LL-L: "Frisian" LOWLANDS-L, 26.JUL.2001 (02) [E]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 26.JUL.2001 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Frisian

Randy Elzinga <frisiancow at hotmail.com> wrote yesterday:

> Are the three varieties of Frisian, North, East, and West(lauwers), more
> appropriately considered different dialects of the same language or three
> distinct languages?
>
> Furthermore, could the same question be asked about the varieties within
> each variety?  (I believe I read somewhere that certain North Frisian
> dialects ought to be considered distinct languages rather than dialects)

Randy, I had hoped that one of our Frisian experts would reply, but since none
of them has done so so far, please allow me to relate my impression, which I
have received in years of reading about the topic, conversing with Frisian
specialists, and somewhat familiarizing myself with the varieties of Frisian
in which texts are available.

I have asked the same question several times, and so far I have not received a
real answer, am under the impression that Frisian experts avoid trying to
reach a consensus, at least in public.  I think this is because you run into a
number complicating factors and into many toes likely to be trodden on.

Firstly, there is the age-old question "What is a dialect, and what is a
language?", for which there are numerous possible answers, none of which can
be expected to predominate, except perhaps this one: "It depends on whom you
ask."

Secondly, there could very well be a conflict between scientific analysis and
ethnic/emotional aspirations.  There seem to be forces that seek to promote a
semblance of unity among Frisians of "the Frieslands."  (And I say, "More
power to them," being aware that the demise of minority languages and cultures
tends to be due to disunity, and seeing how difficult it is to promote a sense
of unity among Low Saxon [Low German] communities, especially with respect to
German disregard of Low Saxon communities in the Netherlands.)  I do not know
this for a fact, but I would not be surprised if some people felt that
acknowledging several Frisian languages rather than one (very diverse) Frisian
language would run counter to unification efforts, given that the old,
ingrained European ideal is "one ethnicity - one language" (a "progressive"
development from "one country - one nationality - one ethnicity - one
language").  However, I do not think that this ought to be acknowleged as a
genuine stumbling block.  A good example to show that one ethnicity can have
more than one language is the case of Sorbian (Lusatian) in Eastern Germany.
There is a great deal of dialectal variety, and the dialects at the northern
and southern extreme are not really mutually intelligible.  Because of this
there are now two Sorbian standard languages: Lower Sorbian in the swampy
north, and Upper Sorbian on the southern heathland plateau of Lusatia
({L/}u{z^}ica/Lausitz).  But as far as I know, while acknowledging great
linguistic and cultural diversity, Sorbs see themselves as one ethnic group.
The Scots are another good example: essentially one ethnic group with three
languages: English, Scots and Gaelic.  Therefore, I cannot see why this should
not work in the case of Frisians as well, though a remaining complicating
factor in this case may be that there are political borders between the
Frieslands.

Native speakers tell me that West(erlauwers) Frisian (Frysk) and Sater Frisian
(Seeltersk, the last remnant of East Frisian) are to a great extent mutually
intelligible.  (I find it relatively easy to read both and to recognize their
close relationship.)  I believe West(erlauwers) and East Frisian used to be on
a continuum, i.e., spoken in one contiguous dialect spread.  The continuum has
been disrupted by all other East Frisian and connecting ("Central Frisian")
dialects having died out, replaced by Low Saxon and later by Dutch and German
(in Groningen, the Emsland and Eastern Friesland).  So, Sater Frisian seems to
be still sufficiently close to West(erlauwers) Frisian dialects, though a few
stages removed from it and also somewhat alientated due to isolation and Low
Saxon and German influences (while W. Frisian meanwhile changed under Low
Saxon and Dutch influences).

North Frisian is another story.  These varieties are believed to have
developed from other Frisian dialects that were imported to the region a long
time ago in the course of migration eastwards and northwards to the west coast
of today's Schleswig-Holstein and Southern Jutland.  Those spoken on the
islands are believed to go back to dialects that were imported about two
centuries earlier.  (In other words, they are preserved from the first of two
immigration waves.)  Geographic isolation allowed them to develop
individually, with little or no mutual influence, so much so that they are not
really mutually intelligible among themselves and with the Mainland
varieties.  The Mainland and Tideflats (Halligen) varieties, however, though
there is much diversity among them, might be argued to be on a clear continuum
and thus to be one language.  (This continuum used to reach farther south to
the mouth of River Elbe, probably also farther north, north of today's
Danish-German border.)

If it were acceptable to recognize more than one Frisian language, I would
probably suggest the following:

(1) West(erlauwers) Frisian:
    (Frysk) numerous dialects in Fryslân and Groningen,
    Netherlands

(2) East Frisian:
    Sater Frisian (Seeltersk) in Germany's Seelterlound/Saterland

(3) Mainland North Frisian:
    with Mooring North Frisian (Frasch), Nordergoesharde North Frisian
    (Freesch & Fräisch), Tideflats North Frisian (Freesk & Friisk), etc.

(4) Heligoland North Frisian:
    (Halunder) on the island of Heligoland (Halund/Helgoland)
    in Germany

(5) Amrum & Föhr North Frisian:
    (Öömrang/Fering) the dialects of the islands of Amrum and Föhr
    in Germany

(6) Sylt North Frisian:
    (Sölring) the dialects of the island of Sylt in Germany

4-6 might be referred to collectively as "Insular North Frisian."  There
appear to be efforts to promote Mooring Mainland North Frisian (Frasch) as the
basis for a North Frisian standard variety.

According to the Nordfriisk Instituut (http://www.nordfriiskinstituut.de/),
there are two North Frisian dialect groups: Mainland (3) and Insular (4-6).

Of the above, the following are currently moribund:
* Mittelgoesharde North Frisian
* Karrharde North Frisian
* Tideflats (Hallig) North Frisian
(All of these belong to the Mainland North Frisian category.  The Tideflats
varieties are, technically speaking, used on islands, but these island used to
belong to the mainland and are still accessible from the mainland by land
during ebbtide.)

I assume that Insular North Frisian used to be spoken also on the island of
Rømø in Denmark.  Is this so?  If so, was the variety there closely related to
the Sylt dialects (considering geographic proximity)?

Personally, I think that acknowledging more than one Frisian language would
have one advantage.  If Frisian unification succeeds, official language
diversity would prevent Standard West(erlauwers) Frisian (so far the only real
Frisian standard language) from dominating the whole scene and from becoming
the standard even in Northern Friesland, where it is no doubt perceived as a
foreign language.

Has this reply to Randy's interesting question been provocative enough to
cause a couple of our lurking Frisianists to enter the arena?  I would be all
too happy to be corrected.

For comparative purposes it would be great to have versions of the same text
sample in all Frisian varieties.  Of course, we do have our Lowlands-L welcome
(http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/) in Westerlauwers) Frisian
(Frysk), Sater Frisian (Seeltersk), Mooring Mainland North Frisian (Frasch)
and Amrum Insular North Frisian (Öömrang).

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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