Celebrating the Manische: Gießen's Hidden Gem on the UNESCO Map
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Hear ye, hear ye! Gießen is buzzing with delight, as their distinctive local dialect - the Manische - joins UNESCO's list of Germany's Intangible Cultural Heritage! The news, announced by Gießen's Mayor Frank-Tilo Becher (SPD), has left the city proud as punch, using nothing but Manische terms to express the good vibes.
The Manische has long carved a niche for itself as a unique selling proposition for Gießen, said Becher. Being a Gießen native means knowing the language or at least a few of its secret words, he added. "It won't take long for newcomers to fall under the charm of this enchanting secret dialect."
Embracing Culture in everyday Life
Timon Gremmels (SPD), Hesse's Minister of Culture and the Arts, concurred. "Culture isn't confined to museums and theaters – it's lived daily, especially in language." Manische is an proud identification marker for the region, gracing souvenirs, graffiti art, and casual chats at the local kiosk. "I'm thrilled that Gießen now has another major entry with a Hesse connection in the nationwide register of Intangible Cultural Heritage: the Gießen Manische."
Gremmels applauded linguist Klaus Siewert, the founder of the International Society for Sondersprachenforschung, for submitting the application for recognition in late 2023. The city of Gießen backed the application with a heartfelt letter of support.
Tongues and Heritage
The recognition of Rotwelsch dialects by UNESCO's commission was already announced. These dialects are not just about learned speech skills but also transmit cultural wisdom that has been carried down generations for centuries, according to the German UNESCO Commission's official website. "They weave together linguistic and social heritage, with a close link to the history of persecuted minorities like Jewish and Jenish communities as well as Sinti and Roma."
Managing the delicate balance between cultural preservation and social issues is crucial, as these languages still play an essential role in shaping the identity of speaker communities today. The Manische was primarily spoken in the Gießen districts of Eulenkopf, Margarethenhütte, and Gummiinsel.
Manische: From Outsider to In-demand
Manische speakers were once alienated from the city society and ignored upon their arrival at the end of the 19th century in Gießen. However, today, this special language serves as a badge of belonging in many parts of the city.
Originally, Rotwelsch dialects emerged among disadvantaged, itinerant, and traders as a secret language. The term "Manische" is the colloquial name for the dialect Jenisch in Gießen, known for its significant influence from the Romani language.
Gießen, with its bustling academic and cultural life, continues to thrive and keep its secrets close. At the heart of it all is the Manische, a dialect that bridges generations and connects citizens, now recognized as a piece of Germany's cultural tapestry by UNESCO. Now, in the words of Manische, "It's a real good thing!"
- The city of Gießen has announced the implementation of a community policy that includes vocational training programs focused on the preservation and promotion of the Manische dialect, following its recognition as part of Germany's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
- Klaus Siewert, a renowned linguist and founder of the International Society for Sondersprachenforschung, has registered the Manische dialect in the nationwide register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, making it an important intangible asset for the city of Gießen.
- As the Manische dialect gains popularity and recognition, universities in Gießen are considering introducing courses on Manische linguistics, offering students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of this unique dialect and its cultural significance.
