Westniederdeutsch
Lameli's uncommon Westniederdeutsch (lit. West Low German) is a variety of Northern Low German (nördliches Niederdeutsch), which is a group of Low German.[1] It is not to be confused with the grouping West Low German, also called Westniederdeutsch in Standard High German, which includes other varieties.[1]
It is spoken in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, and comprehends Westmünsterländisch, Münsterländisch, Emsländisch and the dialects of the Grafschaft Bentheim and the Landkreise Cloppenburg and Vechta.[1][a]
Its varieties in Germany border to Low Franconian, North Low German (Nordniederdeutsch), and Southern Low German (Westphalian and Eastphalian).[1] It is spoken in Germany up to about the Ruhr area.[1] It has contact to the Dutch language.
Most people in the area of Westniederdeutsch do not speak this variety.
Notes
- ^ Westmünderländisch and Münsterländisch are elsewhere classified as part of Westphalian.