Tweants dialect: Difference between revisions
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{{Dutch dialects}} |
{{Dutch dialects}} |
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'''Tweants''' ({{small|Tweants pronunciation:}} {{IPA|[ |
'''Tweants''' ({{small|Tweants pronunciation:}} {{IPA|[tʋɛːn(t)s]}}; [[Standard Dutch|Dutch]]: ''Twents'', {{IPA-nl|tʋɛnts|pron}}) is a group of non-standardised, closely related [[Westfalian]], [[Dutch Low Saxon]] [[dialect]]s, descending from [[Old Saxon]]. It is spoken daily by approximately 62%<ref>Bloemhoff, H. et al. Taaltelling Nedersaksisch: Een enquête naar het gebruik en de beheersing van het Nedersaksisch in Nederland. Groningen: Sasland (2005). 39-40.</ref> of the population of [[Twente]], a region in the eastern [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Overijssel]] bordering on [[Germany]]. |
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Tweants is part of the larger Low Saxon [[dialect continuum]], spreading from the [[Veluwe]] region in the middle of the Netherlands to the [[Germany|German]]-[[Poland|Polish]] border. As a consequence, it shares many characteristics with surrounding dialects, such as [[Sallandic]] and [[Achterhooks]] in the Netherlands, and [[West-Munsterlandic]] in Germany. |
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⚫ | Due to |
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⚫ | All towns and villages in Tweante have their own local, but mutually intelligible variety. Due to this fragmentation and lack of a standard variety, many speakers of Tweants call it by the locality their variety is from (e.g. a person from [[Almelo]] would say they speak "Almeloos" rather than "Tweants"). Alternatively, speakers combine the names: a speaker from [[Rijssen]] could say they speak "Riessens Tweants". |
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In less precise circumstances, its speakers mostly call Tweants ''plat'', which may either be an abbreviated form of [[Plattdeutsch]], or a loanword from Dutch that means 'vernacular'. A widespread misconception is the assumption that it is a variety of [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. It is a variety of Dutch Low Saxon, recognised by the Dutch government as a regional language according to the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]]. As such, institutions dedicated to Tweants receive minor funding for its promotion and preservation. |
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⚫ | Its revaluation as a dialect of Low Saxon rather than Standard Dutch is a relatively recent development. Due to ongoing stigmatisation, the use of the language declined in the decades following the [[Second World War]]. It was considered an inappropriate way of speaking, and thought to hinder children's language learning abilities and diminish their future prospects. Due to a general rise in regional pride, interests in preserving and promoting the language have risen, resulting in dialect writing competitions, teaching materials, festivals, and other culturally engaging projects. |
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==Pronunciation and characteristics== |
==Pronunciation and characteristics== |
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[[File:WIKITONGUES-_Martin_speaking_Twents.webm|thumb|[[Wikitongues]] - Martin speaking Tweants]] |
[[File:WIKITONGUES-_Martin_speaking_Twents.webm|thumb|[[Wikitongues]] - Martin speaking Tweants]] |
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Tweants does not have a standardised pronunciation, but all varieties shared a number of characteristics. |
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===Phonetic details=== |
===Phonetic details=== |
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|{{IPA|ɔu}} |
|{{IPA|ɔu}} |
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* All of the diphthongs are falling {{IPA|[ɪi̯, ɛi̯, ɔu̯]}}. |
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
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|{{IPA|/ˈriːʝə/}} |
|{{IPA|/ˈriːʝə/}} |
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|''r{{underline|ie}}ge'' |
|''r{{underline|ie}}ge'' |
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|' |
|'row' |
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|{{IPA|/y/}} |
|{{IPA|/y/}} |
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|{{IPA|/ɪ/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɪ/}} |
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|{{IPA|/vɪs/}} |
|{{IPA|/vɪs/}} |
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|'' |
|''viske'' |
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|'fish' |
|'fish' |
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|{{IPA|/eː/}} |
|{{IPA|/eː/}} |
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|{{IPA|/bɛk/}} |
|{{IPA|/bɛk/}} |
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|''bek'' |
|''bek'' |
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|' |
|'beak' |
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|{{IPA|/ɛː/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɛː/}} |
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|{{IPA|/kɛːrk/}} |
|{{IPA|/kɛːrk/}} |
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|'loose' |
|'loose' |
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|{{IPA|/œː/}} |
|{{IPA|/œː/}} |
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|{{IPA|/ |
|{{IPA|/ˈhœːrə/}} |
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|'' |
|''h{{underline|öa}}re'' |
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|'hairs' |
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|{{IPA|/ə/}} |
|{{IPA|/ə/}} |
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|{{IPA|/ɔ/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɔ/}} |
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|{{IPA|/ |
|{{IPA|/bɔs/}} |
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|'' |
|''bos'' |
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|' |
|'forest' |
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- |
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|{{IPA|/ɔː/}} |
|{{IPA|/ɔː/}} |
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|{{IPA|/ |
|{{IPA|/rɔːt/}} |
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|'' |
|''rood'' |
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|' |
|'red' |
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|{{IPA|/ɒ/}} |
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|{{IPA|/pɒt/}} |
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|''pot'' |
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|'pot' |
