Flemish Vlaam
Pronunciation:	flaam
Spoken in:	Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany
Region:	Europe
Total speakers:	6.1 million
Language family:	—  Flemish
Official status
Official language of:	Belgium
Regulated by:	regional parliament of belgium
Language codes
ISO 639-1:	Fl
ISO 639-2:	flem
ISO 639-3:	vdf
Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode.

Flemish (Vlaams in Dutch), as the general adjective relating to Flanders, can refer to the speech of the Flemings, inhabitants of Flanders, though for the Flemish Community^[1], Algemeen Nederlands (Common Dutch) is the official name of the standard language hence in English referred to as standard Dutch. 'Flemish' is the term for a limited group of non-standardized dialects ; the widespread contemporary usage for 'Dutch as spoken in Belgium' (in particular the Flemish Region and Brussels-Capital), is not considered correct by linguists, since boundaries between relevant areas of distinct groups of historical dialects do not at all coincide with the national borders.^[2][3] Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... Current distribution of Human Language Families A language family is a group of related languages said to have descended from a common proto-language. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... ISO 639-1 is the first part of the ISO 639 international-standard language-code family. ... ISO 639-2 is the second part of the ISO 639 standard, which lists codes for the representation of the names of languages. ... ISO 639-3 is an international standard for language codes. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Unicode is an industry standard allowing computers to consistently represent and manipulate text expressed in any of the worlds writing systems. ... Anthem De Vlaamse Leeuw (The Flemish Lion) Location of Belgian Flanders in Europe The Flemish Region Capital Brussels Official languages Dutch1 Recognised regional languages Flemish: Dutch Brussels: French and Dutch Government  -  Minister-President Kris Peeters Area  -  Total 13,522 km²   sq mi  Population  -  2006 [1] census 6,078,600   -  Density... Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) are inhabitants of Flanders in the widest sense of the term, i. ... the Flemish community has jurisdiction over Flanders and over the Dutch language institutions in Brussels. ... Dutch (  ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 23 million people, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname, but also by smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. ... A standard language (also standard dialect or standardized dialect) is a particular variety of a language that has been given either legal or quasi-legal status. ... Dutch ( (help· info)), sometimes referred to as Netherlandic in English, is a Low Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium (2005 [1]). Dutch spoken in Flanders (Vlaanderen), the northern part of Belgium, is sometimes referred to as Flemish (Vlaams). ... A standard language (also standard dialect or standardized dialect) is a particular variety of a language that has been given either legal or quasi-legal status. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. ... The Flemish region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium (alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region). ... The Brussels-Capital Region (French: R gion de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, German: Region Br ssel-Hauptstadt) or Brussels Region (French: R gion Bruxelloise, Dutch: Brusselse Gewest) is one of the three regions of Belgium. ... Linguistics is the scientific study of language, which can be theoretical or applied. ...

Different linguistic meanings of Flemish

To the term Flemish, as a linguistic notion, several meanings can be given:

• The variants of standard Dutch as generally perceived from speakers or writers of 'Common Dutch' that are native to the Belgian regions Flanders or Brussels-Capital;
• The non-standardized dialects as spoken in the present region Flanders, often perceived as related;

Note: for linguists however, these are part of three distinct groups:

1. the dialects of Limburgish, a regional language or dialect group spoken in an area corresponding to several historical territories, at present roughly the provinces Limburg (the Netherlands) and Limburg (present region Flanders, in Belgium), and adjacent parts in Germany,^[4]
2. the dialects of the former duchy named Brabant which once covered the provinces North Brabant (the Netherlands), Antwerp and Flemish Brabant (present region Flanders), the Brussels-Capital region, and —historically because the original dialects have become (all but?) extinct— the now French-speaking province Walloon Brabant (present region Wallonia, in Belgium),
3. the dialects of the former countship named Flanders, which once covered the provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders (present region Flanders), Zeelandic Flanders (province of Zeeland in the Netherlands), and French Flanders (départements Nord and Pas-de-Calais in France);^[5]

• The non-standardized dialects of the former countship of Flanders (see here above), a proper usage of 'Flemish' to linguists;
• The non-standardized dialects of the provinces of West Flanders, Zeelandic Flanders and French Flanders, as a whole called West Flemish by linguists — compared to East Flemish, less influenced by Brabantian dialects;
• A range of mixes of standard Dutch with non-standardized dialect as individuals may tend to speak outside the most formal and their most familiar local environments, or in a familiar local environment while addressing an audience; or as in particular younger people who may not master a dialect tend to speak in any but the more formal environments.
• Any combination of the above.

