Westrogothic

Westrogothic is an adjectival or toponymic term referring to Västergötland, a historic province in southwestern Sweden. In historical, linguistic, and archaeological contexts, Westrogothic describes things associated with that region—its people, culture, language, legal traditions, and artifacts. The term is used to distinguish material from Västergötland from that of other regions, such as Östergötland (East Gothland) or other Swedish provinces.

In linguistics, Westrogothic denotes a regional variant of medieval Swedish (and, more broadly, of Old Norse influence) associated with texts from Västergötland. Scholars identify Westrogothic features through analysis of provincial writings, including legal codices, religious texts, and genealogies. The label helps map linguistic variation during the medieval period and contributes to understanding the development of the Swedish language.

Historically, Västergötland was a central region in medieval Sweden, with important urban centers and a distinctive legal and administrative tradition. The Westrogothic law (Västgötalagen) is one of the oldest known Swedish legal texts and serves as a key source for legal and linguistic history, illustrating how regional practices intersected with the emerging Swedish state.

Today, Westrogothic remains primarily a scholarly designation used in historical, linguistic, and archaeological literature. It is not a designation for a contemporary language or nationality, but rather a historical label for materials and scholarship tied to the region of Västergötland.