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- |
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|{{IPA|/a/}} |
|{{IPA|/a/}} |
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|{{IPA|/tak/}} |
|{{IPA|/tak/}} |
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⚫ | This survey of vowels includes only the most general vowels present in (nearly) all varieties, and does by no means give an all-encompassing overview of all varieties, as pronunciation differs per village and town, and may differ even within a town. A striking example of this may be found in the town of Rijssen, where two pronunciation forms of the past tense verb form of ''go'' are commonly accepted: ''gung'' {{IPA|/ɣʏŋ/}} and ''gong'' {{IPA|/ɣɔŋ/}}. As there is no standard variety of Tweants, and there is little or no education in the language, speakers may select their pronunciation based on personal preferences, social circumstance, or peer pressure. |
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=====Westphalian vowel break===== |
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⚫ | This survey of vowels includes only the most general vowels present in (nearly) all varieties, and does by no means give an all-encompassing overview of all varieties, as pronunciation differs per village and town, and may differ even within a town. A striking example of this may be found in the town of Rijssen, where two pronunciation forms of the past tense verb form of ''go'' are commonly accepted: ''gung'' {{IPA|/ɣʏŋ/}} and ''gong'' {{IPA|/ɣɔŋ/}}. As there is no standard variety of Tweants, and there is little or no education in the language, speakers may select their pronunciation based on personal preferences. |
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Considered a remnant of Westphalian, some Tweants varieties add a diphthong to a number of vowels that are monophthongs in others. The /e/, /o/, and /ø/ are pronounced [ɪə], [ɔə], and [ʏə]. This is called the Westphalian vowel break, and is most noticeable in the dialects of Rijssen, Enter, and Vriezenveen. On some instances in the former two, the break has been lost and the onset vowel has developed into a monophthong. In Enter, for instance the word 'beaven' (to shiver) has developed into 'bieven' ({{IPA|/biːwn̩/}}, and in Rijssen, the words 'spoor' (track) and 'vöär' (before) have developed into {{IPA|/spuːr/}} and {{IPA|/vyːr/}}. |
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A number of varieties feature an additional set of vowels that need a trained ear to be distinguished from each other, although they may sound totally different to the speakers of these varieties. |
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====Consonants==== |
====Consonants==== |
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{{IPA|[ |
{{IPA|[p]}}* - as in the Dutch word ''pot'', e.g. ''pot''. {{IPA|[pɒt]}}<br> |
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{{IPA|[t]}}* - as in the Dutch word ''tak'', e.g. ''tand'' {{IPA|[tãːt]}} (tooth)<br> |
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{{IPA|[k]}}* - as in the Dutch word ''ketel'', e.g. ''kettel'' {{IPA|[ˈkɛtəl]}} (kettle)<br> |
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{{IPA|[ɣ]}} – as in the Dutch word ''gaan'', e.g. ''goan'' {{IPA|[ɣɒːn]}} (go)<br> |
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{{IPA|[ʝ]}} – as in the Dutch word ''ja'' but with more friction, Southern Dutch g, e.g. ''rieg'' {{IPA|[riːʝ]}} (impale)<br> |
{{IPA|[ʝ]}} – as in the Dutch word ''ja'' but with more friction, Southern Dutch g, e.g. ''rieg'' {{IPA|[riːʝ]}} (impale)<br> |
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{{IPA|[j]}} – as in the English word ''yes'', e.g. ''rieg'' {{IPA|[riːj]}} (impale) (local pronunciations may vary).<br> |
{{IPA|[j]}} – as in the English word ''yes'', e.g. ''rieg'' {{IPA|[riːj]}} (impale) (local pronunciations may vary).<br> |
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{{IPA|[m]}} – as in the English word ''man'', e.g. ''moat'' {{IPA|[mɔːt]}} (mate). |
{{IPA|[m]}} – as in the English word ''man'', e.g. ''moat'' {{IPA|[mɔːt]}} (mate). |
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*Slightly [[aspiration|aspirated]] in some varieties. |
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Tweants shares many features with multiple varieties of British English. |
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=====Varieties of ''r''===== |
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⚫ | Tweants is to a great extent [[non-rhotic]]. Speakers do not pronounce final {{IPA|/r/}} in words consisting of more than one syllable, if no clarity or emphasis is required. In monosyllabic words, the {{IPA|/r/}} is not pronounced before [[dental consonants]]. Similarly to German and Danish, {{IPA|/r/}} in syllable [[Syllable#Coda|coda]] is vocalized to {{IPA|[ə]}}, {{IPA|[ɒ]}} or {{IPA|[ɐ]}}.{{fix|text=is the sequence {{IPA|/ər/}} also vocalized?|date=September 2015}} |
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*Tweants is to a great extent [[non-rhotic]]. Speakers do not pronounce final {{IPA|/r/}} in words consisting of more than one syllable, if no clarity or emphasis is required. In monosyllabic words, the {{IPA|/r/}} is not pronounced before [[dental consonants]]. |
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=====Syllabic consonants===== |
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⚫ | Like many other [[Germanic languages]], Tweants uses [[syllabic consonant]]s in infinite verb forms and plural nouns (the "swallowing" of final ''-en'' syllables). This may be compared to British [[Received Pronunciation|RP]] pronunciation of ''mutton'', which is pronounced somewhat like ''mut-n''. Tweants applies this to all verbs: |
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=====Lenition===== |
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==Grammar== |
==Grammar== |
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===Verbs=== |
===Verbs=== |
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Tweants follows a number of general Low Saxon rules in verb inflection, including the [[singular pluralis]]; plural verb forms receive the same inflection as the second person singular. In present tense, |
Tweants follows a number of general Low Saxon rules in verb inflection, including the [[singular pluralis]]; plural verb forms receive the same inflection as the second person singular. In present tense, an -(e)t is attached to the verb stem, whereas in past tense, an -(e)n is attached. |
