Language Diversity - Language Diversity - Map of Minorities & Regional and Minority Languages of Europe for and about linguistic and cultural diversity in Europe.

Minority

North Frisians in Germany (North Frisians)

Description

The North Frisians are living on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. This is the area of the German-Danish border in the North to the more southern town of Bredstedt (district of North Friesland). Also the islands of Sylt, Föhr, Amrum and Helgoland and some smaller islands (Halligen) belong to the North Frisian-speaking area.

The history of North Friesland is characterised by a strong regional identification, which is still strongly present. The district of North Friesland as an administrative unit has only existed from 1970. Until 1864 North Friesland was part of the Danish state, and in 1864 it came to Prussia and Germany. Its position in the field of tension between German and Danish cast a shadow over the national development of North Friesland itself since the 19th century and made it difficult to establish Frisian institutions of its own.

The Frisian language is the most important identity marker of the North Frisians. The language was included in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Since 1998 the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities also includes the Frisians. As from 1990 the Schleswig-Holstein Constitution furthermore promises protection and support to the Frisian minority.

 

 

Size of the minority

Ethnic population 60,000 (Ethnologue)

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