LL-L: "Language politics" LOWLANDS-L, 29.JUN.2001 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUN.2001 (05) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: frank verhoft <frank_verhoft at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language policy

Beste Laaglanders,

I got this mail via the Linguistics mail group, and I
asked if I could forward it. The author was more than
interested in the LL goup, so maybe he'll join in to
get some reactions to his request/comments.

Met vriendelijke groeten,

Frank Verhoft


Forwarded message:

>>>
Hello,

Would it be fair to say that the linguistic situation
in the Belgian
kingdom is unique? The population is strongly split
between the
Flemish speakers (circa 56%) and the French (c.32%).
Interestingly, less than 10% of the population are
seen as bilingual
and it strikes me that there's a policy of linguistic
segregation there.

Furthermore, the situation is very stable, the
government
recognising both languages but *not* allowing much of
a mixture.
There seems to be little support for the other
language in any one
region, and geographically the communities are very
much split.

It's surprising, because usually one would expect to
find many
bilingual communities and also a favouritism of one
language. This
can be seen in Switzerland, where 'German' dominates
and it's
often necessary to know this language if you're young,
from
another region and want to get on, although for
French-speakers
this isn't so true. There are many bilingual towns on
the language
borders, with varying degrees of official recognition.

Nevertheless, I can't think of an example comparable
to the
Belgium situation off-hand, where there are two
strongly
recognised, segregated, mostly monolingual linguistic
communities. Can anyone else?

Thanks,

John.

http://www.john.stephenson.net
http://www.linguistics.org.uk

"No matter how eloquently a dog may bark, he cannot
tell
you that his parents were poor but honest." ~ Bert
Russell
<<<<
Reinhard/Ron

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