Lower Sorbian research (links)

Sorbian-oriented research is institutionally represented by the Serbski institut in Bautzen/Budyšin (Sorbian Institute) and the Institute for Sorbian Studies (Institut für Sorabistik) at the University of Leipzig. The Sorbian Institute includes the Sorbian Central Library and the Sorbian culture archive. The institute cooperates with partners in Germany and with universities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Russia. The institute also cooperates with the International Slavists Committee, the European Research Institute for Culture in Bonn and the European Bureau for Lesser-Used Languages in Dublin (Mercator 2016: 48). “The Sorbian Institute edits Lětopis, a scientific journal that appears twice a year and additionally has special editions” (Mercator 2016: 19). 

The main Sorbian scientific society is Maśica Serbska (spelled Maćica Serbska in Upper Sorbian), founded in Bautzen/Budyšin in 1847. With its 120 members in both Lower and Upper Lusatia, voluntarily active in scientific work in fields such as language/linguistics, literature, art, history and folklore, it has a recognized position in public life. “The society provides a link between the Sorbian population and institutional science” (Mercator 2016: 48).

The ABC (Arbeitsstelle für sorbische/wendische Bildungsentwicklung Cottbus, the Working Group on Sorbian/Wendish Educational Development Cottbus/Chóśebuz) is part of the school authority of the federal state of Brandenburg and coordinates issues associated with Lower Sorbian school education. Another important institution is the Witaj Language Centre in Bautzen/Budyšin with its Lower Sorbian department in Cottbus/Chóśebuz, responsible for organizing immersion/bilingual programs in kindergartens and schools. It also publishes pedagogical materials and develops language planning strategies. 

Witaj is also in charge of a range of publications:  the quarterly bilingual magazine Lutki ('dwarfs') written for children, parents and pedagogical staff in kindergartens and nurseries, featuring articles in Lower Sorbian and Upper Sorbian with some German additions; the monthly children’s magazine Płomje ('flame', Lower Sorbian) and Płomjo ('flame', Upper Sorbian), which is used at schools as well; and the Serbska šula, a professional pedagogical journal in Upper and Lower Sorbian (Mercator 2016: 19). 

What is more, the Domowina Publishing House also edits Rozhlad, a monthly cultural journal in Upper and Lower Sorbian (Mercator 2016: 19).

References:
Mercator. 2016. Sorbian: The Sorbian Language in Education in Germany. Leeuwarden: Mercator European Research Centre on Multilingualism and Language Learning.