Frisian language
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Frisian is a West Germanic language spoken in the Dutch province of Friesland (Fris. Fryslân) and in a few small areas in northern Germany. It is commonly divided into three dialect areas:
- West Frisian (the dialect spoken in the Netherlands);
- East Frisian (spoken in two neighboring municipalities in Saterland in the German Land of Lower Saxony; also known as Sater Frisian);
- North Frisian (spoken on the northwestern coast of the German Land of Schleswig-Holstein near the Danish border, and on the islands off the coast).
The language is closely related to English and Dutch. Through long contact with Dutch, the West-Frisian dialects have adopted many elements from Dutch in syntax and vocabulary. East Frisian and North Frisian are endangered as the number of speakers has dwindled rapidly in the twentieth century.
Bibliography
- Horst Haider Munske ed. 2001. Handbuch des Friesischen/Handbook of Frisian Studies. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer. ISBN 348473048X
- Pieter M. Tiersma. 1999. Frisian Reference Grammar. 2nd ed. Leeuwarden: n.p. (1st ed. 1985. Dordrecht: Foris)