Friso-Saxon (Dutch; Flemish: friso-saksische tongvallen,[1] Dutch; Flemish: friso-saksisch) is a group of West Germanic dialects found around the North Sea coast of the Netherlands and Germany, in an area historically known as Frisia.[2] [3] They are dialects of Low German/Low Saxon that have experienced strong influence from a Frisian language.
The term was established by the Dutch researcher Johan Winkler in his work about Dutch, Low German and Frisian dialects in the region.[4] In the following decades the term was adopted by some of Winkler's successors.
The Friso-Saxon dialects are spoken in areas which were historically Frisian-speaking, until Frisian was gradually replaced with Low Saxon beginning in the Late Middle Ages. However, Frisian has remained as a substratum since then in the regions concerned. The only exception to this rule is Stellingwarfs, a Low Saxon dialect which has undergone influence especially from West Frisian. Most of the other Friso-Saxon dialects underwent most influence from East Frisian, for example East Frisian Low Saxon and Gronings. The, by philological history, not philological categorization Friso-Saxon, Dithmarschen dialect underwent most influence from North Frisian.