LL-L "Language policies" 2002.09.30 (02) [D/E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 30.SEP.2002 (02) * 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) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Marco Evenhuis <evenhuis at zeelandnet.nl>
Subject: LL-L "Language policies" 2002.09.28 (01) [D/E]

Luc Vanbrabant & Simon Hoare schreven:

> >  In Brussels however, it is only Flemish
> > people who consider it to be a Flemish city.
> Wat historisch dus volkomen fout is. Soms ben  je iets tegen wil en
> dank.

Brussel een Vlaamse stad? Ik dacht dat de
oorspronkelijke taal van deze stad zo Bra-
bants is als Brabants maar zijn kan. Net als
de inwoners. Het etiket 'Vlaams' (als verwar-
rende benaming voor alles wat 'Nederlands-
talig' is in België) in zijn (taal-)politieke con-
text, dateert pas van na de belangrijkste fases
van de verfransing van Brussel. Geen wonder
dat Brusselaars zich daarom afzetten tegen
die recente, politiek beladen naam 'Vlaams'.
Hun aloude Brabantse bijnaam 'ketje' dragen
ze (ook in het Frans) echter nog altijd met trots!

> The point of this is that Flemish has largely (but not
> exclusively)linguistic connotations in Belgium. You cannot be Flemish
> in
> Belgium without speaking Flemish. In France, the connotations are more
> cultural. It is art, architecture, drinking beer rather than wine etc

Again, the people of Brussels simpy cannot
feel themselves Flemings, because they aren't!
Lille was once part of the county of Flanders,
Brussels never was. It was the capital of the
duchy of Brabant.
People form Brussels still consider themselves
to be Brabantish by culture. Their architecture
is Brabantish and they most certainly enjoy
Brabantish cultural festivities as planting the
maypole and the cities procession ('omme-
gank'). And they DO drink (local) beer when
enjoying these festivities ;-)

Within Brabant, there is (almost) no linguistic
connotation. The linguistic connotation only
becomes relevant when one uses the terms
Flanders and Flemish in its more recent
political sense, thus Flanders being the
'Dutch'-speaking north of Belgium and
Flemings being Dutch-speaking inhabitants
of this area.
When you look at this subject from the
original, regional perspective, you'll see that
terms like Brabantish, Limburgish and (out-
side Belgium?) Flemish can most certainly do
without linguistic 'do's and don'ts'.
Again and again one realizes that choosing
the names Flanders and Flemish for the whole
of northern Belgium and all its germanic dialects
and languages isn't a very happy choice at all.

Regards,

Marco

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