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Tweants, like many other [[Germanic language]]s, distinguishes between strong and weak verbs. Strong verbs receive an [[Germanic umlaut|umlaut]] in present tense third person singular and all persons in past tense. In weak verbs, the third person singular is formed like the second person singular in present tense, and in past tense is formed by adding a - |
Tweants, like many other [[Germanic language]]s, distinguishes between strong and weak verbs. Strong verbs receive an [[Germanic umlaut|umlaut]] in present tense third person singular and all persons in past tense. In weak verbs, the third person singular is formed like the second person singular in present tense, and in past tense is formed by adding a -ten or -den to the verb stem. |
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===Present tense=== |
===Present tense=== |
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| Ik lope || I walk |
| Ik lope || I walk |
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| Y loopt || You walk |
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| Hee / |
| Hee / see löpt || He / she walks |
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| Wy loopt || We walk |
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| Ylüde loopt || You walk (plural) |
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| Seelüde loopt || They walk |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| Ik |
| Ik löype || I walked |
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| Y löypeden || You walked |
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| Hee / |
| Hee / See löyp || He / She walked |
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| Wylüde löypeden || We walked |
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| Ylüde löypeden || You walked (plural) |
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| See löypeden || They walked |
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===Plurals === |
===Plurals === |
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Plural nouns are formed |
Plural nouns are formed according to their gender. Tweants has three word genders, namely ''masculine'', ''feminine'' and ''neuter'' |
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====Masculine==== |
====Masculine==== |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| eynen hund || one dog |
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| twey hünde || Two dogs |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| eyne kumme || one bowl |
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| twey kummen || Two bowls |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| eyn kind || one child |
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| twee |
| twee kinder || Two children |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| eyn book || one book |
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| twey böker || Two books |
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! Tweants || English |
! Tweants || English |
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| een |
| een kümmeke || one little bowl |
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| twee |
| twee kümmekes || two little bowls |
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==Interference== |
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Native speakers have a distinct accent when speaking [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and are hence easily recognised. Particularly |
Native speakers have a distinct accent when speaking [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and are hence easily recognised. Particularly, their distinct pronunciation of the 'O' and 'E' is renowned. It is similar to the [[Hiberno-English]] or [[Scots]] pronunciation of the 'O' and the 'A'. Another striking feature of Tweants Dutch (and therefore a sign of L1-interference) is the use of a [[syllabic consonant]], which in popular Dutch language is often referred to as "swallowing final -en". |
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On a syntactical level, people from Twente may at times literally translate phrases into Dutch, thus forming [[Twentism]]s. Due to the fact that Tweants and Standard Dutch are varieties of the [[West Germanic languages]], they have many similarities, which may lead speakers of Tweants to believe that a "Dutchified" pronunciation of a Tweants expression is correct and valid: |
On a syntactical level, people from Twente may at times literally translate phrases into Dutch, thus forming [[Twentism]]s. Due to the fact that Tweants and Standard Dutch are varieties of the [[West Germanic languages]], they have many similarities, which may lead speakers of Tweants to believe that a "Dutchified" pronunciation of a Tweants expression is correct and valid: |
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:In English: I have a flat tyre |
:In English: I have a flat tyre |
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:In Tweants: Ik hebbe |
:In Tweants: Ik hebbe den band lek |
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:In Tweants-influenced Dutch (Twentism): *Ik heb de band |
:In Tweants-influenced Dutch (Twentism): *Ik heb de band lek (lit. I have the tyre flat) |
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:In correct Standard Dutch: Ik heb een lekke band (lit. I have a |
:In correct Standard Dutch: Ik heb een lekke band (lit. I have a leak tyre) |
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On an idiomatic level, Tweants is known for its wealth of proverbs, of which the following are only a fraction: |
On an idiomatic level, Tweants is known for its wealth of proverbs, of which the following are only a fraction: |
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*'' |
*''Låt mär külen, et löpt wal lös'' – Literally: Let it roll/fall, it will walk free – Never mind, it will sort itself out. |
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*''As de |
*''As de tyd kumt, kumt de plåg'' – When the time comes, the trouble comes. Don't worry before the trouble starts. |
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*'' |
*''Y köänet nich blåsen en den meal in den mund holden'' – Literally, you cannot blow and keep the flour in your mouth at the same time. 'Blåsen' also means 'to brag', so its real meaning is the same as "put your money where your mouth is" |
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* ''Hengeler weend'' – Wind from [[Hengelo]], a haughty attitude. |
* ''Hengeler weend'' – Wind from [[Hengelo]], a haughty attitude. |
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==Tweants in present-day Twente== |
==Tweants in present-day Twente== |
