West Frisian language

West Frisian
West Frisian
Native speakers	470,000 (2001)
Language family	Indo-European Germanic West Germanic Ingvaeonic Anglo-Frisian Frisian West Frisian; ; ; ; ; ;
Official status
Official language in	Netherlands
Language codes
ISO 639-1	fy
ISO 639-2	fry
ISO 639-3	fry
ELP	West Frisian
Linguasphere	52-ACA-b
	West Frisian North Frisian Saterland Frisian
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West Frisian (Frysk [fris(k)], Westerlauwersk Frysk; Dutch: Westerlauwers Fries [fris]) is a language that is mainly spoken in Friesland, Netherlands. As of 2005, 94% of the people in Friesland understand West Frisian, 74% can speak it, 75% can read it and 27% can write it.^[1]

Alphabet and grammar

West Frisian uses the Latin alphabet. A,E,O and U can sometimes have unique accents added to them.

In Western Frisian, there are two types of genders that nouns can have. One is the common gender (where both the male and female genders are put together). The other type is a neutral gender noun.

Like many other languages, West Frisian has singular and plural nouns. The two main suffixes used in the language, are "-(e)n" and "-s."

West Frisian also used three types of verbs: weak, strong and irregular.

Status

After a series of riots by pro-Frisian activists, West Frisian became an official language in the Netherlands in 1956.^[2]^[3]

West Frisian is a required subject in schools in Friesland. Courts in Friesland speak West Frisian. People in court are allowed to go under oath speaking West Frisian.

Similarity to English

West Frisian is often considered as the closest language to modern English. Here is an example:

Text in West Frisian :

Dis dei is goed oeral. De sinne is waarm en de licht fan de sinne-skinen fielen goed wit de myld wyn. Juster elke was goed, buten dis dei is better. De sinne-opgong en de sinne-undergong is moai wit de blew lofts. Buten dis dei is lyket de maaitiid en net de simmertiid. Ik find dit dei de best of de wike. De rein komt foar de wykein foar Saterdei en Sunndei moarn, but it will net by kald en wol gean oer uus by de middei. De stjeren wol elke by sichtber yn de nacht en sa wol de moanne.

English translation :

This day is good overall. The sun is warm and the light from the sun-shining feels good with the mild wind. Yesterday also was good, but this day is better. The sunrise and the sunset is beautiful with the blue sky. But this day is like the springtime and not the summertime. I find this day the best of the week. The rain is coming for the weekend for Saturday and Sunday morning, but it will not be cold and will go over us by the midday. The stars will also be visible in the night and so will the moon.

References

↑ Provinsje Fryslân (2007), Fluchhifking Fryske Taal.
↑ Geschiedenis van Friesland, 1750–1995, Johan Frieswijk, p. 327.
↑ Koninkrijksrelaties, Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en. "Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer". wetten.overheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-04-19.

[1] Provinsje Fryslân (2007), Fluchhifking Fryske Taal.

[2] Geschiedenis van Friesland, 1750–1995, Johan Frieswijk, p. 327.

[3] Koninkrijksrelaties, Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en. "Wet gebruik Friese taal in het rechtsverkeer". wetten.overheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-04-19.

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