Ostbergisch
Ostbergisch or Ost-Bergisch is a makeshift designation in German studies for a predominantly Lower Franconian dialect group in the Bergisches Land . The Ostberg dialects border the Westphalian dialect area in the east . They are considered transitional dialects and thus show the language characteristics of South Lower Franconian , Kleverland and Westphalian .
However, since Ostbergisch possibly has the most similarities with Kleverland, it is often assigned to this and sometimes also viewed as a " Dutch variety ".
Linguistic considerations are not reflected in the perception of the population, which is why the term Bergisch or Platt is commonly used for one's own dialects.
distribution
Ostbergisch is spoken in a narrow strip east of the Uerdinger line that runs from Mülheim an der Ruhr , Essen-Werden and large parts of Essen-Kettwig , Velbert-Langenberg via Wuppertal- Elberfeld , Remscheid- Lüttringhausen , Remscheid- Lennep , Radevormwald , Hückeswagen , Wipperfürth , Marienheide and Gummersbach to Bergneustadt . The limit of the Ostbergic language is a little further to the east, see Westphalian dialect area, the map shown here is wrong on this point and Essen is wrongly placed.
The western neighbors of the Ostbergische are the southern Lower Franconian and south of the Benrath line the Ripuarian . The “Westphalian Line” , which weakens towards the north, is used as a dividing line to the directly neighboring Westphalian dialect area .