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Tweants is neither used nor taught mandatorily in schools, a circumstance that may be ascribed to the traditionally prevalent belief that Tweants – like other dialects spoken in the Netherlands – is supposedly a boorish speech variety the use of which bespeaks little intelligence or sophistication. |
Tweants is neither used nor taught mandatorily in schools, a circumstance that may be ascribed to the traditionally prevalent belief that Tweants – like other dialects spoken in the Netherlands – is supposedly a boorish speech variety the use of which bespeaks little intelligence or sophistication. However, as currently the status of Tweants is improving, school boards may opt for a lesson series ''Tweants Kwarteerken'' (loosely translated as ''15 minutes of Tweants'') designed for implication in nursery and primary schools. The fairly recently instated Twente Hoes is working on further teaching materials, which school boards may adopt free of charge. |
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Tweants was, and still is, also believed to impede |
Tweants was, and still is, also believed to impede proper acquisition of Standard Dutch. Parents generally acquiesced in this attitude and tried to teach their children to speak Dutch. Those parents, however, were used to speaking Tweants, which influenced especially their pronunciation of Dutch, and to a lesser extent their syntax and choice of vocabulary. |
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Dutch is still the prevailing and most prestigious language in Twente. This is why a majority of parents up until recently neglected to teach their children about their heritage, although there has lately been a resurgence of interest in the local language. |
Dutch is still the prevailing and most prestigious language in Twente. This is why a majority of parents up until recently neglected to teach their children about their heritage, although there has lately been a resurgence of interest in the local language. |
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Because Twente is an attractive place for investment, many companies establish themselves in Twente and attract people from other parts of the country who do not speak Tweants. This aggravates the decline of the Tweants language. In the countryside, however, many people still speak it or at least understand it. |
Because Twente is an attractive place for investment, many companies establish themselves in Twente and attract people from other parts of the country who do not speak Tweants. This aggravates the decline of the Tweants language. In the countryside, however, many people still speak it or at least understand it. |
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Recently, Tweants has enjoyed a resurgence because of an increasing tolerance for and pride in local culture, including local language. The resurgence |
Recently, Tweants has enjoyed a resurgence because of an increasing tolerance for and pride in local culture, including local language. The resurgence is backed by the opinion of linguists, who believe that children who are brought up bilingually are more receptive to other languages. The increasing interest in Tweants is expressed by writers, musicians and local media, and people have been inspired to start speaking and teaching Tweants again. This renewed interest, mirrored by other local languages in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, is referred to as the ''dialect renaissance''. An important stimulant for trend was the start of the 2000s [[soap opera|soap]] in Tweants, "''Van Jonge Leu en Oale Groond''" ("Of young people and old land"). The soap, focussing on a rural part of Twente, combined local traditions and culture with the life and aspirations of young people, emphasising how people can live modern lives while cherishing and being rooted in local traditions. Originally broadcast by local television, it was later broadcast on national television with subtitles. |
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From the 2000s onwards, Tweants is increasingly being employed in advertising. More and more companies choose for a Tweants slogan, and some choose for a more personal advertising approach, by translating their adverts into several dialects. Examples of such companies are Regiobank and Moneybird. Furthermore, the municipality of Rijssen-Holten employs a number of civil servants, who are allowed to wed couples in Tweants. Additionally, the municipality hall's personnel is officially bilingual, being able to help citizens in either Dutch, Tweants or [[Sallaands]]. |
From the 2000s onwards, Tweants is increasingly being employed in advertising. More and more companies choose for a Tweants slogan, and some choose for a more personal advertising approach, by translating their adverts into several dialects. Examples of such companies are Regiobank and Moneybird. Furthermore, the municipality of Rijssen-Holten employs a number of civil servants, who are allowed to wed couples in Tweants. Additionally, the municipality hall's personnel is officially bilingual, being able to help citizens in either Dutch, Tweants or [[Sallaands]]. |
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In 2014, a [[Facebook]] page called "Tukkers be like" gained more than 18,000 followers within a week. The page uses Twents cultural concepts, and expressions in the Twents language. The idea of the page was based on the [[United States of America|US]] [[Internet meme]] "Bitches be like", which gained enormous popularity in 2013, and inspired many to create their own versions. The meme presents an image of a certain situation, to which a certain group would respond in a typical way. |
In 2014, a [[Facebook]] page called "Tukkers be like" gained more than 18,000 followers within a week. The page uses Twents cultural concepts, and expressions in the Twents language. The idea of the page was based on the [[United States of America|US]] [[Internet meme]] "Bitches be like", which gained enormous popularity in 2013, and inspired many to create their own versions. The meme presents an image of a certain situation, to which a certain group would respond in a typical way. |
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Other current youth culture initiatives incorporate the language in their media outings, such as the Facebook page Tweants dialect, the online magazine Wearldsproake, and a string of other entertainment oetlets. |
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There is no generally accepted spelling for writing Tweants, although discussions about spellings are held on a regular basis. Rather, there are two commonly accepted spellings, although few strictly adhere to them. The previously mentioned diversity in speech varieties makes designing an all-encompassing spelling a cumbersome project, as spelling rules that fit one variety, may not be useful for others. |
