Both these examples show a group wishing to assimilate into another group which sometimes results in parents refusing to send their children to schools set up for their ethnic language group. In NF we have a similar example, but there a further factor must be taken into consideration. On the mainland of NF the Frisians can be roughly divided into two groups: the Frisians oriented mainly towards Germany and the Frisians oriented mainly towards Denmark. The majority of the Frisians are not very politically minded but, if forced to make a decision, would consider themselves more members of the first group because they are not members of the second group. Thus we have here the phenomenon of the "minority within the minority". The Frisians as such are a minority within the German majority, but they in turn can be sub-divided into the German Frisian majority and the Danish Frisian minority. It is, however, the Danish Frisian minority which is most active in the promotion of the Frisian tongue. Because in this area to be called a "Dane" has certain negative connotations, this has the effect of inhibiting a number of potential activities, as people would often rather acquiesce to German than support Frisian for fear of being considered a Dane.
- The negation of one's ethnicity is often the result of the desire to be assimilated into the mainstream of the society one is living in. However, once one has been assimilated to a certain degree and has achieved a certain standing in society, one can then afford to return to one's true ethnic heritage. This explains why leaders of language and "cultural revival" groups are often politicians or academics. The question, however, is whether these leaders actually do articulate the true needs and desires of the group they claim to represent, and also to what extent the average member of the ethnic group can identify with them. To what extent, for example, will the average working man accept the credibility of the person who advocates that everyone should speak the minority language with their children and that it should be taught in schools, when he himself speaks the dominant language with his family as a result of the previous assimilation process? Similarly, as Tholund (1980) asks, is the resurgence of ladies' native cos- tumes in NF really a sign of the awakening of the Frisian identity or rather an excuse for politicians to show their "love" for the country and to have a couple of beautifully clad fair maidens to accompany them on festive occa- sions? It is difficult to assess the true effect of such people and such manifestations of "culture" in an ethnic group. On the one hand they tend not to represent the true needs and desires of the average member of the group, but on the other hand they do lend the language and culture more prestige by their personal dedication to it.
- In a discussion of attitudes one can differentiate not only various types of society but also the sexes. Labov (1966) notes that women in a minority group tend to be more language conscious and prefer the dominant language. Girls may then be more resistant to being taught the vernacular at school than boys. However, in a different situation girls may be the principal bearers of the vernacular. On the island of Fohr, for example, where the menfolk used to go to sea for a good part of the year, they became multi- lingual. The women who stayed at home retained their Frisian and ensured the continuity of the Frisian community and language. It is possible that the boys here preferred to learn High and Low German in expectation of their own travels in contrast to the girls who saw their futures in the narrow confines of the village. Similarly Liebe-Harkort (1980) reports the dif- ferences in attitudes between Navajo boys and girls. As Navajo men tend to do traditional outdoor jobs and Navajo women do subordinate work in offices and hospitals, girls are more proud of their English and use it more whereas boys tend to regard a compliment on their English as an insult.