businesses and administrations. My findings show that Low German, despite its image as an uncultivated language, is frequently used as a professional register by a wide range of businesses and administrations.