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As Tweants isn't taught in schools, it is mostly written by individual language enthusiasts firmly rooted in Standard Dutch writing conventions. As such, there are two more or less accepted spellings: the Kreenk vuur de Twentse Sproake (KTS)-spelling, and the Standaard Schriefwieze (SS). The former seeks to adhere to Standard Dutch as much as possible, while the latter is aimed at displaying local pronunciation based on Dutch orthography. Few writers strictly follow these spelling rules, or are even aware of them. Most adhere to the rule of "write it as you say it," which in reality means they write it somewhat like Dutch. |
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There is no generally accepted Tweants spelling, although discussions about it are held on a regular basis. The (more educated) debate always evolves around two points of view, best reflected in the aforementioned KTS and SS spellings. |
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⚫ | *The spelling should be easily accessible and recognisable for speakers of other varieties of Low Saxon as well as speakers of Dutch. This results in a spelling based on writing traditions from Dutch and different speech varieties. As a pro, this does provide an accessible layout. At the same time, it sounds odd or unnatural when pronounced literally, and therefore might work distractingly. |
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In [[2018]], members of the Dutch and German Low Saxon wikipedia communities teamed up to design the [[New Saxon Spelling]]. This spelling looks at [[Old Saxon]] etymology rather than pronunciation, allowing readers to apply their own pronunciation to it. |
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The (educated) debate always evolves around two points of view. |
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⚫ | *The spelling should be easily accessible and recognisable for speakers of other varieties of Low Saxon as well as speakers of Dutch. This |
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==Cultural expressions in Tweants== |
==Cultural expressions in Tweants== |
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* [[Johanna van Buren]] (poet, wrote in a [[Sallaans]]-Tweants border dialect) |
* [[Johanna van Buren]] (poet, wrote in a [[Sallaans]]-Tweants border dialect) |
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* [[Theo Vossebeld]] (poet) |
* [[Theo Vossebeld]] (poet) |
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* [[G.B. Vloedbeld]] (writer) |
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* [[Johan Gigengack]] (writer) |
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* [[Willem Wilmink]] (poet, songwriter) |
* [[Willem Wilmink]] (poet, songwriter) |
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* [[Herman Finkers]] (comedian) |
* [[Herman Finkers]] (comedian) |
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Reverend Anne van der Meijden, a long-standing promoter of the use of Tweants, has translated the [[Bible]] into Tweants on the basis of the original languages. He also preaches sermons in Tweants. |
Reverend Anne van der Meijden, a long-standing promoter of the use of Tweants, has translated the [[Bible]] into Tweants on the basis of the original languages. He also preaches sermons in Tweants. |
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The Twente Hoes (Twente House) in [[Hengelo]] is an organisation that maps, monitors, promotes and develops teaching material for Tweants, Tweants identity and the culture of Twente. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 09:23, 31 January 2019
Tweants | |
---|---|
Native to | Netherlands[1] |
Region | Northeast Overijssel[1] |
Native speakers | 340,000 (2003)[citation needed] |
Official status | |
Official language in | The Netherlands (as part of Low Saxon)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | twd |
Glottolog | twen1241 |
This article is a part of a series on |
Dutch |
---|
Low Saxon dialects |
West Low Franconian dialects |
East Low Franconian dialects |
Tweants (Tweants pronunciation: [tʋɛːn(t)s]; Dutch: Twents, pronounced [tʋɛnts]) is a group of non-standardised, closely related Westfalian, Dutch Low Saxon dialects, descending from Old Saxon. It is spoken daily by approximately 62%[2] of the population of Twente, a region in the eastern Dutch province of Overijssel bordering on Germany.
Tweants is part of the larger Low Saxon dialect continuum, spreading from the Veluwe region in the middle of the Netherlands to the German-Polish border. As a consequence, it shares many characteristics with surrounding dialects, such as Sallandic and Achterhooks in the Netherlands, and West-Munsterlandic in Germany.
All towns and villages in Tweante have their own local, but mutually intelligible variety. Due to this fragmentation and lack of a standard variety, many speakers of Tweants call it by the locality their variety is from (e.g. a person from Almelo would say they speak "Almeloos" rather than "Tweants"). Alternatively, speakers combine the names: a speaker from Rijssen could say they speak "Riessens Tweants".
In less precise circumstances, its speakers mostly call Tweants plat, which may either be an abbreviated form of Plattdeutsch, or a loanword from Dutch that means 'vernacular'. A widespread misconception is the assumption that it is a variety of Dutch. It is a variety of Dutch Low Saxon, recognised by the Dutch government as a regional language according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. As such, institutions dedicated to Tweants receive minor funding for its promotion and preservation.
Its revaluation as a dialect of Low Saxon rather than Standard Dutch is a relatively recent development. Due to ongoing stigmatisation, the use of the language declined in the decades following the Second World War. It was considered an inappropriate way of speaking, and thought to hinder children's language learning abilities and diminish their future prospects. Due to a general rise in regional pride, interests in preserving and promoting the language have risen, resulting in dialect writing competitions, teaching materials, festivals, and other culturally engaging projects.
Pronunciation and characteristics
Tweants does not have a standardised pronunciation, but all varieties shared a number of characteristics.
Phonetic details
The following paragraphs contain IPA symbols.
