About the Frisian Language
Frisian was originally spoken all along the coast of the North Sea from Belgium up through northern Germany including some islands off the mainland. This was during the Middle Ages.
Nowadays Frisian is found in three smaller areas mainly along the coast: between the province of North Holland in The Netherlands up through the Schleswig-Holstein State in northern Germany.
There are three different Frisian languages (or dialects). They're not mutually intelligible. Each Frisian language is spoken in a different area. West Frisian is spoken in the Friesland province in The Netherlands and on some islands off the mainland. This has the largest population of Frisian speakers: about 350,000+. North Frisian is spoken in the Schleswig-Holstein State in northern Germany and on some islands off the coast: about 10,000 people speak it. Saterland Frisian is spoken in Lower Saxony, Germany. There are only about 2,000 speakers of Saterland Frisian. It's an endangered language.
Frisian is the closest language to English after Scots. Some people consider Scots a dialect of English. Considered thus so, Frisian is the closest language to English. They're not mutually intelligible languages. Though some people believe you can glean the meaning of Frisian writing if you speak English... in the way you might be able to understand Middle English.
Frisian bears similarities to Dutch, Danish and Low German. Danish speakers can understand some spoken Frisian.
We're pleased to help bring the Frisian language to the rest of the world with a lovely West Frisian lullaby. We're always happy add more if anyone would like to send us a song, rhyme or proverb.
-Mama Lisa
