LL-L "Language survival" 2004.04.01 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 01.APR.2004 (01) * 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: Resources

The INSEE (French national institute for statistics) published the results
of a poll held in 1999 about the languages spoken in the North of France
(Picardie in a large sense).

It can be downloaded from url:
http://www.insee.fr/fr/insee_regions/picardie/rfc/docs/IPR125-04.pdf

It covers:
the region Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
with departments
- Nord (includes the Flemish Westhoek)
- Pas-de-Calais
and the region Picardie
with departments:
- Aisne
- Oise
- Somme.

As to the graphic represtatation 3 percent of the Nord department declares
speaking Flemish. For me this is surprisingly high, since the Flemish
speaking area is concentrated and just covers part of the single
arrondissement of Dunkerque.

In the comments the report mentions the shift of younger people having
English as second language, rather than one of the old regional languages.

In the Nord Arabic+Berberic is spoken by 5 percent and Picard by 10 percent.

Picard is doing very well in the Somme and Pas-de-Calais, and poor in the
Aisne and Oise departments.

As to the distribution over social classes / professions, Flemish is rather
evenly distributed.

I must say, I did not expect that relatively high outcome for Flemish. I'm
often in the area, and my personal impression and experience is that Flemish
over there is as good as dead.

Regards,

Roger

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Language survival

Hi, Roger!

Thanks for sharing the survey results (above).

Although I very much hope that Flemish is still doing that "well" in
Northern France as the survey claims, I must caution you against
wholeheartedly believing such survey results.  Survey results are only as
good as the questionnaires that were used, and they are only as trustworthy
as the subjects.  Oftentimes, "should," "did" and "wish" figure into the
equation.  ("Do you speak Flemish?" - "Well, yes (though I wish I spoke it
well, as my grandma did when she spoke to me as a child." etc.)

Most of the time, people don't really know how to answer questions like "Do
you know Flemish," or even "Do you speak/understand/read/write Flemish?"  Do
I know Scots because I can sort of understand and certainly read it, even
write it and pronounce it (in weird sort of a manner)?  I would have to say
"no," unless the questions were more specific and dealt with levels of
proficiency.  But, if I were, say, of Scottish background, very proud of my
Lowlands heritage and *wanted* to be able to know Scots (as a symbol of my
Scottishness), I might feel much more inclined to say "yes" (keeping the
"but badly" part to myself).

You need to bear this sort of thing in mind when dealing with the French
survey, or with any other language survey for that matter.  Many Westhoek
residents may still associate with being Flemish, and they may know Flemish
on some level or other, but they may also overestimate their proficiency
because of wishful thinking.   I think that a lot of this went on when they
tried to figure out how many people still knew Lowlands Saxon (Low German)
in Germany and in the Netherlands.  Estimates are all over the place.  Some
people in Germany think they can speak "Platt" when what they really know is
"broad" Missingsch (German with LS substrates) and can say a few stock
phrases in LS.  This is not "knowing" the language.  Such general(ized)
surveys must be taken with a huge grain of salt in my opinion.

I hope I didn't rain on your and Frédéric's parade.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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