Vowels
Front | Central | Back | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
unrounded | rounded | unrounded | rounded | |||||
short | long | short | long | short | long | short | long | |
Close | i | iː | y | yː | u | uː | ||
Close-mid | ɪ | eː | ʏ | øː | ə | oː | ||
Open-mid | ɛ | ɛː | œ | œː | ɔ | ɔː | ||
Open | a | aː |
Starting point | Ending point | |
---|---|---|
Front | Back | |
Close | ɪi | |
Mid | ɛi | ɔu |
Short | Long | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phoneme | IPA | Orthography | Meaning | Phoneme | IPA | Orthography | Meaning | ||||
/i/ | /i/ | ie | 'you' | /iː/ | /ˈriːʝə/ | riege | 'row' | ||||
/y/ | [example needed] | /yː/ | /byːl/ | buul | 'bag' | ||||||
/u/ | /hus/ | hoes | 'house' | /uː/ | /uːl/ | oel | 'owl' | ||||
/ɪ/ | /vɪs/ | viske | 'fish' | /eː/ | /keːnt/ | keend | 'child' | ||||
/ʏ/ | /ˈbrʏməl/ | brummel | 'blackberries' | /øː/ | /løː/ | leu | 'people' | ||||
/oː/ | /bloːm/ | bloom | 'flower' | ||||||||
/ɛ/ | /bɛk/ | bek | 'beak' | /ɛː/ | /kɛːrk/ | keark | 'church' | ||||
/œ/ | /lœs/ | lös | 'loose' | /œː/ | /ˈhœːrə/ | höare | 'hairs' | ||||
/ə/ | /ˈbrʏməl/ | brummel | 'blackberries' | ||||||||
/ɔ/ | /bɔs/ | bos | 'forest'
- |
/ɔː/ | /rɔːt/ | rood | 'red' | ||||
/ɒ/ | /pɒt/ | pot | 'pot'
- |
/a/ | /tak/ | tak | 'branch' | /aː/ | /aːp/ | aap | 'monkey' |
/ɪi/ | /nɪi/ | nij | 'new' | ||||||||
/ɛi/ | /vlɛis/ | vleis | 'meat' | ||||||||
/ɔu/ | /slɔu/ | slouw |
This survey of vowels includes only the most general vowels present in (nearly) all varieties, and does by no means give an all-encompassing overview of all varieties, as pronunciation differs per village and town, and may differ even within a town. A striking example of this may be found in the town of Rijssen, where two pronunciation forms of the past tense verb form of go are commonly accepted: gung /ɣʏŋ/ and gong /ɣɔŋ/. As there is no standard variety of Tweants, and there is little or no education in the language, speakers may select their pronunciation based on personal preferences, social circumstance, or peer pressure.
Westphalian vowel break
Considered a remnant of Westphalian, some Tweants varieties add a diphthong to a number of vowels that are monophthongs in others. The /e/, /o/, and /ø/ are pronounced [ɪə], [ɔə], and [ʏə]. This is called the Westphalian vowel break, and is most noticeable in the dialects of Rijssen, Enter, and Vriezenveen. On some instances in the former two, the break has been lost and the onset vowel has developed into a monophthong. In Enter, for instance the word 'beaven' (to shiver) has developed into 'bieven' (/biːwn̩/, and in Rijssen, the words 'spoor' (track) and 'vöär' (before) have developed into /spuːr/ and /vyːr/.
Consonants
[p]* - as in the Dutch word pot, e.g. pot. [pɒt]
[t]* - as in the Dutch word tak, e.g. tand [tãːt] (tooth)
[k]* - as in the Dutch word ketel, e.g. kettel [ˈkɛtəl] (kettle)
[ɣ] – as in the Dutch word gaan, e.g. goan [ɣɒːn] (go)
[ʝ] – as in the Dutch word ja but with more friction, Southern Dutch g, e.g. rieg [riːʝ] (impale)
[j] – as in the English word yes, e.g. rieg [riːj] (impale) (local pronunciations may vary).
[ŋ] – as in the English word ring, e.g. hangen [haŋː] (hang).
[x] – as in the Dutch word lachen, e.g. lachn [ˈlaxn̩] (laugh).
[r] – as an alveolar, tapped r, e.g. road [rɔːt] (council).
[j] – as in the English word yes, e.g. striedn [ˈstriːjn] (fight, battle)
[w] – as in the English word well, in intervocalic position, e.g. oaver [ˈɔːwə] (about, over)
[ʋ] - as in the Dutch word "wat", in word- or syllable-initial position, e.g. "wear" [ʋɛə] (weather).
[m] – as in the English word man, e.g. moat [mɔːt] (mate).
- Slightly aspirated in some varieties.
Varieties of r
Tweants is to a great extent non-rhotic. Speakers do not pronounce final /r/ in words consisting of more than one syllable, if no clarity or emphasis is required. In monosyllabic words, the /r/ is not pronounced before dental consonants. Similarly to German and Danish, /r/ in syllable coda is vocalized to [ə], [ɒ] or [ɐ].[[[Wikipedia:Cleanup|is the sequence /ər/ also vocalized?]]]
Tweants, like upper class British English, has a linking -r and an intrusive -r. This is a considered a sign of proficiency, and desirable.
Syllabic consonants
Like many other Germanic languages, Tweants uses syllabic consonants in infinite verb forms and plural nouns (the "swallowing" of final -en syllables). This may be compared to British RP pronunciation of mutton, which is pronounced somewhat like mut-n. Tweants applies this to all verbs:
- The infinite verb etten (to eat) is pronounced [ˈɛtn̩].
Lenition
Tweants applies extensive lenition in its spoken form. All strong plosives may be pronounced as their weak counterparts in intervocalic position (e.g. "better" can be pronounced either as [ˈbɛtə] or [ˈbɛdə]).
Grammar
In general, all varieties of Tweants follow a Subject-Verb-Object word order in main clauses, and Subject-Object-Verb in subordinate clauses. For instance, in the two following sentences:
- |S- Jan | V- skrivt | O- een book.| (John writes a book.)
