‘Sorbian? I've never heard of that. What is it?’ Jonas Pjetaš often hears this reaction. Although the Sorbian minority lives in the middle of Germany, few people know anything about the language and culture. With the project ‘reload:SERBSKI’, he wants to change that.

As part of his work for the SPOKEN WORD AKADEMIE, Jonas Pjetaš has developed a workshop format that gives non-Sorbian speakers a new way to access this endangered language. It combines traditional Sorbian poetry with the literary art form of spoken word. The aim is not only to teach the language, but also to explore an often unknown region and its living traditions.

At the beginning, participants learn the basic structure of the Upper Sorbian language and interesting facts about its history and culture. Well-known legendary figures such as Krabat are discussed and placed in new contexts. From these foundations, participants create their own texts and performances that bring language to life as sound, rhythm and expression. The decisive factor is not the understanding of individual words, but a feeling for melody and meaning.

The workshop is currently being trialled at various locations, including Tagwerk e. V. in Bautzen, the Wotrow O2 e. V. youth club in Ostro and Telux in Weißwasser.

‘reload:SERBSKI’ shows how artistic formats can make a language visible and audible. It brings tradition to life and allows cultural diversity to be experienced.

Funding programme
U25 – Focus: Young Culture Initiatives

Applicant
Jonas Petasch / Spoken Word Akademie

Location
Ostro, Bautzen, Weißwasser

Project period
2024

Topics/Formats
Cultural heritage, tradition, transfer of Sorbian culture and language