LL-L: "Walloon" [E] LOWLANDS-L, 08.JUN.1999 (02)

Tue Jun 8 14:20:35 UTC 1999

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From: "matthias e. storme" <matthias.e.storme at vlaanderen.org>
Subject: WALLOON

I found this message on  "BELGIUMROOTS" <BELGIUM-ROOTS-L at rootsweb.com>

Although Walloon is a Romance language, it may be of interestto lowlanders.

>From: "schoovjose" <schoovjose at worldonline.be>
>Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 15:35:00 +0200
>HELLO TO YOU ALL,
>For the past two months now (don't you remember my message ? See below.) I
>haven't spoken about the Walloon language here on Belgium-Roots.
>Why ? Because I got so many valuable informations on living persons still
>speaking the old language in the USA that, I must admit, I was not able to
>handle them all by myself.
>Since then, I have sought out the help of bilingual Belgian citizen
>prepared and qualified to give a hand. It was not an easy task but I now
>have the pleasure (the dream is beginning to be true !) now to announce to
>you the creation of a brand new list dedicated to the research of all
>traces of
>the Walloon language in the World and, mainly in Wisconsin.
>(That's where the most people are found who still speak Walloon within a
>limited area.)
>This new list will not interfere with the goal of Belgium-Roots. There will
>be no genealogy on it (but maybe you'll find on it a relative ?)  .
>On WorldWideWalloons (WWW), we'll only speak about culture, song, arts,
>history, etc... and mostly about the old Walloon language still in use in
>the Belgian people abroad.
>Walloon was not written by the emigrants in the old days so we'll also use
>English (French and, why not other languages) on the list BUT, it is not
>impossible that you might some day find a course of Walloon on it.
>There are already some people in Green Bay who want
>to study the language to be better able to collect their parents' memories
>and cultural heritage...
>Now, if you have Walloon ancestors or are interested in this language ( or
>just curious ?) don't wait any longer. Go to
>http://users.skynet.be/bs302306/worldwidewalloons
>and follow the instructions to be enlisted in a tremendous new cultural
>adventure.
>Now, on WORLDWIDEWALLOONS, you will see what we are trying to do for the
>rebirth/renewal of a very old, and still in use, language.
>In advance, welcome to you !
>Jose
>
>--------------------------
>Copy of the message of the 23.03.1999 :
><<<<<<<<Hello all!>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>For the past 7 months I have been using the internet to try and find
>American descendants of Walloons, located in the USA. I am looking for those
>who still speak Walloon.  It seems there are still some able to do it.
>Especially in Wisconsin, in the area of Green Bay.  Among them, some might
>even read it, even though few might be able to write it.  That would not be
>surprising as even here, in Belgium, that is the case.  Why here? Because,
>in Wallonia, for more than a century, the old language has been forsaken in
>favor of French. Still some have tried to keep it alive. For a few years
>now, there have been Schools for adults who want to re-learn it. Now some
>would also want to teach it to the children.
>I am convinced that some words, some expressions were better preserved in
>the communities of Belgian emigrants in the USA.  About 20 years ago, Lucien
>Léonard re-established ties between them.  Documents were even collected,
>among which the recording of songs (Vandertie for example) or of
>conversations. This was done with the help of the Wallonie-Wisconsin
>Association. Unfortunately, since the passing of Lucien Léonard, the
>exchanges seem to have become somewhat limited to tourism.  In Wisconsin,
>the younger generations don't seem to speak Walloon either.  The older
>generation is getting older. The traditions maight soon be lost for ever!
>I would like, if there is enough time left, to preserve these traditions.
>To achieve this goal, I need your help.
>I would need for you to take the time to record your elders. The best way
>would be to get them to tell you stories of when they were growing up,
>stories about their parents. And this, even if you can no longer understand
>Walloon!
>Let them talk, rather make them talk. It is urgent !  Without your help, all
>this experience will be lost for ever!  Treasure these recordings as you
>would any old document that would have genealogical or family history value.
>This work will no doubt enrich you.
>I would like to promise you that, here, we will take it upon ourselves to
>transcribe all the data you record and then will translate it into English.
>I would like to promise you this and I would do my utmost to see this to its
>completion.  Unfortunately, this is too big an undertaking for just one
>person. I would therefore like to talk others into dedicating some time to
>this work...
>But, please, while there is still time, start to collect as many voices as
>you can. Do it for yourselves.  You will not regret it.  This is what I
>wanted to tell you, the "old Walloons".  I would like to come and see you
>and explain this to you personally. I doubt that it is possible but, who
>knows?
>Meanwhile, thanks to the Web, we can renew ties, rebuilt some bridges too
>long-neglected.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>

--
prof. Matthias E. Storme
matthias.e.storme at vlaanderen.org
fax +32-9-329 51 06
http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/index.html
recht : http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/legal.html
genealogie : http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/genealogy.html
spelling : http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/spelling.html
verbond van vlaamse academici : http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/vva.html
opiniepagina "diskriminatie" : http://www.ufsia.ac.be/~estorme/discrim.html

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