Depending on the definition used, Flemish shows more or less important differences with the standard Dutch as officially determined by the Nederlandse Taalunie. Some usages that are common in Belgium, but not in the Netherlands, are recognized as being interchangeably correct, and are therefore correct Dutch, while even in Flanders others are rejected as dialectisms. Dutch (  ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 23 million people, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname, but also by smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. ... Dutch (  ) is a West Germanic language spoken by around 23 million people, mainly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname, but also by smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. ... Limburgish, or Limburgian or Limburgic (Dutch: Limburgs, German: Limburgisch, French: Limbourgeois) is a group of Franconian varieties, spoken in the Limburg and Rhineland regions, near the common Dutch / Belgian / German border. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country, be it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... Capital Maastricht Queens Commissioner L.J.P.M. (Leon) Frissen Religion (1999) Roman Catholic 80% Protestant 3% Area  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water   2,153 km² (9th) 56 km² Population (2006)  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Density 1,131,938 (6th) 526/km² (4th) Inclusion 1839 Anthem In t Bronsgroen Eikenhout ISO NL-LI Official website... Limburg is the easternmost province of Flanders (which is one of the three regions of Belgium), and is located west of the Meuse river. ... Brabant is a former duchy in the Low Countries, and a former province of Belgium. ... North Brabant (Dutch: Noord-Brabant) is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River (Maas) in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west. ... Antwerp is the northernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. ... Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. ... The Brussels-Capital Region (French: R gion de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, German: Region Br ssel-Hauptstadt) or Brussels Region (French: R gion Bruxelloise, Dutch: Brusselse Gewest) is one of the three regions of Belgium. ... Walloon Brabant is a province of Wallonia and of Belgium. ... National motto: Walon todi ! (Walloon forever!) Official languages French, German Capital Namur Minister-President Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe Area  - Total 16,844 km² Population  - Total (2002)  - Density 3,358,560 inhabitants 199. ... Coat of arms of the Counts of Flanders (or a lion rampant sable, armed and langued gules). ... West Flanders (Dutch: West-Vlaanderen) is the westernmost province of Flanders and of Belgium. ... East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. ... Zeeuws-Vlaanderen is the part of the Netherlands (no. ... Capital Middelburg Queens Commissioner drs. ... Nord (French, the north) is a département in the north of France. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties. ... Extent of Dutch in the Arrondissement of Dunkirk, 1874 and 1972 Nord (French term for: North) is a département in the north of France. ... Pas-de-Calais is a département in northern France named after the strait which it borders. ... West Flemish (in West Flemish, Vlaemsch) is a group of dialects, spoken in parts of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. ... East Flemish is a dialect of the Dutch language, which is a Low Franconian language. ... Brabantian or Brabantic (Dutch: Brabants) is a dialect of the Dutch language spoken in Noord-Brabant and in the Belgian provinces of Antwerpen and Vlaams-Brabant and small parts in the west of Limburg. ... Dutch ( (help· info)), sometimes referred to as Netherlandic in English, is a Low Germanic language spoken by around 22 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium (2005 [1]). Dutch spoken in Flanders (Vlaanderen), the northern part of Belgium, is sometimes referred to as Flemish (Vlaams). ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. ...

More about Dutch, Flemish, dialect groups and dialects

"Flemish dialects" as those of the present-day Flanders are often called by the layperson, do not form a unity: i.e. not all of the dialects are much more closely related to each other than to those spoken in the Netherlands. Instead there are several dialect groups, rather corresponding to the former territories of the feudal principalities Flanders, Brabant, and Limburg side by side from west to east. These were cut into northern and southern parts by separations of the Southern Netherlands and later Belgium. A few centuries of separate political life did generate quite some idiomatic differences in official language and various dialects, but linguists consider these isogloss bundles to be minor as to them, the dialects hardly underwent grammatical changes and not significantly more even in vocabulary — a point of view that may lead laypeople to sometimes wonder whether linguists ever overheard a proper conversation in an authentic dialect. Indeed in the company of outsiders or non-locals, most dialect-speakers apart from Antverpians tend to 'clean up' their speech towards a middle-of-the-road dialect, or since several decades often tussentaal ('in-between language') as a mix of dialect and standard Dutch is called.^[6] The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ... Isoglosses on the Faroe Islands An isogloss is the geographical boundary of a certain linguistic feature, e. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ...

Standard Dutch has largely replaced local dialects in wide parts of the Netherlands, particularly in the densely populated areas around Amsterdam and The Hague. While still having local dialects, their everyday practical use has become much more limited than of that of dialects in Flanders.

Compared by the speech in the Netherlands, Flemish is notable by nearly each hamlet, village, town, city having preserved its own unique variation in dialect, which born locals may accurately pinpoint to someone's place of origin, even to a specific quarter. This is so throughout the entire Flemish territory, except where communities have been newly founded or their uniqueness severely weakened by a strong foreign language influence or by influx from other dialectical areas. There has been some recent upheaval because the uniqueness and authenticity of many dialects is further endangered by standard Dutch in the media and in education which prohibits children from using dialectical vocabulary in written form and —also typical sounds— in classroom conversation, sometimes extended to the school playgrounds. To stop this trend many areas have started archiving their dialects, special school programs have been started that teach children and adults to speak the local dialect, also there have been promotions to use the dialects more in art, literature and music. The use of dialects appears to gradually become again popular and a source of pride for each community. A quarter is a section of an urban settlement. ...

