skånsk

Skånsk is a dialect or group of dialects spoken in the historical province of Scania in southern Sweden. It belongs to the East Scandinavian branch of the North Germanic languages, and is closely related to Danish. Historically, there has been significant debate among linguists as to whether Skånsk should be classified as a dialect of Swedish or a distinct language. While it shares many features with modern standard Swedish, it also exhibits notable differences, particularly in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary, which often show greater similarity to Danish.

Key characteristics of Skånsk include a distinct pronunciation of certain vowels and consonants, a different intonation pattern compared to standard Swedish, and the use of specific grammatical structures and words not found in standard Swedish. For example, the pronunciation of the 'sj' sound often differs, and certain verb conjugations may vary. The vocabulary can also include loanwords from Danish and local terms.

Due to historical linguistic contact and the influence of standard Swedish, many of the unique features of Skånsk are gradually diminishing, especially in urban areas. However, efforts are made by some communities and organizations to preserve and promote the dialect. The term "Skånsk" can encompass a range of variations spoken across different parts of Scania, with some regional differences even within the dialect group itself.