West Frisian (dialect)
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The West Frisian dialect (in Dutch called West-Fries) is a dialect which is spoken in the contemporary West Friesland region (Westflinge), Wieringen, Wieringermeer, the coastal area from Den Helder to Castricum, and the island of Texel. It is currently a Hollandic Dutch subdialect but it originates from a creole language, a mix of the Dutch and Frisian-language called West Frisian. Not to be confused with the spoken language of the Friesland Province internationally indicated with the name West Frisian language (in Dutch simply Fries) although they are related to each other.
The dialect in itself is not a fixed one, there is a diverse number subdialects, sometimes referred to as the West Frisian dialect group, that consists of some big regional dialects; Wierings in Wieringen, Tessels or Texels in Texel and the now disused dialect of Vlieland, Vlielands. The smaller regions and villages, such as Zijpe, Andijk, Enkhuizen and Schagen, have some distinct differences between them. A bit more different from the rest of the group is Derpers, the dialect of the village Egmond aan Zee.
The dialect slowly arose from the old creole language in the 18th century. Nowadays, 2006, only the strong and light dialect remain. The older heavy dialect is as good as gone and the usage of the go-between of heavy and strong has almost died out as well. Only about 7 to 9% of the people speak the strong dialect or a go-between of strong and light. The light dialect is a lot more spoken but sadly it is also slowly beginning to be come lighter and more like Dutch.
Since the 1970s there has been more interest in reading and writing the dialect, not much was written before since it was mostly a spoken language of the common people.
