Et Heanige Preenske — in Tweants.
Tweants or Twents is a regional language or dialect spoken in the Twente region of the eastern Netherlands. It is part of the Low Saxon (Niedersachsen) group of languages, which are spoken in parts of the Netherlands and Germany. The Low Saxon languages, including Tweants, are recognised under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, highlighting their importance as part of Europe’s cultural heritage.
Tweants shares phonological characteristics with other Low Saxon dialects, such as the preservation of certain consonant and vowel sounds that have changed in Standard Dutch. This includes the retention of older forms of diphthongs and the use of consonant clusters that have simplified in other West Germanic languages.
The grammatical structure of Tweants also shows similarities with other Low Saxon dialects, including the use of inflections to denote case in pronouns and the use of specific verb forms for tense and aspect. The syntax can differ from Standard Dutch, reflecting the historical development of Low Saxon as distinct from High German and Dutch.
Tweants vocabulary includes many words that are unique to the dialect or shared with other Low Saxon dialects but not found in Standard Dutch. It also includes loanwords from Dutch, German, and English, reflecting historical trade relations, cultural exchange, and recent globalisation.
Tweants is primarily used in informal settings, such as at home, among friends, or in local communities. It is an integral part of the regional identity of Twente, with strong cultural associations and a sense of local pride. Despite the dominance of Standard Dutch in official settings and the media, there is a growing interest in preserving and promoting Tweants and other Low Saxon dialects. This includes initiatives in education, local media, and cultural events to encourage the use of Tweants, especially among younger generation.