The dialect groups as these survived in Flanders have a distinct sound and rhythm. The remarkably tonal and notably slower speech of Limburgish people is for more western provinces a traditional source of mockery. Once a television station asked two politicians, one from Limburg, the other from West Flanders, where the fastest speech occurs, to comment on the subject 'Which is better: slower or faster'. The hilarious outcome was that the Limburger, who did speak notably slower, made his point in less than four minutes, while the West Fleming needed over eight to make his — proving that speaking slowly is not bad because what one says is more thought out than when one speaks fast. A similar observation is noticed between the fluent uninterruptable speech of Dutch people in general, and the comparatively hesitating style of many Flemish speakers.

The idea that 'Flemish' was "a language without a literature" separate from Dutch had been maintained by Belgium's francophone ruling class to fence off any threat from growing cries for recognition among the Dutch-speaking majority. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Classification

Flemish can be classified as followed:

• Indo-European
  • Germanic
    • West Germanic
      • Low Franconian
        • Dutch
          • Flemish

The Indo-European languages comprise a family of several hundred related languages and dialects [1], including most of the major languages of Europe, as well as many spoken in the Indian subcontinent (South Asia), the Iranian plateau (Southwest Asia), and Central Asia. ... The Germanic languages in Europe are divided into North (blue) and West Germanic (green and orange) Languages  Low Saxon-Low Franconian (Dutch)  High German (standard German, Schwyzerdütsch)  Insular Anglo-Frisian (English, Scots)  Continental Anglo-Frisian (Frisian)  East North Germanic (Danish, BokmÃ¥l Norwegian, Swedish)  West North Germanic (Nynorsk Norwegian... Low Franconian is any of several West Germanic languages spoken in the Netherlands, northern Belgium, and South Africa. ...

See also

Flemish edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• French Flemish
• Zeelandic
• Flemish literature

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1058x1058, 477 KB) aa Wikipedia logo, version 1058px square, no text Wikipedia logo by Nohat (concept by Paullusmagnus); compare Wikipedia File links The following pages link to this file: Arabic language Talk:Anarcho-capitalism Talk:Algorithm Talk:Anno Domini Talk:The... Wikipedia (IPA: , or ( ) is a multilingual, web-based, free content encyclopedia project, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organization. ... Frans-Vlaams (French Flemish) is a dialect of the Dutch language. ... Position of West Flemish/Zealandic within the Dutch speaking area (Islands only) Zeelandic (Zeêuws in Zeelandic, Zeeuws in Dutch) is a regional language spoken in the Dutch province of Zeeland and on the South Holland island of Goeree-Overflakkee. ... Flemish Literature is literature from Flanders. ...

References

Footnotes

The Flemish region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium (alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Brussels-Capital Region (French: R gion de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, German: Region Br ssel-Hauptstadt) or Brussels Region (French: R gion Bruxelloise, Dutch: Brusselse Gewest) is one of the three regions of Belgium. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML) is a European treaty (CETS 148) adopted in 1992 under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe. ... Anthem Ode to Joy (orchestral)  ten founding members joined subsequently observer at the Parliamentary Assembly observer at the Committee of Ministers  official candidate Seat Strasbourg, France Membership 47 European states 6 observers (Council) 3 observers (Assembly) Leaders  -  Secretary General  Terry Davis  -  Commissioner for Human Rights   Establishment  -  Treaty of London 5... Position of West Flemish/Zealandic within the Dutch speaking area (Islands only) Zeelandic (Zeêuws in Zeelandic, Zeeuws in Dutch) is a regional language spoken in the Dutch province of Zeeland and on the South Holland island of Goeree-Overflakkee. ... Hollandic (Dutch: Hollands) is, together with Brabantic, the most frequently used dialect of the Dutch language. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... The virtually independent county of Hainaut emerged from chaotic conditions at the end of the 9th century as a semi-independent state, at first a vassal of the crown of Lotharingia. ... Hainaut (French; English traditionally Hainault, Dutch: Henegouwen, German: Hennegau, Walloon: Hinnot) is the westernmost province of Wallonia, one of the three regions of Belgium. ...

General online sources

The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Unions member states Where Dutch is spoken The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an international institution for discussing issues relating to the Dutch language. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nederlandse Taalunie or Dutch Language Union is an institution for discussing issues on the Dutch language between three partners: The Netherlands, Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) and Suriname. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Nederlandse Taalunie. Nederlandse Taalunie aka Dutch Language Union. Home page of its website in English, rather different from its site in Dutch
• Taalschrift (monthly publication) (Dutch). Nederlandse Taalunie. Taalschrift home page
  • Ben Salemans (2007-01-29). “Zin in ’n sjmerrie?” - Bargoense geheimtaal in Nederland en Vlaanderen (Secret slang in the Netherlands and Flanders) (Dutch). Taalschrift (monthly publication). Nederlandse Taalunie.