Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:01 am Post subject: Re: Flemish
bruce wrote:
I was researching the Flemish language and was confused as to what it is!
Okay, Flemish is the language spoken in Flanders, but websites say that it is a variant of Standard Dutch.
This is what I gathered:
Flemish is spoken by the Dutch speakers in Flanders, Belgium.
Flemish is a dialect of Dutch.
Is that right?
Is Flemish mutually intelligible with Standard Dutch?
Why does Flemish merit its own name if it just another dialect?
Because of historical and political reasons. But, Flemish is in fact, just a dialect of Dutch. Low Saxon is often called a dialect of Dutch on the Dutch side of the border, and a German dialect on the other side of the border, but is in fact a seperate language indeed. It's largely arbitrary. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Being Flemish, I just had to answer Bruce's question about Flemish.
Flemish is indeed spoken in the Northern part of Belgium and is one of the official languages of Belgium (French, Dutch and German). In Flanders we all learn A.N. (Algemeen Nederlands) at school, which is Dutch also taught in the Netherlands. It is exactly the same language.
There are only two differences between Dutch and Flemish:
- the accent (you can immediately tell when you're talking to a Dutch or a Flemish person) - I guess you can compare it to French spoken in Canada and French spoken in France, or the difference between English English and American English and Australian English.
- the second difference : we, Belgians, have quite some french vocabulary and a kind of archaïc way of putting things (because of the french influence) and kind of a reserved way of putting things.
If you like to hear the difference in pronunciation, I invite you both to the International Forum - Dutch section - where you can find some links.
Kind regards,
Nadine _________________ Lovers don't finally meet.
They are in each other all along.
Rumi
Being Flemish, I just had to answer Bruce's question about Flemish.
Flemish is indeed spoken in the Northern part of Belgium and is one of the official languages of Belgium (French, Dutch and German). In Flanders we all learn A.N. (Algemeen Nederlands) at school, which is Dutch also taught in the Netherlands. It is exactly the same language.
There are only two differences between Dutch and Flemish:
- the accent (you can immediately tell when you're talking to a Dutch or a Flemish person) - I guess you can compare it to French spoken in Canada and French spoken in France, or the difference between English English and American English and Australian English.
- the second difference : we, Belgians, have quite some french vocabulary and a kind of archaïc way of putting things (because of the french influence) and kind of a reserved way of putting things.
If you like to hear the difference in pronunciation, I invite you both to the International Forum - Dutch section - where you can find some links.
Kind regards,
Nadine
Welkom Nadine!
So Flemish = Belgium Duch
As Quebec French = French?
You can find me in the Dutch section most of the time. Ik hoop je daar te mogen verwelkomen.
BTW, I found the link to Langcafé in the advertisement section of this forum of which I'm a member for over 3 years now. Thanks Irrintzi for the link .
And thanks both Porthos and Irrintzi for the warm welcome !
I think I'll like it here and will visit often.
See you both around !
Nadine _________________ Lovers don't finally meet.
They are in each other all along.
Rumi
Belgen hebben een leuk accent vind ik, Ik woon zelf in het zuiden van Nederland en kom vaak Belgen tegen. _________________ My site:http://www.AntonKemmeren.com
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