Saterfriesisch

Saterfriesisch, or Saterland Frisian, is a Frisian language of the West Germanic language family spoken in the Saterland region of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is one of the Frisian languages, closely related to but distinct from North Frisian and West Frisian, and is regarded as a separate language by its community. The language is protected as a minority language under European and German policy and is used in private life, local culture, and some formal settings.

Most speakers live in the Saterland, a rural area in Lower Saxony. The number of speakers is in the low thousands, and fluent speakers are predominantly older. Intergenerational transmission has declined, giving the language endangered status and motivating revitalization efforts. Saterfriesisch is usually used alongside German, with literacy often rooted in German, and there are materials and programs to teach and promote Saterfriesisch.

Linguistically, Saterfriesisch preserves characteristic Frisian features—vowel and consonant patterns shared with other Frisian languages—and shows German influence in its lexicon and syntax. It uses a Latin-based orthography and has standardized orthography employed in education and local publications, along with dictionaries and learning resources.

Efforts to sustain the language are pursued by community groups, educators, and cultural institutions, including the development of curricula, bilingual signage, and cultural events that highlight Saterfriesisch language and heritage.