West Frisian languages
The West Frisian languages are a group of closely related, though not mutually intelligible, Frisian languages of the Netherlands. Due to the marginalization of all but mainland West Frisian, they are often portrayed as dialects of a single language.
Languages
Not all West Frisian varieties spoken in Dutch Friesland are mutually intelligible. The varieties on the islands are rather divergent, and Glottolog distinguishes four languages:- Hindeloopen Frisian, an archaic dialect of the peninsular harbour town of Hindeloopen and the village of Molkwerum on the west coast, is spoken by, at the most, some 300 people.
- Schiermonnikoog Frisian Skiermûntseagersk, the most endangered West Frisian language, is spoken on the island of Schiermonnikoog by no more than 50–100 people.
- Westlauwers–Terschellings
- *Terschelling Frisian. Westersk and Aastersk are the dialects of the western and eastern parts of the island of Terschelling and have about 800 and 400 speakers respectively.
- *Western Frisian, spoken by over 99% of the West Frisian-speaking population