Low Franconian languages

Low Franconian is the collective name for a group of languages ​​in the continental West Germanic dialect continuum in the Netherlands, northern Belgium (Flanders), the north-eastern region of France and western Germany ( Lower Rhine ). Due to emigration Low Franconian dialects are also spoken in Suriname, South Africa and Namibia.

History

The Franks ( literally " the brave, Bold " ) were formed in the 3rd century during the retreat of the Romans from the occupied part of Germania to one of the Germanic tribes United, which later gave rise to the people of the Franks.

The (proto ) - Frankish tribes settled first of the Rhine and kept coming to raids in Gallo- Roman territory before. From the settling of the Overijssel on the Lower Rhine to the Salland tribes, the sub- tribe of the Salian Franks formed, also called the Salian Franks. The metropolitan area of Cologne settled over the middle Rhine to the Lahn tribes were gradually on the Rhine Franks and from these derived Moselle Franconia. Initially spatially separated from the Lower Rhine from expanded Salfranken and Rhine Franks, until they were united in the 5th century under the Merovingian Clovis.

Franconian dialects

The Low Franconian dialects in the Netherlands, Belgium and in the West German region in the Lower Rhine ( between Kleve and Dusseldorf ) are attributed to dialects of Salfränkischen, the Südniederfränkische between Uerdinger line and Benrather line is considered down Frankish- ripuarisches transition area.

Ripuarian in the Greater Cologne (Kölsch ) / Bonn / Aachen are called ( Öcher Platt) spoken dialects. Together with the in Moselle from Trier to Luxembourg to spoken Moselle Franconian it belongs to the so called Middle Franconian today. The further south spoken in Hesse and Rhineland -Palatinate dialects are called Rhine Franconian. Historically (from the 5th / 6th century ) there was an equating the terms Rhine Franks and Ripuarians. Today, however, only be spoken between the West and the Bergisch Cologne / Aachen / Bonn dialects " Ripuarian " called. The term "Rhine Franconian " applies to the Frankish dialects above the central Rhine area of the mouth of the Main, east to Hesse in, southwest to Rhineland- Palatinate.

The assignment of a dialect to a specific region or city has become more difficult by regional reorganization, as more dialect boundaries cut across communities. So Uerdinger ek - ech - line now runs through the city of Krefeld and separates the südniederfränkische Krieewelsch from North Low Franconian Hölsch Plott local part of the sleeve. Such examples can be put on for other municipalities.

Of " Frencisk " to " Diutisk " to "flat Duytsche "

The early Franks called their language as " Frencisk " (or " Frencisg " ) There are few written sources for the language of the early Franks. A Lower Franconian sentence that is handed down from the Merovingian period, comes from the Frankish nation law of the 6th century ( the Salic ):

When the West Frankish part of the Frankish people ( in present-day France and Wallonia) language from the eastern part ( in today's Benelux and Germany ) began to separate, it came into conflict with the label " Frencisk " ( Lemberger). The West Franks, who had gradually taken over the Gallo- Romance language, claimed the term " Française " ( Franconian = French) for their new language, Old French. In the eastern kingdom, a new term set for one's own language by " Diutisk " ( German ) This term comes from a old Germanic name " Theodosius " for people, and immersed in the Latin writings of the early Middle Ages as a " lingua theodisca " on. . First, based only on the "language" of the people, the root word also got the meaning of the "people per se " to the year 1000 - and not just for the people of Frankish origin, but for all ethnic groups in the Germanic Frankish kingdom. This was also true for Luxembourg, Flemish and Dutch, which many centuries after the Empire separation after the abdication of Emperor Charles V ( 1500-1558 ) also known as " German " or "Low German " designated (see the term "Dutch " the English for " Dutchman ").

On East Frankish ( German ) side, there was a name " Walhisc " ( Welsch, originally a tribe of Gauls ) for the Gallo-Roman population in the West Frankish kingdom, including the now Romanized West Francia (see also gibberish, and slang ). In West Frankish (French ) side, there was to distinguish the inhabitants of Ostfrankenreiches to denote " Allemant " ( for the Germans, derived from the Germanic tribe of the " Alemanni ").

From the time of the linguistic separation of the (now French ) Westfrankenbahn of the (now German / Dutch / Flemish ) Franks in the Eastern Empire, there is an important language certificate: Oaths of Strasbourg of the year 842 you sealed the alliance of two grandsons of Charlemagne ( Charles the Bald and Louis the German ) against their brother Lothar. Because the wake of the language of the other side (no longer) understood the oaths were made in two languages ​​- in a precursor form of Old French ( the language of Charles ) and Altfränkisch ( the language of Louis ). The Altfränkische oath text read:

In the 12th century a " famous " sentence is dated, which is the most important Altniederländisches ( altfränkisches ) written document - Hebban olla vogala - an almost poetic rhyme:

Rheinmaasländisch in the Lower Franconian language area

Only the written documents from the 14th to 16th centuries are more understandable to modern readers in spirit. In the Rhine -Meuse delta German - Dutch had at that time - emerged a font and firm language, which replaced the Latin so far mainly used for writing edicts - in the Lower Franconian language area: Rheinmaasländisch.

