Westphalian language
Encyclopedia
Westphalian is one of the major dialect groups of West Low German. Its most salient feature is the diphthongization (rising diphthongs). For example, speakers say iEten ([ɪɛtn̩]) instead of Eːten for eat. (There is also a difference in the use of consonants within the Westphalian dialects: North of the Wiehengebirge
, people tend to speak unvoiced consonants, south of the Wiehengebirge they speak voiced consonants, e.g. Foite <-> Foide.)
The Westphalian dialect region includes the north-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia
, i.e. the former Prussian province of Westphalia, without Siegerland
and Wittgenstein, but including the southern part of former government district Weser-Ems
(e.g. the region around Osnabrück
and the landscape of Emsland
).
and others.
It has many lexical similarities and other proximities with Eastphalian
, extending to the East and a bit to the North of the area where Westphalian is spoken.
is currently spoken by mostly elderly people. The larger part of the population of the area speaks Standard German
with a Westphalian accent. This accent, however, is not as remarkable as for instance Bavarian
, due to the fact that Westphalia is closer to the region of Hanover
, which speech variety is commonly considered the 'best' Standard German.
One of the reasons for the diminishing use of Westphalian is the rigorous enforcement of Standard High German in Saxon dialect speaking areas during the 18th century. The original Westpfalian and other Saxon languages were considered equally unintelligible as English, Dutch or Norwegian by High German speakers. The region around Hannover was forced to adopt text book High German as it is written, without any accent.
Nevertheless, the Westphalian-coloured High German includes some words that originate from the traditional dialect, which are not intelligible for High German speakers. Examples would be Pölter [pœltɐ] (for Pajamas
) or Plörre [plœʁə] (for a dirty liquid) or Mötke [mœtkə](for mud or dirt).
Wiehengebirge
The Wiehen Hills are a low mountain range in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony in Germany. The hills run from west to east like a long finger away from the main upland area of the Lower Saxon Hills, beginning at the Weser River near Minden and terminating in the vicinity of Osnabrück.It is...
, people tend to speak unvoiced consonants, south of the Wiehengebirge they speak voiced consonants, e.g. Foite <-> Foide.)
The Westphalian dialect region includes the north-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, i.e. the former Prussian province of Westphalia, without Siegerland
Siegerland
The Siegerland is a region of Germany covering the old district of Siegen and the upper part of the district of Altenkirchen, belonging to the Rhineland-Palatinate adjoining it to the west.Geologically, the Siegerland belongs to the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge...
and Wittgenstein, but including the southern part of former government district Weser-Ems
Weser-Ems
Weser-Ems was the most westerly of the four Regierungsbezirke of Lower Saxony, Germany, bordering the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Overijssel...
(e.g. the region around Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
and the landscape of Emsland
Emsland
Landkreis Emsland is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany named after the river Ems. It is bounded by the districts of Leer, Cloppenburg and Osnabrück, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia , the district of Bentheim and the Netherlands .- History :For a long time the region of the Emsland was...
).
Varieties and similarities
Among the Westphalian language there are different subgroups of dialects:- MünsterMünsterMünster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
Low German in the Münsterland - East Westphalian in East WestphaliaDetmold (region)The Regierungsbezirk Detmold is one of the five Regierungsbezirke of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the north-east of the state...
(including the dialect of OsnabrückOsnabrückOsnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
) - SauerlandSauerlandThe Sauerland is a rural, hilly area spreading across most of the south-eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, in parts heavily forested and, apart from the major valleys, sparsely inhabited...
Low German
and others.
It has many lexical similarities and other proximities with Eastphalian
Eastphalian language
Eastphalian, or Eastfalian , is a West Low German dialect spoken east of the Weser river in southern parts of Lower Saxony and western parts of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, including Hanover, Braunschweig, Hildesheim, Göttingen and Magdeburg, an area that roughly corresponds with the historic region...
, extending to the East and a bit to the North of the area where Westphalian is spoken.
Today
In fact, that what is considered the true dialect of WestphaliaWestphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
is currently spoken by mostly elderly people. The larger part of the population of the area speaks Standard German
Standard German
Standard German is the standard variety of the German language used as a written language, in formal contexts, and for communication between different dialect areas...
with a Westphalian accent. This accent, however, is not as remarkable as for instance Bavarian
Austro-Bavarian
Bavarian , also Austro-Bavarian, is a major group of Upper German varieties spoken in the south east of the German language area.-History and origin:...
, due to the fact that Westphalia is closer to the region of Hanover
Hanover (district)
Hanover Region is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Heidekreis, Celle, Gifhorn, Peine, Hildesheim, Hamelin-Pyrmont, Schaumburg and Nienburg....
, which speech variety is commonly considered the 'best' Standard German.
One of the reasons for the diminishing use of Westphalian is the rigorous enforcement of Standard High German in Saxon dialect speaking areas during the 18th century. The original Westpfalian and other Saxon languages were considered equally unintelligible as English, Dutch or Norwegian by High German speakers. The region around Hannover was forced to adopt text book High German as it is written, without any accent.
Nevertheless, the Westphalian-coloured High German includes some words that originate from the traditional dialect, which are not intelligible for High German speakers. Examples would be Pölter [pœltɐ] (for Pajamas
Pajamas
Pajamas, also spelled pyjamas , can refer to several related types of clothing. The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes...
) or Plörre [plœʁə] (for a dirty liquid) or Mötke [mœtkə](for mud or dirt).