Limburgish

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A language of Netherlands

ISO 639-3
lim
Alternate Names
Limberger, Limburgan, Limburgian, Limburgic, Limburgs Plat
Population

700,000 in Netherlands (2001). Population total all countries: 1,300,000.

Location

Limburg Province, Maastricht, Heerlen, Roermond, Venlo. Also in Belgium, Germany.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Limburg Province (1996, Ratification Act, ECRML, No. 136), effective 1997.

Classification
Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, West Middle German, Rhenisch Franconian
Dialects

A Rhenisch-Maas group of dialects, often combined with Cleves dialects (Kleverländisch) as Rheinmaasländisch. Limburgish straddles the border between, Low Franconian and Middle Franconian varieties. More-or-less mutually intelligible with Ripuarian dialects, but show fewer, High German shifts (2001 R. Hahn).

Language Use

Spoken by 50%–90% of the population in Limburg Province. All domains, songs. All ages. Also use Dutch [nld] or German [deu].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 99%–100%. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2001–2003.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Limburgish
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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