Introduction

Hello there. Today we’re going to talk about Prussian, which is being actively revived by activists all around Europe. Frankly speaking, I had deemed this language extinct, before my acquittance narrated me about the Modern Prussian. By the way, Nikls Sasnis the Prussian activist has helped me with this article, so I can share that with you. Let’s begin!

Could you narrate about yourself?

My name is Nikls Sasnis and I’m Modern Prussian heritage speaker and teacher. I write poems and prose in Prussian, also I translate those into Prussian, English and German. I’ve been into Prussian for 4 years already. I’m developing my channel about Prussian on Telegram, Rutube and Youtube. In addition to that I’m also responsible for Prussian stories on the International Project “Duostories”.

How many people speak Prussian nowadays?

Apparently, nobody is really able to answer this question. According to humble estimations, Prussian is being used daily by 50 people at minimum as a first language (at least 12 people got this one as a native language) and 500-800 people as a second language. Approximately, an half of speakers do live in Lithuania and the other ones in Poland, Latvia and Germany. Taking into account the views of the educational videos of Prussian language on YouTube, nowadays from 15 to 30 thousand people are learning it, so its popularity is only raising up.

What people think about you supporting the Prussian language?

People treat my activity in different ways. Someone supports me, someone percieves sceptically, but for others my passion becomes that discovery, the real outright, which is stunning them.

Are there Prussian dialects?

Yes, of course. Prussian speakers in Poland speak Pomezan dialect, originating from Elbing dictionary (the majority of written articles on Prussian Wikipedia was created using particulary this dialect. This dialect is presented on tatoeba.org and the Glosbe online dictionary). However, in Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and other countries Sambian dialect is used. Sambian dialect was grounded on the Prussian church writes from the XVI century and numerous Prussian dialectisms of the Eastern Prussian German language dialect and dialect of Prussian Lithuanians. Sambian dialect is presented on the main website on the Prussian language twanksta.org and Prussian Television Prksiska T
lwid
sna youtube channel. I think I’m a Sambian Prussian heritage speaker, as currently I live in Kцnigsberg, where this dialect was firstly noted :)

How would you estimate the current situation with Prussian?

Current situation undoubtedly gives certain hope regarding it’s revival as a regional language at least in Lithuania and Poland, where it’s being supported by regional authorities. In Kaliningrad region situation is quite harder, because Prussian is still being viewed as an extinct language in spite of numerous attempts of its revival by local enthusiasts in last 36 years.

How you got interested in Prussian?

Firstly, I got interested in the Prussian language 4 years ago after moving to Kaliningrad with my family. Prussian language became a key to comprehension of very ancient and independent Baltic Prussian culture and runes. Once I discovered this language I hurried to dive into studying. After an half year of studies I attained a quite high level of Prussian, I could converse in it pretty fluently and write poems and songs!

What inspired you to support Prussian?

First of all, music. I’ve listened to local bands perfomed in Prussian. I was getting a huge spectrum of emotions from this pretty and harmonious language. After listening to about 20-30 songs I got that I could understand the language quite well, so I started to look up for any information about Prussian on the Internet.

What obstacles can people face when learning Prussian?

The main issue is absence of the full and pithy student book and disunity of any information about Prussian language. I’m trying my best to solve this issue, I’m creating a full Prussian student book in 480 pages, which explains the aspects of Modern Prussian in details (phonetics, grammar and vocabulary) and a plenty of different dialogues and exercises aimed to making translation into and from the Prussian and Russian languages.

What speaking Prussian means for you?

As for me, ability to speak Prussian means to belong the big and amicable family of enthusiasts, reviving this nice language. And not only to belong it, it also means to genuinely contribute to the movement and make Prussian language more popular!

How do you support the Prussian language?

Daily I raise the awairness of the Prussian language. I record videos in and about it, translate poems, articles and dialogues, participate in live streams, organize projects in the international level on Telegram and Duostories. I comment new videos on Prussian Television. I can list all those thing everlastingly, in turn I’m just trying my best to complete as many things as possible.

