Help! The West Frisian language is dying out (or does it still have a future?)

Two people, two opinions, on one subject: “We have to conclude that the West Frisian language will no longer be spoken in 50 years,” says Arjen Versloot. “If you bring it in an accessible way, it will come back in no time,” says Tom Wester.

As a professor at the University of Amsterdam, Versloot specializes in regional languages. He is gloomy about the future of the use of regional languages, including West Frisian. The average age of the people who still speak it is high and children no longer grow up with it.”

Negative association

Versloot explains: “A hundred years ago you went to primary school in your own village as a child and then you went to work. Also in your own village, or perhaps a village further away. At that time you only heard standard Dutch at school and in the church. And nothing else. Now there is further education in Hoorn or Enkhuizen and then perhaps a study in Amsterdam or even further. There you come into contact with people who do not speak a dialect.”

In addition, the regional language had a negative association for a long time. “That was the language of the farmers, it was thought. From the 1950s on, many parents therefore thought: ‘let’s talk standard Dutch with the children, that’s better for them’.”

Tom Wester recognizes the stories. He has been chairman of Creatief Westfries for several weeks, the foundation that has been committed for years to ‘promoting the creative use of the West Frisian dialect’. For example, there are regular performances in West Frisian. “If the language disappears, what will West Friesland still be?”, he wonders aloud.

“It is an important part of the identity of our region. You don’t have to admit that it is in danger of disappearing, do you? It was already said forty years ago, West Frisian will not make it to the turn of the century. Well, so we keep the basics standing.”

Mandatory at school?

So gloomy prospects, but the tide can still be turned. Versloot: “I don’t think so. Introducing the language as a mandatory part at school, as in Friesland? Then it becomes a foreign language. The question is whether it will also be spoken among themselves. Look, in Friesland 60 or 70 percent of people still speak the language. Children among themselves too, that’s a big difference.”

Wester is not in favor of obliging, but does see possibilities. “School should pay more attention to the language and history of West Friesland. If the students become proud of their region, the interest in the language will also return.”

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In 2007, Wester launched the Westfriesland game with his wife Gerda. A knowledge game with questions about West Friesland in the field of dialect, culture, sports and games, history and geography. Ten thousand pieces were sold over the counter. “If you bring West Frisian in an accessible way, it will come back in no time. I am convinced of that.”

He also mentions the performances of the popular band Oôs Joôs, a new podcast van Creatief Westfries and a Youtube series in which the basics of West Frisian are explained.

When it comes to actively spoken language, then according to Versloot, West Frisian will be a thing of the past in 50 years. “What are you missing? A piece of history. Midas Dekkers once said: Do you miss the dodo? Nobody misses it every day, but it is a pity that it is extinct. That also applies to the regional languages. You lose a piece of social recognition “But society changes. You can’t force people to speak a language that is no longer useful.”