Flemish language: history of development and characteristics

The Flemish language is used by five million people who live in northern Belgium (this part is called Flanders), as well as about 200,000 in the French department of Nor. Refers to the German branch of the Indo-European family.

Those who speak Flemish

Flemings are closely related to the Dutch people. Since the era of the Roman Empire and until the XIV century, they gradually settled in its modern territory - the northern part of Belgium. Up until the 16th century the Flemish language was practically the same as the Dutch. Changes emerged after the division of Holland and Belgium: one country gained independence and approved Protestantism, and in the other, Catholicism and the domination of foreign power were consolidated. Thus, in the XVII-XVIII centuries the Flemish language developed independently, without the intervention of the Dutch.

In 1830, the Kingdom of Belgium gained independence. Since then, the Flemish began to express their disagreement about the status of the Flemish, because it was still considered a local adverb. Adoption of the language for the normative literary was associated with some difficulties, since wealthy and educated Flemish mainly spoke French.

History

The Flemish language, which is difficult to teach, because it has great differences in written and spoken language, has a rich and rather complicated history of development. At the end of the XIX century, the Belgian government mainly consisted of French-speaking Walloons. Since 1873 the Flemish language is a state language in Belgium on equal terms with French. At the end of the Second World War, there is a decline in the development of the iron and steel industry and the coal industry.

These events have caused the Flemish, who at that time accounted for 55% of the population, the desire for changes in the political and, primarily, cultural sphere. In 1968, there was a conflict between the French and the Flemish on the grounds of the University of Louvain: two groups of the population could not decide which language should be taught in this institution.

The result was a series of laws of the 1970s, with the help of which a language boundary between the two countries was established, one of which should be used exclusively in all state institutions for the native language of the Flanders. The Flemish Council, in charge of culture, in 1973 renamed it Dutch.

Current situation

In order to get a job in any state institution in Belgium, you need to know two languages. It's about Flemish and, of course, French. Walloons, in turn, are disgusted with the idea of learning a language spoken by only 22 million people, including the population living in the Netherlands. Flemings (especially those who hold public office), as a kind of revenge deliberately refuse to speak French. As for the term "Flemish language", in addition to its direct meaning, today it is often used as a collective name for the East and West Flemish dialects.

In the linguistic-border areas, one can find road signs in French and the name of the locality in Dutch. This is due to the fact that many cities have two forms. Thus, if you are planning to go to Mons from the Flemish territory, then you are heading to Bergen, Liege - Luik, Namur - Namen and so on. And vice versa. Do you want to visit Mechelen? Then know: the French name of this city sounds like Malin, Berne - Fürn, Ieper - Ypres. It remains unclear why the authorities of the state can not solve this comical and at the same time sad situation by installing bilingual road signs.

Character traits

As for phonetics, Flemish differs from the Dutch language with a number of features in pronunciation (for example, complete absence of a firm attack). For grammar, it is characteristic to consistently separate the three genera with the help of personal pronouns. Also the hallmark of the Flemish language is the abundance of Gallicisms.

Dialects

There are four varieties of Flemish language:

• Brabant dialects;

• East Flemish;

• Western Flemish;

• The Limburger.

Dialects of the last two groups are currently the most used in everyday speech among the population of the country and have the greatest number of differences from the standard Dutch.

In Belgium, the Limburgish is still considered a dialect. Since 1997, in the Netherlands, it has been officially recognized as an independent language, both Dutch and Flemish. Where do they speak the Limburg dialects? This is primarily the southeast territory of the Netherlands, as well as the north-eastern part of Belgium.

Western Flemish dialects are used by the population living in the west of Flanders. The wide distribution of this group is explained by the movement of local writers of the second half of the XIX century, which actively resisted the introduction of the standard Dutch language.

Holiday of the Flemish Community

This celebration falls on July 11th. In 1302, the famous Battle of Kurtrei took place between the Flemish and French knights. The latter encroached on the territory of Flanders and its language. The Flemish people boldly rose to defend their home country by organizing a militia of crossbowmen and archers. Flanders won an unconditional victory in this battle.

So far, in modern Belgium, celebrated the holiday of a united Flemish community. On this day there are costumed parades and theatrical performances designed to remind citizens of the price of independence and of their brave ancestors who fought for it.