Wymysojer

Wymysojer (Wilamowicean) is a West Germanic language spoken in the small town of Wilamowice (Wymysau in Wymysojer), on the border between Silesia and Little Poland. In origin, Wymysojer derives probably from 12th century High German strongly influenced by Low Saxon, Dutch, Frisian, Polish and Scots.

The inhabitants of Wilamowice are thought to be descendants of Dutch, German and Scottish settlers who arrived in Poland in the 13th century. The inhabitants of Wilamowice always strongly refused any connections with Germany and proclaimed their Dutch origins. Wymysojer was the vernacular language of Wilamowice until 1945–1949. After World War II, local communist authorities forbade the use of the language. Despite the fact that the ban was lifted after 1956, Wymysojer has been gradually replaced by Polish, especially amongst the younger generations. At present, there are about 100 native users of Wymysojer, the majority of them elderly people; Wymysojer is therefore an endangered language.

Wymysojer was the language in which the poetry of Florian Biesik was written, during the 19th century.

Short dictionary

A short dictionary of Wymysojer with German, Dutch and English translations. Note that ł is read in Wymysojer like English w and w like v:

Example lullaby

A lullaby in Wymysojer with English translation:

Śtöf duy buwła fest!

Skumma frmdy gest,

Skumma muma ana fettyn,

Z’ brennia nysła ana epułn,

Stöf duy Jasiu fest!

Sleep, my boy, soundly!

Foreign guests are coming,

Aunts and uncles are coming,

Bringing nuts and apples,

Sleep Johnny sound