Here is an example from this period, one of detained from Duisburg St. John Kaplan John Wassenberch in 1517 " weather forecast":

The above excerpt can easily see how to the Lower Rhine platform in the German Lower Rhine spoken a certain "closeness " of the " Rheinmaasländischen " to today's Dutch.

Although in the 12th century arisen in the Rhine -Meuse delta written language ( Rheinmaasländisch ) had many elements of the regional dialect, but is not the same as this. The Lower Rhine Platt was the language spoken of - often illiterate - farmers, artisans and ordinary people; Rheinmaasländische the other hand, was the written language ( written language ) of upscale items, of nobility and law firms. Rheinmaasländisch Latin had largely replaced as a writing language, until it lost its importance in the 16th century; one hand in favor of the propagating of Cologne ago " High German ", on the other hand, in favor of an emerging in today's Netherlands own written language. So the Electorate of Cologne had introduced ( High German similar ) writing language already in 1544 one thing soon had an impact on firms, among others in Moers, Duisburg and Wesel. However, could this "High German written language " in some areas, eg in the money Rischen Quartermaster, due to the bonds prevail only very slowly to the House of Habsburg. Over a longer period existed in some cities (eg in Geldern, Kleve, Wesel, Krefeld ) German and Dutch side by side and decrees were issued in both written languages ​​.

From the 18th century the linguistic separation between ( the German ) Lower Rhine ( both Dutch ) Maas area was finally completed. The respective high and written languages ​​went their separate ways. But Niederrheinisch as a spoken dialect survived the new boundaries and lasted until modern times.

Speak Platt called straight talking

The term used in the north and west Germany Platt for their own dialect derives not from some of them that it is spoken on the " open country "; rather the antiquated meant " plat" although "flat ", but also means " clear " his spokesman.

In a Delft Bible of the year 1524 by the "flat Duytsche " is mentioned. On the Lower Rhine, there are the sayings, "flat vür Danish Kopp " to tell someone something ( clearly to say in the face ). Since there were differences between the " ground " style upscale booths and the " language of common Vokes " in Altfränkische language area, was in this sense " speak Platt" as much as " plain text talk ". plaintext, which every farmer and craftsman understood. Platt therefore was the language of the common people itself.

Language barriers

The exact boundaries of the Lower Franconian language are controversial today. Historically, the Low Franconian dialects were north Benrather line and west of the line unit plural common. The dialect boundary running along the river IJssel and agreed there almost exactly with the earlier rule limits the gelderischen low quarters Arnhem and Nijmegen match. This unit is plural Line but have faded away and the dialects of the East and West Veluws which are located west of the river IJssel, are now attributed to the Lower Saxony, referred to in the Netherlands as Nedersaksisch.

The Low Franconian dialect group is bounded on the southwest by the French -speaking world. The coastal dialects of the North Sea here form the transition to the Frisian and so far have a strong Frisian substrate that go further increases to the north. The Dutch, the strongest substrate under the Low Franconian dialects on, including most the Town Frisian. The Zeeland has a strong substrate of West Flanders in its bordering Belgium coast.

Dissemination

The State cross- main distribution area of the Lower Franconian is located in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders); further in the Dunkirk region in France and the Rhineland in the north-western Germany ( North Rhine- Westphalia ) in the Lower Rhine.

The Low Franconian dialects of Germany are also referred to as the Lower Rhenish because of their local situation and the respective local dialects known colloquially as " Platform " scientifically mostly " place-name - he Platt". Today they are regarded as a transitional dialects between the Dutch on one side and the Low German on the other side, where a few kilometers east of the Rhine ( approximately at the level of the city area of food) the Westphalian dialect space begins.

Low Franconian differs from the other Franconian dialects by the widespread lack of second (or High German ) Sound Shift. Width dialectal transition areas there are to Ripuarian, Lower Saxony and Frisian (see dialect continuum ). T appears only in the immediate border area for Middle Franconian often than z or s

Low Franconian dialects are still spoken mainly in the regions west of the Rhine and IJssel in the Netherlands, the Flemish part of Belgium, but also in the Lower Rhine in Germany.

Structure

Lower Franconian varieties are constantly changing due to the existing to this day dialect continuum. Through the influence of the respective roof language in Germany ( German ) and the Netherlands ( Dutch), the local dialects are hard pressed in their dialectal expression and the number of native-speaking Lower-Franconian dialect speakers decreases from generation to generation.

In addition, the various local Low Franconian dialects in the Netherlands less pronounced differ from standard Dutch, as for example in Lower Saxony, the Frisian dialects in the Netherlands and are therefore subject to greater displacement pressure through the roof Dutch language.

