Low Saxon
Low Saxon (in Low Saxon, Plattdüütsch, Nedderdüütsch or Neddersassisch) is any of a variety of Low German dialects spoken in northern Germany and the Netherlands.
It also includes Plautdietsch, which is spoken by Mennonites in North America.
Since 1994 Low Saxon has been recognised by the European Union as an independent regional lanugage. Although often considered a variation of German, in many respects it is more like Dutch, which is based on closely related Low Franconian dialects. The distinction between Low Saxon and Low Franconian (on one side) or High German (on the other side) is not precisely defined; there are several clines that vary smoothly from one dialect to another.
Low Saxon was once much more widespread than today, being used as a lingua franca throughout the Baltic region, under the influence of the Hanseatic League. It served as a standard language in many regions of northern Germany until its was replaced in that function by Standard German (a High German dialect) during the unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck in 1870.
List of dialects
Note that divisions between subfamilies of Germanic are rarely precisely defined; most form continuous clines, with adjacent dialects being mutually intelligible and more separated ones not. However, most Low Saxon dialects are though to be descended from, or to have strong influence from Old Saxon.
In Northern Germany:
- Northern (Standard) Low Saxon (around Bremen)
- Hamburgisch (in Hamburg)
- Holsteinisch (in Holstein)
- Schleswigsch (in Schleswig)
- East Frisian Low Saxon, or Emslandic (in western Lower Saxony)
- Mecklenburgisch (in Mecklenburg)
- Eastphalian (around Hannover)
- Westphalian (in Westphalia)
- With strong influences by other languages and dialects:
- Brandenburgisch (in Brandenburg)
- Pomeranian (in Pomerania)
In the eastern Netherlands:
- Achterhoeks (in Gelderland)
- Drents (in Drenthe)
- Gronings (in Groningen)
- Sallands (in central Overijssel)
- Stellingwerfs (in Ooststellingwerf and Weststellingwerf, in Friesland)
- Twents (in eastern Overijssel)
- Veenkoloniaals (in eastern Groningen)
- North Veluws (in Gelderland)
- East Veluws (in Gelderland)
- Westerwolds (in eastern Groningen)
In Canada and the United States:
- Plautdietsch (in Mennonite communities)
This list is not complete.
See also: Common phrases in different languages.
Lord's prayer in Low Saxon
- Unse Vadder in'n Himmel!
- Laat hilligt warrn dienen Namen.
- Laat kamen dien Riek.
- Laat warrn dienen Willen so as in'n Himmel,
- so ok op de Eerd.
- Uns' dääglich Brood giff uns vundaag.
- Un vergiff uns unse Schuld,
- as wi de vergeven hebbt,
- de an uns schüllig sünd.
- Un laat uns nich versöcht warrn.
- Mak uns frie vun dat Böse.