Words used in classifying it are often more political than linguistic, because it encompasses a large group of very differing varieties.

The East Frisian influence, the sounds ou, ai and ui and the typical accent are part of that distinction.

East Frisian was spoken in the Ommelanden (surrounding lands of the city of Groningen), while the city, the surrounding rural area called Gorecht [nds-nl] and the eastern lordship of Westerwolde were Low Saxon.

In less than one century, the same process also started in East Frisia, from the city of Emden, which was influenced by the Hanseatic League.

In the second half of the 16th century Gronings started to evolve towards Middle Dutch because of the strong influence of the new standard language.

But because of the political, geographical and cultural isolation of Groningen, a strong provincialism in the first half of the 19th century caused Gronings to develop itself in a significant way.

Today, according to an investigation among the listeners to the regional broadcasting station (Radio Noord), approximately 65% of them can speak and write Gronings.

Perhaps, if the larger cities and villages of Groningen, Hoogezand-Sappemeer, Veendam, Stadskanaal, Delfzijl and Winschoten are excluded from this count, the percentage would rise to about 80%.

Younger people also speak the language, however in a regiolectical mixed way, because many pure Gronings words are lost.

In the second half of 2007, the local television broadcast a series in Gronings called Boven Wotter [nds-nl].

The first official dictionary was the "Nieuw Groninger Woordenboek" and was put together by Kornelis ter Laan.

K. G. Pieterman wrote a dictionary of Gronings alliterations which is titled Gezondhaid en Groutnis (sanity and greetings).

Although Gronings, as part of Low Saxon, is an official language, it is not a mandatory subject in schools.

Notable Groningen musical artists include Wia Buze, Alje van Bolhuis, Alex Vissering, Eltje Doddema, Pé Daalemmer & Rooie Rinus, Burdy, Wat Aans!, Hail Gewoon, Erwin de Vries, and Ede Staal (†).

Hence other linguists classify Gronings-East Frisian as a separate group of Northwest Low Saxon or Friso-Saxon dialects.

The East Frisian writing system is based on High German while Gronings uses many Dutch features.

For example, the word for “ice skate” is in Gronings “scheuvel” and in East Frisian “Schöfel”, while the pronunciation is almost alike.

The East Frisian combination oo (for example in Bloot/Blood = blood) is pronounced like ow in the English word “now” ([aʊ]) ([blaʊt]; Gronings: blowd).

The East Frisian combination aa (for example in quaad) is pronounced like a in the British English word “water” ([ɔː]).

The East Frisian combination ee and eei (for example in neet) are pronounced like the y in the English word “fly” ([aɪ]) ([naɪt]; Gronings: nyt)*.