Written by Dyami Millarson

DE FRĖSKE FINDLING, which was written by Moritz Momme Nissen (1822-1902), is one of a kind; for it contains idioms in a host of Frisian languages, mostly North Frisian languages. So far, such a work has never been attempted again.

In order to understand (the usefulness of) the materials of DE FRĖSKE FINDLING and to make the best use of these materials, one has to know what Moritz Momme Nissen’s abbreviations in the work stand for.

Moritz Momme Nissen uses no abbreviation for his native Karrharde Frisian. He simply uses Karrharde Frisian as the basis for DE FRĖSKE FINDLING. The number by which each idiom is identified always precedes idioms in Karrharde Frisian in the work, while only abbreviations precede the other languages.

The abbreviations for North Frisian languages or language groups are as follows:

• M. for Mooring Frisian
• W. for Wiedingharde Frisian
• S. for Sylt Frisian
• A. for Amrung Frisian
• H. for Hattstedt Frisian
• B. for Breklum Frisian
• Hl. for Ockholm Frisian
• Bg. for Bargum Frisian

Other language (group) abbreviations are thus:

• Wfr. = West Frisian
• E. = English

West Frisian is a Frisian language family native to the Netherlands. When Moritz Momme Nissen says West Frisian, he means Shire Frisian (excl. Southwest Corner Frisian). Shire Frisian exhibits the nije brekking (new diphthongisation), yet this feature is absent in Southwest Corner Frisian, Hindeloopen Frisian, Schiermonnikoog Frisian, and East and West Terschelling Frisian. So, the diphthongisation exhibited in Shire Frisian is a distinguishing and defining feature.