- || Main Clause: |S-Hee | V-sea || Sub Clause: dat | S- Jan | O- een book | V- skrivt || (He said that John writes a book.)
Verbs
Tweants follows a number of general Low Saxon rules in verb inflection, including the singular pluralis; plural verb forms receive the same inflection as the second person singular. In present tense, an -(e)t is attached to the verb stem, whereas in past tense, an -(e)n is attached.
Tweants, like many other Germanic languages, distinguishes between strong and weak verbs. Strong verbs receive an umlaut in present tense third person singular and all persons in past tense. In weak verbs, the third person singular is formed like the second person singular in present tense, and in past tense is formed by adding a -ten or -den to the verb stem.
Present tense
Tweants | English |
---|---|
Ik lope | I walk |
Y loopt | You walk |
Hee / see löpt | He / she walks |
Wy loopt | We walk |
Ylüde loopt | You walk (plural) |
Seelüde loopt | They walk |
Past tense
Tweants | English |
---|---|
Ik löype | I walked |
Y löypeden | You walked |
Hee / See löyp | He / She walked |
Wylüde löypeden | We walked |
Ylüde löypeden | You walked (plural) |
See löypeden | They walked |
Plurals
Plural nouns are formed according to their gender. Tweants has three word genders, namely masculine, feminine and neuter
Masculine
Plurals for masculine are generally formed by adding umlaut and word-final -e to the noun
Tweants | English |
---|---|
eynen hund | one dog |
twey hünde | Two dogs |
Feminine
Plurals for feminine nouns are generally formed by adding word-final -n to the noun
Tweants | English |
---|---|
eyne kumme | one bowl |
twey kummen | Two bowls |
Neuter
Plurals for neuter nouns are generally formed by adding word-final -er to the noun.
Tweants | English |
---|---|
eyn kind | one child |
twee kinder | Two children |
If the neuter noun has a back vowel, it also receives an umlaut and -er.
Tweants | English |
---|---|
eyn book | one book |
twey böker | Two books |
Diminutives and plurals
Tweants | English |
---|---|
een kümmeke | one little bowl |
twee kümmekes | two little bowls |
Interference
Native speakers have a distinct accent when speaking Dutch, and are hence easily recognised. Particularly, their distinct pronunciation of the 'O' and 'E' is renowned. It is similar to the Hiberno-English or Scots pronunciation of the 'O' and the 'A'. Another striking feature of Tweants Dutch (and therefore a sign of L1-interference) is the use of a syllabic consonant, which in popular Dutch language is often referred to as "swallowing final -en".
On a syntactical level, people from Twente may at times literally translate phrases into Dutch, thus forming Twentisms. Due to the fact that Tweants and Standard Dutch are varieties of the West Germanic languages, they have many similarities, which may lead speakers of Tweants to believe that a "Dutchified" pronunciation of a Tweants expression is correct and valid:
- In English: I have a flat tyre
- In Tweants: Ik hebbe den band lek
- In Tweants-influenced Dutch (Twentism): *Ik heb de band lek (lit. I have the tyre flat)
- In correct Standard Dutch: Ik heb een lekke band (lit. I have a leak tyre)
On an idiomatic level, Tweants is known for its wealth of proverbs, of which the following are only a fraction:
- Låt mär külen, et löpt wal lös – Literally: Let it roll/fall, it will walk free – Never mind, it will sort itself out.
- As de tyd kumt, kumt de plåg – When the time comes, the trouble comes. Don't worry before the trouble starts.
- Y köänet nich blåsen en den meal in den mund holden – Literally, you cannot blow and keep the flour in your mouth at the same time. 'Blåsen' also means 'to brag', so its real meaning is the same as "put your money where your mouth is"
- Hengeler weend – Wind from Hengelo, a haughty attitude.
Speakers of Tweants generally tend to be a little more indirect than speakers of Dutch. For instance, when speakers of Tweants say: "t Is hier redelik doo" (It's reasonably thaw in here), they usually mean that they find the temperature unpleasantly high in the room.
Tweants in present-day Twente
Tweants is neither used nor taught mandatorily in schools, a circumstance that may be ascribed to the traditionally prevalent belief that Tweants – like other dialects spoken in the Netherlands – is supposedly a boorish speech variety the use of which bespeaks little intelligence or sophistication. However, as currently the status of Tweants is improving, school boards may opt for a lesson series Tweants Kwarteerken (loosely translated as 15 minutes of Tweants) designed for implication in nursery and primary schools. The fairly recently instated Twente Hoes is working on further teaching materials, which school boards may adopt free of charge.
Tweants was, and still is, also believed to impede proper acquisition of Standard Dutch. Parents generally acquiesced in this attitude and tried to teach their children to speak Dutch. Those parents, however, were used to speaking Tweants, which influenced especially their pronunciation of Dutch, and to a lesser extent their syntax and choice of vocabulary.
Dutch is still the prevailing and most prestigious language in Twente. This is why a majority of parents up until recently neglected to teach their children about their heritage, although there has lately been a resurgence of interest in the local language.
Because Twente is an attractive place for investment, many companies establish themselves in Twente and attract people from other parts of the country who do not speak Tweants. This aggravates the decline of the Tweants language. In the countryside, however, many people still speak it or at least understand it.
