This bibliography is a list of resources I have found for the history, structure,
and grammar of the Dutch and Frisian languages, with special attention to the period
prior to 1650. This focus is consistent with that of the Society for Creative
Anachronism (SCA), and notes on the usefulness
of the books are written with this purpose in mind; they should
not be taken further.
Note that the list presented is not necessarily representative of available
literature. Titles have been included on the basis of their availability
for me, and this usually means those in English. If you know of additional titles
which should be included, please tell me about them, and I will add them to the list.
Though all of these books have been somewhat useful, those which I
have found to be particularly good are indicated by a red lion.
--Walraven van Nijmegen
This list was last updated 4 January 1997.
Return to Bibliographia Neerlandica main page
Bouman, A. C.
Middelnederlandse Bloemlezing met Grammatica
Publication: 1948 (2nd ed); 235 + vi pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Contents, Numerous sample texts
Coverage: 1250-1550
Description: This book is a grammar (pp. 1-70) and reader for Medieval Dutch. The
selections for reading are annotated for particular words, and some of these selections come
from documents of the Middle Ages. The grammar section is better than average for this sort
of book, with many references to the readings.
Recommendations: For linguists and those already familiar with Dutch.
Kruisinga, E.
A Grammar of Modern Dutch
Publication: 1924; London; George Allen & Unwin, Ltd.; 168 + xii pages
Language: English
Comments: Contents, Index
Coverage: present
Description: This book is comprehensive, but somewhat incomprehensible if you are not
experienced in the ways of grammar and linguistics. No attempt is made to define difficult
terms, and the organization follows that of many of the older grammars, with the information
presented in arbitrarily numbered paragraphs.
Recommendations: For experienced linguists.
Kyes, Robert L.
The Old Low Franconian Psalms and Glosses
Publication: 1969; USA; Univ. of Michigan; 159 pages
Language: English, with Latin and Old Low Franconian texts
Comments: Contents, Texts, Notes, Tables
Coverage: Wachtendonck Codex and glosses
Description: This is a compilation of texts copied from the oldest known source of
"Dutch" words, the Wachtendonck Codex. This was a portion of a Latin Bible, with an
interlinear translation into Central and Low Franconian. The Codex itself has not survived,
but four documents copied from the Codex provide a basis for interpretation. Much of the
Codex has had to be interpreted or even reconstructed, since two of the documents are early
17th century glossaries of words from the original. The limited availability of the source
material prompted the publication of this book.
Recommendations: For linguists and hard-core scholars.
Priebsch, R. & W. E. Collinson
The German Language
Publication: 1946 (3rd ed); London; Faber & Faber, Ltd.; 496 + xviii pages
Language: English
Comments: Contents, Index, Map, Select bibliography
Coverage: to present
Description: This book is somewhat dated, and rather dense in places. However, it is
worth using if for no other reason than that it has a beautiful fold-out map depicting the
various continental Germanic languages and dialects. The work also suffers from the paucity
of source citations, though the authors seem to be authoritative.
Recommendations: For linguists and scholars.
Robinson, Orrin W.
Old English and its Closest Relatives : A survey of the earliest Germanic languages
Publication: 1992; USA; Stanford Univ. Press; 290 pages
Language: English
Comments: Contents, Bibliography, Index, Maps, Glossaries, Tables
Coverage: ca. 200 - ca. 1300
Description: If you were going to own only one book on the Germanic languages, this
should be it. Asked to teach a course on the origin and diversity of the Germanic languages,
and finding no remotely suitable text, Dr. Robinson wrote one. This book is divided into
chapters by language, each containing historical and cultural information, a discussion of
source material, and a select glossary of terms. Chapters include Goths, Old Norse, Frisian,
Low German, and others.
Recommendations: An excellent resource, and one of the best general references.
Shetter, William Z.
Dutch : An Essential Grammar
Publication: 1993 (7th ed); USA; Routledge; 267 pages
Language: English, with Dutch texts
Comments: Contents, Glossary, Many exercises
Coverage: present
Description: This volume is written so as to teach basic Dutch grammar, and so
presents numerous practice sentences and exercises.
Recommendations: A rather comprehensive workbook.
Stern, Henry R.
Essential Dutch Grammar
Publication: 1984; New York; Dover Publications; 109 pages
Language: English
Comments: Contents, Index, Tables
Coverage: present
Description: In many ways, this is a condensed version of Shetter's book, though it contains no exercises. It is handy as a quick-reference.
Recommendations: Small and inexpensive; a good quick reference.
Van der Voort van der Kleij, J. J.
Verdam Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek -- Supplement
Publication: 1983; Leiden, Antwerpen; Martinus Nijhoff; 354 pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Includes info on gender, spelling variation, dates, and a bibliography of sources
Coverage: Middle Ages
Description: This is a Supplement to Verdam's Woordenboek. As such, it contains only a limited selection of vocabulary, though the quality of research which went into the book surpasses the original.
Recommendations: Excellent source, but incomplete in itself.
Van Loey, A.
Schönfeld's Historische Grammatica van het Nederlands
Publication: 1959 (6th ed); Zutphen; W. J. Thieme & Cie.; 367 + lv pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Contents, Bibliography, Index
Coverage: ???
Description: This book seems rather comprehensive, and a bit technical.
Unfortunately, I do not read Dutch well enough to properly evaluate this book yet. But,
as it is the only historical grammar which I have come across, it is therefore included here.
Recommendations: For linguists and scholars with a knowledge of modern Dutch.
Verdam, J.
Middelnederlandsch Handwoordenboek
Publication: repr. 1981; Leiden, Antwerpen; Martinus Nijhoff; 811 pages
Language: Dutch
Comments: Includes information on gender and spelling variation
Coverage: Middle Ages
Description: This is a dictionary for translating medieval Dutch into modern.
Entries are "alphabetical" (c=k, ij=y) and are cross-referenced. This is a standard work,
sometimes called the MNW. See also the Supplement to this book by Van der Voort van
der Kleij, above.
Recommendations: Excellent source, but no specific dates or citations are included.
Return to the S. Gabriel Library,
Return to the Eykenbosch Library, or
Return to the Antechamber