Drèents (also Dreins, Dreints, Drents, Drints; ) is a collective term for Westphalian dialects spoken in Drenthe, a province of the Netherlands. They are spoken by about half of the population of the province.
Phonology Consonants LabialAlveolarRetroflexDorsalGlottalStopvoicelessvoicedFricativevoicelessvoicedNasalTrillApproximant
Dialects of Drèents The dialects from the north and the east (see below: 'Noordenvelds' and 'Veenkoloniaals') are somehow more related to Gronings (a Northern Low Saxon dialect), the dialects from the south-west are 'Stellingwerfs', and the dialects in a few villages along the southern border with the Grafschaft Bentheim (Germany) are considered to be Sallaans (because they have an umlaut in the diminutives).
The Stichting Drentse Taol (Drèents Language Foundation) distinguishes seven main variants of Drèents within the province, based on the research done by G.H. Kocks, the main editor of the Woordenboek der Drentse Dialecten (Dictionary of the Drèents Dialects): Noordenvelds Veenkeloniaols Zuudoost-Zaand-Drèents Zuudoost-Veen-Drèents Midden-Drèents Zuudwest-Noord-Drèents (Also see Stellingwarfs) Zuudwest-Zuud-Drèents It also can be divided into Midden-Drents and Zuid-Drents.
Examples of usage
Emmen dialect: We moet'n nie zo haast'n. Standard Dutch: Wij hoeven ons niet zo te haasten. English: We do not have to hurry.
Northern Drenthe: ien twei dreei vier vief zes zeum aacht neegn tien Southwest Drenthe: iene tweie dreie veere vieve zesse zeum achte neegn tiene Standard Dutch: een twee drie vier vijf zes zeven acht negen tien English: one two three four five six seven eight nine ten
Drenthe: Ie kunt wel geliek hebb'n. Standard Dutch: U kunt gelijk hebben. English: You can be right.
References