Recently, Tweants has enjoyed a resurgence because of an increasing tolerance for and pride in local culture, including local language. The resurgence is backed by the opinion of linguists, who believe that children who are brought up bilingually are more receptive to other languages. The increasing interest in Tweants is expressed by writers, musicians and local media, and people have been inspired to start speaking and teaching Tweants again. This renewed interest, mirrored by other local languages in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, is referred to as the dialect renaissance. An important stimulant for trend was the start of the 2000s soap in Tweants, "Van Jonge Leu en Oale Groond" ("Of young people and old land"). The soap, focussing on a rural part of Twente, combined local traditions and culture with the life and aspirations of young people, emphasising how people can live modern lives while cherishing and being rooted in local traditions. Originally broadcast by local television, it was later broadcast on national television with subtitles.
From the 2000s onwards, Tweants is increasingly being employed in advertising. More and more companies choose for a Tweants slogan, and some choose for a more personal advertising approach, by translating their adverts into several dialects. Examples of such companies are Regiobank and Moneybird. Furthermore, the municipality of Rijssen-Holten employs a number of civil servants, who are allowed to wed couples in Tweants. Additionally, the municipality hall's personnel is officially bilingual, being able to help citizens in either Dutch, Tweants or Sallaands.
In 2012, a radio presenter for national broadcasting station 3FM, Michiel Veenstra from Almelo, promised to present in Twents for an hour if a Twents song received more than €10,000 in the annual fundraising campaign Het Glazen Huis (The Glass House). As the song received more than €17,000, Veenstra kept his promise.[3]
In 2014, a Facebook page called "Tukkers be like" gained more than 18,000 followers within a week. The page uses Twents cultural concepts, and expressions in the Twents language. The idea of the page was based on the US Internet meme "Bitches be like", which gained enormous popularity in 2013, and inspired many to create their own versions. The meme presents an image of a certain situation, to which a certain group would respond in a typical way.
Other current youth culture initiatives incorporate the language in their media outings, such as the Facebook page Tweants dialect, the online magazine Wearldsproake, and a string of other entertainment oetlets.
Written forms
As Tweants isn't taught in schools, it is mostly written by individual language enthusiasts firmly rooted in Standard Dutch writing conventions. As such, there are two more or less accepted spellings: the Kreenk vuur de Twentse Sproake (KTS)-spelling, and the Standaard Schriefwieze (SS). The former seeks to adhere to Standard Dutch as much as possible, while the latter is aimed at displaying local pronunciation based on Dutch orthography. Few writers strictly follow these spelling rules, or are even aware of them. Most adhere to the rule of "write it as you say it," which in reality means they write it somewhat like Dutch.
There is no generally accepted Tweants spelling, although discussions about it are held on a regular basis. The (more educated) debate always evolves around two points of view, best reflected in the aforementioned KTS and SS spellings.
- The spelling should be easily accessible and recognisable for speakers of other varieties of Low Saxon as well as speakers of Dutch. This results in a spelling based on writing traditions from Dutch and different speech varieties. As a pro, this does provide an accessible layout. At the same time, it sounds odd or unnatural when pronounced literally, and therefore might work distractingly.
- The spelling should be close to the pronunciation of the people using it. This means a spelling that is not easily accessible, if not confusing to speakers and readers of other varieties. It results in many written consonant clusters.
In 2018, members of the Dutch and German Low Saxon wikipedia communities teamed up to design the New Saxon Spelling. This spelling looks at Old Saxon etymology rather than pronunciation, allowing readers to apply their own pronunciation to it.
Cultural expressions in Tweants
The earliest form of written Tweants is a poem dating from the eighteenth century,[specify] although it is a rare example. Tweants, like the other Dutch Low Saxon dialects, has had a literary tradition since the nineteenth century when Romanticism sparked an interest in regional culture. Some of the better-known authors include:
- Johanna van Buren (poet, wrote in a Sallaans-Tweants border dialect)
- Theo Vossebeld (poet)
- G.B. Vloedbeld (writer)
- Johan Gigengack (writer)
- Willem Wilmink (poet, songwriter)
- Herman Finkers (comedian)
- Anne van der Meijden (minister)
Since the start of the dialect renaissance, Tweants has increasingly been used as a written language, although this is still almost entirely reserved to the province of literature. Works have been translated into Tweants to stress that Tweants is as sophisticated and expressive as any other language, and to put its own aesthetic properties to use.
A renowned Dutch comedian, Herman Finkers, even translated his last shows into Tweants, using the motto "accentless at last", to indicate that he can finally sound natural by using his mother tongue, without someone mocking him about it. A number of comic books and a children's television programme have been translated into Tweants to critical success.
Reverend Anne van der Meijden, a long-standing promoter of the use of Tweants, has translated the Bible into Tweants on the basis of the original languages. He also preaches sermons in Tweants.
The Twente Hoes (Twente House) in Hengelo is an organisation that maps, monitors, promotes and develops teaching material for Tweants, Tweants identity and the culture of Twente.
References
- ^ a b c d Ethnologue entry
- ^ Bloemhoff, H. et al. Taaltelling Nedersaksisch: Een enquête naar het gebruik en de beheersing van het Nedersaksisch in Nederland. Groningen: Sasland (2005). 39-40.
- ^ Michiel Veenstra presenteert een uur lang in het twents.