View source for Main-Franconian dialects

{{Infobox language
 |name        = Main-Franconian
 |nativename  = Mainfränkisch
 |states      = [[Germany]]<ref name="ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=vmf Ethnologue entry]</ref>
 |region      = [[Upper Franconia]], [[Lower Franconia]], [[Middle Franconia]], northeast [[Baden-Württemberg]], southwest [[Thuringia]]
 |speakers    = 4.9 million
 |date=2006
 |ref=<ref name=e18>{{E18|vmf}}</ref>
 |familycolor = Indo-European
 |fam2        = [[Germanic languages|Germanic]]
 |fam3        = [[West Germanic languages|West Germanic]]
 |fam4        = [[Elbe Germanic|Irminonic]]
 |fam5        = [[Middle High German|Upper Germanic]]
 |fam6        = [[High Franconian dialects|High Franconian]]
 |fam7        = [[East Franconian German|East Franconian]]
 |nation      =
 |iso3        = 
|glotto=main1267
|glottorefname=Ostfränkisch
}}
'''Main-Franconian''' is group of German [[dialect]]s that are spoken in the centre of [[Germany]], in the area known as [[Franconia]] near the river [[Main]].

In Germany most people call these dialects simply “Fränkisch”.  Although they have a lot in common there are many variations from one small region to another.

Historically Franconia (German: “Franken”) was a very large area covering a lot of Germany including parts of the Rhine as far as the [[Netherlands]].  Today Franconia is the north part of [[Bavaria]] (German: “Bayern”) including what is known as Lower Franconia, Upper Franconia, Mid-Franconia and  parts of Upper Bavaria.

==Examples of Franconian dialect==

Typical for Franconian dialects is the voiceless [[consonants]] becoming voiced, i.e. “k” pronounced like “g”, “t” like “d”, “p” like “b” and “s” like English “z”.  In pubs one often hears on the public address system a request for a member of staff 
*”bidde dzur dege gommen”
* {{lang-de|bitte zur Theke kommen}}
*English: Please come to the bar.

*''Vo da Dande a Bageed griing'' means:
*{{lang-de|Von der Tante ein Paket kriegen (/bekommen)}}
*English: “To receive a parcel from one’s auntie“

The pronunciation of vowels may be different from normal German, e.g.
Franconia is often described as the place where:
*”die Hasen ‘Hoosn’ und die Hosen ‘Huusn’ haasn.”
*i.e. ‘Hasen‘ (‘hares‘) are called ‘Hoosn‘ (‘Hosen’=’trousers’) and ‘Hoosn’ are called ‘Husen’. (German “Hasen” has an “a” as in British “car”; “Hosen” has an “o” similar to “oa” in “boat”; “Husen”, which does not mean anything, has a “u” like British “oo” in “moon”).

An angry Franconian might say:
*”Der Hamml, der gscheerde, der ko wos erlehm, wenna haam kummd!”
*{{lang-de|Der Saukerl kann was erleben, wenn er nach Hause kommt!}}
*English: “The rotten fellow will be in trouble when he gets home!“

==References==
*“Fränkisch” by Jens Sobisch; Kauderwelsch 186, ASMB 3-89416-474-3
{{reflist}}

[[Category:German dialects]]
[[Category:Languages of Germany]]