What projects do you take pride in the most?

The most thing I’m proud of it the Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven” translation into Modern Prussian. It’s not that easy, considering the size of the poem, necessity to remain its structure and rhyme of the original poem. It turns out, it’s quite easier to translate English prose into Prussian :)

Is Prussian really used online?

Yes, of course! Prussian language is used online not less than in real life. There are groups for chatting in Prussian on Facebook, places on Instagram and video blogs on Youtube. There are forums about Prussia, websites available in Prussian and Prussian Wikipedia with hundreds of articles. Also there are four online Prussian dictionaries (if we don’t take into account the dictionaries of the Old Prussian language, Toporov’s dictionary and lists of the Prussian phrases). Nowadays learning apps and Prussian localisation of Telegram are being actively developed, so I’m sure that Prussian got great perspectives of developing on the Internet!

Do you cooperate with other activists?

I’m not actively cooperating with other activists yet as we live in different countries and host accounts in different social networks, but we support eachother on the shared platforms, which importance we can’t neglect. In the future, I hope we’ll get more opportunities to cooperate when local Prussian community emerge in our city!

How do you see the Prussian language future in 10-20 years?

I really hope that Prussian language will be recognised as an official one in the whole territory of historical Prussia, including WarmiDsko-Mazurskie voivodship in Poland, Klaipeda region in Lithuania and Kaliningrad region. I hope this language will be finally taught at schools and universities as we have all opportunities to develop study programme and student books right now.

Can schools help support the language?

Of course they can! Currently Prussian is taught as a facultative course in one of the Lithuanian gymnasiums in Marijampole, but for teaching this language at schools we have to abide by two rules - having teachers and student books for primary school. Once number of the Prussian speakers hit the correspond level, I think we’ll have Prussian schools :)

How do you think whether Prussian is becoming more popular?

Yes, I’m totally sure! More and more people meet Prussian on the internet and learn it on their own, despite not having full student books. Prussian has already become an international language and hundreds of enthusiasts from different countries are trying their best to revive it!

What would you say to people that interested in supporting their language?

First of all, don’t give up! It doesn’t matter how tough would it be, what people would say about your activity - you’re doing a great thing and your descendants will wisely appreciate you! Do whatever is possible for you, spread your enthusiasm, invite as many people as possible, host accounts on various social networs, don’t hesitate to tell the public audience about you and your activity. And take a note that everything is possible for you!

Do you have your favourite word or phrase in Prussian? What it means?

My favourite word Prussian word is draugipintegakniks - your comrade, a person who follows, supports and shares the spirit with you. Currently out of those comrades the Prussian community consists of. I deem that this word conveys the spirit of mutual support best, which presents in the revival movement.

How do you feel when you hear the Prussian language spoken?

When I hear Prussian I get goosebumps! I imediately catch myself on a thought that I think in Prussian, so I ever need to translate myself into English or Russian, depending on the person I chat with. Prussian feels so sweet and dear. I surround myself with Prussian as much as possible and I cheer myself up listening to my own Prussian songs.

Have you ever had heartwarming moment regarding Prussian?

The most heartwarming and touching moment happened when I started to cradle to my children in Prussian! For me it’s not only a way of meditating, but the way to calm down my children by sounds of the favourite language. My children are gladly learning Prussian via songs, which they ask me to sing!

What would you advice whom planning to support their regional language?

Start off with things that being the easisest for you to do! If it’s video, a collection of phrases, dialogues, comics, poems, songs - all these will be handy! Join the Duostories team, where you’ll be supported by thousands of enthusiasts all around the world! Don’t be afraid of publising videos on Youtube and social networks and telling others about your mission as you’ll definitely find like-minded people, who will support you. And the most important thing is never give up for anything!

….

Links:

• Nikls Sasnis telegram channel: https://t.me/prusiska_bila
• Online Prussian dictionary: https://wirdeins.twanksta.org/
• Online project tailored for the Prussian language: https://prusai.org

I hope you liked this article and you found out about something new. Pay attention to your regional languages and take care of youself. See you later!