Saxon, Low
PrintA language of Germany
1,000. 10,000,000 understand it in Germany, but many fewer are native speakers (1996 R. Hahn).
North; Lower Rhine Region, Aachen to Wittenberg.
5 (Developing).
Eastphalian (Ostfaelisch, Ostfälisch), Holsteinisch, Mark-Brandenburg (East Prussian, Maerkisch-Brandenburgisch, Märkisch-Brandenburgisch), Mecklenburg-Anterior Pomerania (Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch), Northern Low Saxon. Listed dialects are in Germany. The first 3 dialects listed are Western Low Saxon, the other 2 are Eastern Low Saxon. Not intelligible to speakers of Standard German [deu]. A direct descendant of Old Saxon, related to English [eng]. 20 to 30 dialects with differing inherent intelligibility, depending on geographic distance. They did not experience the second consonantal shift of the 8th and 9th centuries (1976 J. Thiessen). Modern forms have been largely suppressed until recently and have received much Dutch [nld] or Frisian influence, depending on the area. Low Saxon varieties are listed separately in the Netherlands, where they have official status. Pomerano is used in Latin America. Westphalian [wep] and Plautdietsch [pdt] also have separate entries.
Officially recognized as a regional (separate) language in 8 states of Germany. Recognized as a regional (separate) language by the European Charter on Languages. Most also use Standard German [deu].
Printed fairly widely outside Europe, particularly in North and Latin America, Australia, Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe (Siberia, Kazakhstan).