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FROM 22.9.22

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East Frisians

During the Hanseatic period, a linguistic shift occurred in East Frisia from East Frisian to Low German. The region today is regarded as one of the strongholds of Plattdeutsch as an actively spoken language. Regional consciousness is strong, with a clear increase over recent years in pride in local traditions and the prestige of Plattdeutsch. The Communal Association of the East Frisian Region (Kommunalverband der Ostfriesischen Landschaft) also upholds the legacy of Frisian freedoms in a particularly eye-catching way.

Speak Platt!

Plattdeutsch”, or Low German, is a firm fixture of the East Frisian identity today. The loss of the former Frisian native language during the Hanseatic Middle Ages in no way contradicts this. East Frisians feel themselves to be a natural and important part of the Frisian population group. Pride in local Low German has intensified greatly in recent years, but just as with many other minorities, the numbers of active speakers are declining in East Frisia. 

Efforts to promote Plattdeutsch in the region are many and varied, from private campaigns like the widespread introduction of bilingual signage in supermarkets to initiatives like the language learning app “PlattinO” (“Platt in East Frisia”) supported by the East Frisian Region’s Plattdeutsch Bureau. This app enables the systematic learning of East Frisian Low German. Abundant voice recordings even allow the training of pronunciation.

Here you can download the app “PlattinO”: 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.PlattinO.SodtalbersIT&hl=de&gl=US