Languages In Belgium Research Paper

1029 Words5 Pages

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE USED IN BELGIUM? Basha’er Safadi Spring 2018 This research paper includes information about the languages and the varieties that are used in Belgium. It, also, include the reason why people in Belgium are using more than one language and what are the social factors and the dimensions that affect the choice of using the appropriate language or variety. According to the latest United Nations estimates of 2018, the current population of Belgium is about 11 million. Belgium is a trilingual and a federal country; that consists of four different language communities which are: the Dutch-speaking community it is called Flanders and they constitute of 58% of the population, the French speakers it is called Wallonia …show more content…

French dominates in southern areas and in the capital, whereas Dutch is more prominent in the north. Because of these divisions between countries each society or community speech has the right to use its official language. For example, in Brussels, which is a bilingual community, as Willemyens has mentioned in his article that “one’s official language is not a matter of personal choice but of the territory one lives in” (254). In Flemish community the language of the instructions and of the public administration is Dutch. In French community the language of education instructions is French. The main Dutch dialects that are used in Belgium are Brabantian, West Flemish, East Flemish and Limburgish. The political situation effect on language is obviously seen in Belgium, as when the French forced its dominant on the capital city of Belgium bilingualism has been limited, Willemyens claimed that “Individual bilingualism continued to exist but must be limited to only part of the upper and middle classes” (257), he added that …show more content…

Even when the French period ended and Dutch dominance returned back the French privilege position in administration, law, education, and the citizens whose French language is mother tongue language Brussels remains bilingual state. Flanders dialect has been used by 85% of the Flemish student; this is a result of an investigation which carried out by Roland Willemyens (262). In addition, the Flanders dialect is used in communication between people that belong to the same geographical background “whether or not they belong to the same social class” (Willemyens 263). The solidarity to one origin and mother tongue “overcomes the difference in social class and even the formality of many situations”(Willemyens 263). German speaking communityis very small one and they are minority to French and Dutch, however as Boer mentioned that German speakers “are officially recognized as a national language minority” (1). English, also, is used as a third language and people mainly use it in work environment. Thus, English language is used for education,

Open Document