Sorbisch

Sorbisch, or Sorbian, refers to a pair of closely related West Slavic languages spoken by the Sorbs (Sorb people) in the Lusatia region of eastern Germany. They form the Sorbian language group within the West Slavic branch of the Indo-European family. The two standard varieties are Upper Sorbian (Hornjoserbšćina) and Lower Sorbian (Dornjoserbšćina). They are mutually intelligible to some extent but differ in phonology, vocabulary, and orthography, and are commonly treated as distinct languages for cultural and educational purposes.

Geographically, Sorbian is spoken in Lusatia, primarily within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg. Communities maintain language use at home and in schools, in local administration in bilingual areas, and in an expanding range of media and cultural activities. The Sorbian languages use the Latin script with diacritics and digraphs that were developed in the modern orthographies.

Historically, Sorbian dates to the early Slavic settlement of Lusatia. It developed standardized written forms in the 18th and 19th centuries and has undergone revival efforts since the 19th century and again after World War II. In Germany, Sorbian is protected as a minority language under European and national frameworks, with support for education, broadcasting, signage, and cultural preservation.

Today, Sorbian communities maintain traditional customs, literature, music, and festivals while pursuing ongoing efforts to promote intergenerational transmission, literacy, and media presence. The languages are considered endangered but are sustained through active community involvement and institutional support.