LL-L "Language policies" 2003.12.09 (04) [D/E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 09.DEC.2003 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Roger Thijs, Euro-Support, Inc. <roger.thijs at euro-support.be>
Subject: language policies

In "De Standaard" of today (Dec 9):

1. "Kiss and ride" illegal in English
2. Flemish government doesn't understand federal government Dutch
3. European election set-up illegal or not

Further: in "Gorik, driemaandelijks blad over Brussel" 2003 nr. 3

4. "Mohammed, mayor of Brussels"
----

1. "Kiss and ride illegal" in English

A complaint against the municipality of "Sint Kathelijne Waver" was
supported by the VCT (Vlaamse Commissie voor Taaltoezicht ) cf.
http://www.n-va.be/programma/standpunten/Persberichten_detail.asp?ID=1594
and forced the governor of the Province of Antwerp to start an action
against the municipality.

The municipality placed boards with the "Kiss and ride" text in English in
the zones where parents drop their kids at schools. Since traffic signs are
considered to be equal to official communications, they have to obey enacted
laws on use of language by the local administration. The office "Taaladvies"
of the "Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap" is looking fir a decent
translation.
Proposals circulating:
"zoen- en zoefstrook, afzetstrook, uitstapstrook, afscheidzone"
---

2. Flemish government doesn't understand federal government Dutch

Even in a bilingual country the stupidity happens that official translations
are made by someone, who didn't have the destination language as mother
language, what I think is an absolute must for professional translators.

The Flemish government got a text from the federal government for advice.
The text most probably had an original in French when discussed on federal
tables. The Dutch translation has clearly been done afterwards by someone
who eventually helps him selves with some Dutch, but who certainly is not
capable of translating.

Some samples:

Toxische belasting is de fysische grootheid die verkregen wordt door
vermenigvuldiging van de maximale duur van de blootstelling aan de
gevaarlijke concentratie met de concentratie van toxische stof in de lucht
met een bepaald vermogen en kenmerk van de stof.

De zware ingevallen zitten te paard tussen de verschillende
bevoegdheidsniveaus.
---

3. European "election set-up" illegal or not

The Flemish parliament will most probably adopt a motion complaining about
the illegality of the set-up for European elections in Belgium.

It is all about the election district "Brussels-HalleVilvoorde".

When the split-up of this country into regions was set-up, no majority could
be found for splitting the election district "Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde" in a
part belonging to the Brussels capital region and a part "Halle-Vilvoorde",
belonging to the province of "Vlaams Brabant", part of the region
"Vlaanderen".

Political background is that French-speaking political parties want to
continue getting votes from French speaking minorities in the Flemish
villages (arrondissement Halle-Vilvoorde) around Brussels.

The combined election disctrict "Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde" has already be
judged to be unconstitutional by the "Arbitragehof" (competent for checking
consistency of laws with some articles of the constitution), but no
qualified majority can be found for splitting this election district.

The combined district may be advantageous for Flemish people too, I think.
Flemish people from within Brussels can be elected thanks to votes from
"Halle-Vilvoorde". This may be theory though, since Flemish people from the
"province" do not like Brussels "kiekefretters" (chicken eaters; "fretten"
is much stronger than "eten") very much.
---

4. "Mohammed, mayor of Brussels"

For the moment there is much controversy about giving voting rights to non
naturalized, eventually includuing illegal, immigrants.
The magazine "Gorik" clearly belongs to those who have problems with it.

The result may be we get a burgomaster, belonging to a "small national"
minority, elected and nominated in our capital town.
I think this is not very exceptional though, and is a normal result of the
composition of the residential population of many capitals. Native people
flee from the capital cities everywhere.

Regards,
Roger

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