Why does the Gronings die out slowly while the Frisian is flourishing?

A. A.ine, twijke, vare, vare, vieve, zèzze, zeuven, alter, nine, tene« In the Groningen, Fieke Gosselaar (42) counts the number of children in the classroom of primary school in Eenrum. In this village she teaches Groningen to children from groups 3, 4 and 5.

The ten students themselves have chosen to take three Wednesday afternoons after school for an hour and a half of Groningen lesson. Thanks to the ‘Tijd voor Toekomst’ program, children can choose extra activities at Groningen primary schools such as cooking, sports and music lessons. As a trial, Gosselaar started giving these Groningen Groningen lessons at the school in Eenrum. For the first time she teaches children.

It is important that it remains Groningen. It connects people and belongs to the province, where you come from

In the classroom where Gosselaar teaches, the students make ghost sounds. Gosselaar talks about Groningen folk stories during this last lesson in mid -February. About the ‘white wives’, mysterious, spooky figures. About the ‘Borries’, large, black ghost dogs, and about ‘the Zeewiefke’, a mermaid. When Gosselaar tells about the Borries, a student crawls like a dog. « You have to be careful for Borries, » reads Gosselaar. « Them within d’r bie duuster.  »

Gosselaar is a regional language consultant at the Groninger Language and Culture Center. She is also a writer in Dutch and in Groningen. Most children in the class in Eenrum only speak a few words of Groningen. Few children nowadays get the Groningen from their parents. While half of the parents still passed it on in 1960, nowadays only about 30 percent, research from the University of Groningen recently showed. Only 17 percent of the inhabitants speak at home. If nothing changes, the Groningen dies slowly.

Lower Saxon

Raoul Buurke (29) obtained his PhD in February at the University of Groningen on an investigation into the state of Frisian and Lower Saxon in recent decades. Lower Saxon is a recognized regional language with different dialects. The Drents, Gronings and the Twents, among others, are derived from Lower Saxon. The empire only recognizes Frisian as an official language.

The Buurke study shows that Frisian is better than the Lower Saxon. Frisians use the language more often at home and pass it on more often to their children. About 70 percent of the parents teach their children the Frisian language and about half of the inhabitants of Friesland speak at home. « Frisians are very proud of their language. You also see Frisian more in the area and there is attention for school, » says Buurke.

The Groningen is less well transferred to children by parents. There are also many prejudices about it, Buurke knows. Often parents thought it was no use to speak Groningen with their children or that it was better for their future if they only learn Dutch. « Nowadays we look differently at learning a second language – also a regional language – and we know that it is useful for children. It has cognitive benefits, as it can improve their language skills. It also gives children the chance to feel a connection with the region. »

Frisians are very proud of their language. You see Frisian more in the area and there is attention for school

The fact that Frisian is better protected than Lower Saxon also has to do with the financial support that is for Frisian. The province of Fryslân spends money on protecting the language. Last year, for example, it presented a Language Memorandum in which 10 million euros a year becomes available for making Frisian more visible, for the period 2025 to 2028.

The Ministry of the Interior made money in 2023 to strengthen the language and culture of Limburgs, Lower Saxon, Papiamentu and Frisian. 75,000 euros was available for Limburgs, Lower Saxon and Papiamento. 200,000 euros was released for Frisian. The ministry indicated that « Frisian as an official language in the province of Friesland has a special position ».

Money will also be available in the coming years to promote Groningen. In the social agenda, the plans to improve the quality of life in Groningen and Northern Drenthe after years of gas extraction, 4 million euros per year are released to stimulate Groningen (and Drents). This must be done by the University of Groningen and Regional Media, among others.

Linguist

This month, extra attention is paid to regional languages ​​with all kinds of activities in different provinces. The project is called ‘March regional month’, or in the Gronings: ‘Meertmoand regional moor’. In Groningen, councilors are encouraged to make their contribution to Groningen in the city council and the agenda is also published in Groningen in addition to Dutch.

The Center Groninger Taal & Culture, which does scientific research as a knowledge and advice center of the Groningen Culture and organizes public activities, has created a free online Groningen course together with the University of Groningen. Since the beginning of March, the ‘Moi, Welcome to Grunnen’ course is available. Participants follow the story of two Groningen -speaking young people who make a journey through the province. Students learn about the language and heritage of the province by watching videos and making assignments.

But learning Groningen is quite difficult. « Just like for any other dialect or language, you have to speak as much as possible to learn it, » says Buurke. « But in the city of Groningen there are hardly any people who can. In the villages in the province. »

Groningers do not make it easy for people who want to learn it either, Buurke knows. « They quickly feel that you will make the dragon with them when you try. Don’t do it, they say. That is something that many people encounter who try to learn. » Gosselaar also knows: « The Groninger Language Purist is the greatest danger. »

You start with a two-zero deficit if you want to learn it at a later age, but it is possible

Feed for the Groninger Language Purist is that there is not one type of Groningen. In the different regions of the province, there is talk differently. In the Westerkwartier, which lies against Friesland, it is Groningen other than in the Oldambt, which is located in the east of the province. Then there are the Hogelandsters and the Veenkolonials. « I think a good example is the word you. In most of the province that is ‘Joe’, in the Westerkwartier that is ‘Jim’, which again looks like ‘Jimme’, as they say it in Friesland, » says Buurke.

Keeping trying is Buurke’s advice. He himself learned it, raised in the city of Groningen, only as in his twenties. Buurke did a course, read many Groningen books, visited local theater performances and tried to speak as much as possible. « You start with a two-zero deficit if you want to learn it at a later age, but it is possible. »

Shame

Gosselaar tries to be ahead of this by teaching children and teaching her own daughter. Not by making them stamped, but in a playful way. She says to her daughter every day in the Groningen. In class she lets the children choose a Groningen word herself, with which they play Memory. From ‘Peerd’ (Horse), ‘Stoul’ (chair) to ‘High Vieve’ (High Five).

She hopes that the children have now ended the lessons with Learning Groningen. « It would be nice if they started talking to their grandfather and grandmother. You now still have grandparents who can teach their grandchildren. Something that many parents can’t. If you don’t pass it on, it will disappear. »

And that would be a shame, says Gosselaar. « It is important that it remains Groningen. It connects people and it belongs to the province, where you come from, where you live. »

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