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The LowSaxonLanguage is a LowSaxonGroupLanguage of Germany. SIL code: SXN. ISO 639-2: nds. Population: An estimated 10,000,000 understand it in Germany, but much fewer are native speakers (1996 Reinhard F. Hahn). Region: Northern Germany. The dialects listed are northwest, southwest, south central, northeast, and southeast, respectively. Lower Rhine region below a line from Aachen to Witenberg. Alternate names: NEDDERSASSISCH, NIEDERSAECHSISCH, NEDERSAKSISCH, LOW GERMAN, PLATTDNNTSCH, NEDDERDNNTSCH. Dialects: NORTHERN LOW SAXON, EASTPHALIAN (OSTFAELISCH, OSTFALISCH), MECKLENBURG-ANTERIOR POMERANIA (MECKLENBURGISCH-VORPOMMERSCH), MARK-BRANDENBURG (MAERKISCH-BRANDENBURGISCH, MARKISCH-BRANDENBURGISCH). Comments: The dialects listed are in Germany. The first three dialects listed are Western Low Saxon, the other two are Eastern Low Saxon. Not intelligible to speakers of Standard German. A direct descendant of Old Saxon, related to English. 20 to 30 dialects with differing inherent intelligibility, depending on geographic distance. They did not experience the second consonantal shift of the 8th and 9th centuries (J. Thiessen, U. of Winnipeg 1976). Its modern forms have been largely suppressed until recently, and have received much German, Dutch, or Frisian influence, depending on the area. Low Saxon varieties listed as separate entries in the Netherlands, where they have official status. Pomerano is used in Latin America. Westphaelian and Plautdietsch also have separate entries. Most speakers in Germany are bilingual in Standard German. Officially recognized as a regional (separate) language in 8 states of Germany and in the northeastern provinces of the Netherlands. Recognized as a regional (separate) language by the European Charta on Languages. Printed fairly widely outside Europe, particularly in North and Latin America, Australia, Southern Africa, Eastern Europe (Siberia, Kazakhstan). Dictionary. Bible 1478-1534.(extract from http://www.ethnologue.com/)
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