O sjorem magaaije! Fiktyf Joadsk etnolekt yn ‘e Fryske literatuer

Abstract

In the past, Westerlauwers Friesland was already inhabited by a multilingual population, including speakers of local Frisian and non-Frisian vernaculars, the Dutch standard language and etnolects of foreign origin like those of German harvesters and Jewish merchants.In the past, Westerlauwers Friesland was already inhabited by a multilingual population, including speakers of local Frisian and non-Frisian vernaculars, the Dutch standard language and etnolects of foreign origin like those of German harvesters and Jewish merchants. Frisian literature reflects this multilingual situation to some extent. The details of it have yet to be studied in a systematic way, however. This case-study exemplifies how Jews were characterized in Frisian literature, especially drama. It turns out that the stereotypical Jewish character is presented as speaking a variety of artificial and real languages. This study sheds some light on the question of how literature relates to reality, prejudice and language. It is argued that Frisian literature and multilingualism interconnect, the former existing in a multilingual reality, the latter being creatively manipulated by literary fiction.