For Lower Franconian today include the following varieties, two of which have the status of national and written languages ​​:

• Dutch in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname and its European dialects

• Brabants
• Limburg
• Ostflämisch
• Zeeland
• West Flemish Westhoekflämisch

• Afrikaans ( in South Africa and Namibia)
• Negerholländisch ( kreolisiertes Dutch that was spoken between the 18th and 19th centuries on the West Indian Virgin Islands St. Thomas and St. John. )
• Ceylon Dutch ( kreolisiertes Dutch that was spoken between the 17th and 18th centuries to the present Sri Lanka. Applies on the island since 1907 as extinct. )

From their origins here but would also parts of German dialects are expected to Lower Franconian:

• Kleverländisch that has long been exposed to the Dutch.
• Various Bergische dialects that were exposed by the so-called "Cologne expansion " strong the Ripuarian and thus stand between the Ripuarian and the actual Lower Franconian today.

A more detailed description of the Lower Rhine is done in the next section.

Classification of the Lower Franconian

At low Franconian is a West Germanic family of closely related dialects. One arranges the dialects of one language to the roof, this is the Dutch in the Low Franconian dialects. From Low Franconian dialects of Dutch and widespread in South Africa Afrikaans incurred.

In the former linguistics, it was common to consider under absolutism of the feature of the missing High German sound shift the low Franconian as a branch of Low German, according to the family tree theory by August Schleicher. Thus, the Germany-based ostniederfränkischen dialects were such as the Kleverländische, hence sometimes still referred to as " Low German dialects ". Today, this family tree theory, however, applies with renowned German scholars often deprecated and is represented essentially only in the scientific part of secondary literature and used.

Language Historically go the Low Franconian dialects back to the ancient dialects of the Salian Franks, whose dialects were influenced and differentiated during the Middle Ages in varying degrees by the progressive High German consonant shift. Thus, the formerly unified Franconian language area was divided into Low Franconian, Ripuarian ( this includes the Kölsche ) and Moselle Franconian. The more southern Rhine-Frankish and süd-/ostfränkischen dialects have been heavily influenced by the Alemannic or Bavarian, and have changed even more significantly their linguistic character.

The Low Franconian dialects have only been partially recognized in contrast to Ripuarian to Cologne, Bonn, Aachen and ( to a lesser extent ) in southern Bergisch Land or not by the High German consonant shift, which is why they now have largely the same sound level as the Lower Saxony and the Netherlands.

The " local dialect " next to some adjacent ( south ) Low Franconian dialects shows slight high German influences ( "t" word-initially is shifted to "z", for example: "two" instead of the usual " twee ", "p" and "k " in the word inside remain only partially unshifted, for example: " lope " = run "make" = make, which can be attributed to the influence over the Rhine Come traveling salesman ) thus, the structurally yet so similar Rhenish dialects differ by Cologne and. Dusseldorf significantly in the sound booth.

The dialects of Mönchengladbach, and a part of its environment are relatively strongly influenced Ripuarian. If one says, for example, in Kleverländischen and in Low German " Hebbe (s )" or " höbbe (s) " for who, it says, as in the Middle Franconian " han". The Ostbergische has in Langenberg on both the forms of " han" and " Haew ( we) ," depending on which side of Deilbachs it is located.

The Kleverländische, the Ostbergische, and the Südniederfränkische ( Limburg in Germany ) are often referred to as " Dutch dialects " because the linguistic distance to the high German standard language ( German ) is much more pronounced than for the Netherlands.

Niederrheinisch in two meanings

With Niederrheinisch today two different dialect variants are referred to:

In contrast, Niederrhein- Platt is one of the Lower Franconian dialects spoken in Germany on both sides of the Lower Rhine, west of the Low Saxon - Low Franconian dialect vagina. That's a line about west of Bocholt - runs Wipperfuerth and north of the so-called Uerdinger line, the northernmost line of the Rhenish fan that exceeds the Rhine in the north of Krefeld- Uerdingen - Food - Wuppertal- Barmen. Furthermore, the ostbergischen dialects ( Velbert- Langenberg, Wuppertal- Elberfeld, Gummersbach ) are also included.

The latter lie in a narrow strip east of Uerdinger line after it passes through the southernmost district of Duisburg, then continues in a south- easterly direction, and near Wipperfuerth meets the Benrather line and together with this further in its course towards East marks the boundary between the low German and high German dialects. As a linguistic border of Westphalia, which is part of the Lower Saxon dialect group, the weakening to the north unit plural line applies.

The so -defined northern Lower Rhine and ostbergische area are considered

• North Low Franconian

The so-called " Low Franconian transition area " applies ( with occasional linguistic elements of Ripuarian ) between the Uerdinger and Benrather line as

• Südniederfränkisch or Limburg

Linguistic history

Some of the Low Franconian dialects, especially Dutch and Brabants have shaped the Dutch and Flemish literary language crucial.

The original Low Franconian dialects were or are displaced by regional varieties of the standard language due to the increasing mobility of people. In Germany, the linguistic difference between the " Low Franconian " Platt to High German written language is larger than the Dutch dialect speaker at the German Niederrhein -. Their number has declined in recent years - can communicate well be speaking with the dialect neighbors across the border.

As part of the eastern settlement from the late Middle Ages also reached Low Franconian, specifically Dutch dialect influences into Ostniederdeutsche, particularly the Mark- Brandenburg because many Altsiedler treat injuries sustained from Flanders. These were taken in rare cases later in the reverse direction, as was for example the Hötter Platt.