North Frisian is a minority language of Germany, spoken by about 10000 people in North-Frisia (North Frisian Fraschlönj). There are two main dialectal divisions, between those dialects of the mainland, and the insular dialects. There is no standard variety, although some have suggested the Mainland dialect of Mooring.

Samples

The sentence displayed below in many variants reads: '"Shine, you old moon, shine", cried Häwelmann, but the moon was nowhere to be seen and neither were the stars; all of them had already gone to bed.'

Insular

Dialect of Sylt (Söl’)

„Ljucht, ual Muun, ljucht!“ skriilt Häwelmann, man di Muun wiar narigen tö sen en uk di Stiaren ek; ja wiar al altermaal tö Ber gingen.

Dialect of Föhr (Feer)

„Locht, ual muun, locht!“ rep Heewelmaan, man a muun wiar nochhuaren tu sen an a stäären uk ei; jo wiar al altermaal tu baad gingen.

Dialect of Helgoland

„Lochte, ool Muun, lochte!“ rüp Heäwelman, oawers de Muun wear naarni tu sin’n en uk de Steern ni; dja wear al allemoal tu Baad gingen.

Dialect of Amrum (Öömram)

„Locht, dü ual muun, locht!“ rep Heewelmaan, man a muun wiar nochhuaren tu sen an a stäären uk ei; jo wiar al altumaal tu baad gingen.

Mainland

Dialect of Hoorning (Goesharde)

„Jocht, uule moune, jocht!“ biilked Hääwelmoon, ors e moune waas närngs to schüns än da steere ok ai; ja weern al aal to beede gingen.

Dialect of Wiedingharde

„Ljocht, uuile moone, ljocht!“ biilked Hääwelmuon, män e moone was näärgen to schüns än uk e steere ai; jä würn al altomoale to beerd gingen.

Dialect of Tideland Islands (although it is spoken on islands, it is linguistically grouped with the mainland dialects)

„Jaacht, uale mööne, jaacht!“ bölked Hääwelmoon, man de mööne woas näärngs to siinen än de steere uk ee; jä weern al altomaole to beed giangen.

Dialect of Mooring (Bökingharde)

„Jucht, üülje moune, jucht!“ biiljked Hääwelmoon, ouers e moune wus nargne tu schüns än e stääre uk ai; ja wjarn ål åltumååle tu beed lim.

Note that, despite the incredible differences between the dialects, the dialects of Föhr and Amrum are highly similar; in this example even identical.

External link

• Ethnologue on North Frisian