Belgium language. Official languages ​​of Belgium

Belgian Shepherd tongues, Belgian waffle tongues
Dutch, French, German

Regional

Walloon, Lorraine (Romanesque and Frankish), Luxembourgish, Champagne, Picard

Main languages ​​of immigrants

English, Turkish, Russian

Keyboard layout AZERTY
Provinces of Belgium

The majority of the Belgian population consists of two ethnic groups: Flemings (about 60% of the population) and Walloons (about 40% of the population), who speak Dutch and French respectively. Along with them official language recognized as German, used by the German-speaking community in eastern Belgium. English, although not an official language, is quite widely spoken in Belgium. Minority languages ​​include the languages ​​of Yenish, Manush and Roma.

  • 1 History
  • 2 Language communities of Belgium
    • 2.1 Flemish Community
    • 2.2 French Community
    • 2.3 German community
  • 3 See also
  • 4 Notes

Story

After Belgium gained independence in 1830, it was a French-oriented state, and the only official language at first was French, although the Flemings always formed the majority of the population. Even in Flanders for a long time French remained the only language of the middle and higher education. Dutch only became the kingdom's second official language in 1873.

After the end of the First World War, a movement for self-determination of the Dutch-speaking population began in Belgium. The so-called “language struggle” arose. It began to bear fruit in the 60s of the 20th century. In 1963, a number of laws were passed regulating the use of languages ​​during official events. In 1967, an official translation of the Belgian constitution into Dutch was published for the first time. By the 1980s, both main languages ​​of the country were effectively equal in rights. In 1993, Belgium was divided into federal regions. The only official language in the Flemish region is currently Dutch.

Despite achievements achieved, language problems still lead to escalating tensions between the two main groups of the country's population. Thus, in 2005, the problem of dividing the bilingual electoral district of Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde almost led to the resignation of the government and a political crisis.

Language communities of Belgium

Flemish Community

Main article: Flemish Community Main article: Dutch in Belgium

The Flemings live in the five northern provinces of Belgium - Flanders (Antwerp, Limburg, East and West Flanders, Flemish Brabant), bordering the Netherlands, and speak the Dutch language and its many dialects. They form the Flemish Community (Dutch Vlaamse Gemeenschap) and have their own governing bodies in the fields of culture and education.

French community

Main article: French Community of Belgium Main article: French in Belgium

The Walloons live in the five southern provinces that make up Wallonia (Hainaut, Liège, Luxembourg, Namur, Walloon Brabant) and speak French, Walloon and several other languages. They are united in the French Community (French Communauté française de Belgique).

The two largest linguistic communities share the Brussels-Capital Region.

German community

Main article: German-speaking community of Belgium

The German-speaking community (German: Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgiens) is the smallest of the language communities in Belgium. It is located in the province of Liege and borders the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It consists of nine municipalities where representatives of the German-speaking minority live compactly.

See also

  • French in Flanders
  • Languages ​​of Brussels
  • Belgian language border
  • Belgian language benefits

Notes

  1. Daria Yuryeva. Cabbage cutting took place in Brussels. Russian newspaper(April 3, 2007). Retrieved August 13, 2010.
  2. There are definitely more than 50,000 of us. We count the number of compatriots in Belgium
  3. Étude de législation comparée n° 145 - avril 2005 - Le stationnement des gens du voyage
  4. Officiële site van de Vlaamse overheid
  5. Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
  6. Die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft

Belgian Shepherd tongues, Belgian waffle tongues, Belgian griffin tongues, Belgian beer tongues

Languages ​​of Belgium Information About

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Books

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Currently, the bulk of the population of Belgium is divided into two large groups - a group of Flemings who speak Dutch, and a group of Walloons who speak French. Also in the east of Belgium there are quite a few large group Germans, therefore German is also recognized as the official language in Belgium. English is also quite widespread in Belgium, although it is not recognized as the official language of the country. Belgium also has a decent number of Roma people, so gypsy language quite common here.

Flemish group in Belgium

There is a Flemish Community in Belgium. It has its own Parliament, where the Flemings have the opportunity to make decisions affecting their community. They also have their own television, radio broadcasting, education (with the exception of awarding academic degrees), culture, and sports. The Flemish Community includes the Flemish region and most of the Belgian capital Brussels. The Flemings speak Dutch.

Walloon group in Belgium

This is a French-speaking community in Belgium. It includes Wallonia and part of the Belgian capital Brussels. In total, the Walloon group numbers about five million people.

The French Community has its own Parliament, as well as a Government and a Minister-President. In general, the powers of the French-speaking Belgians are somewhat broader than those of the Flemish community. The Walloons also have their own education, culture, television, radio broadcasting, sports, healthcare, youth policy.

German group in Belgium

It is the smallest language community in Belgium. Its population is just over seventy thousand people. The entire German-speaking population is located in the eastern part of Belgium and borders Germany and the state of Luxembourg. The capital of the German-speaking community is the city of Eupen.

Previously, the Eastern Cantons, where Belgian Germans now live, belonged to Prussia. After World War I, the Germans gave these settlements to Belgium as compensation. But in the Second world war Germany recaptured the Eastern Cantons of Belgium and annexed them to the Third Reich. After the end of the war, the lands were returned back to Belgium. It should be noted that the majority of the population of the Cantons considers themselves Germans and belonging to Belgium does not make them happy at all.

The German community also has its own Parliament, but its scope of activity is not as wide as that of the Flemings and Walloons. The powers of Parliament extend to education, health care, culture, youth policy, as well as some social issues.

For centuries-old history States, its borders changed several times, and the composition of the population became more and more diverse each time.

Panoramic view of the canal in the city of Bruges

A significant role in its formation was played by geographical neighbors, whose resettlement not only contributed to the spread of culture, but also led to the mixing of several speech dialects. As a result, the language in Belgium acquired its own flavor and personality.

Belgium is a small country in the center of Europe with a population of 11 million people. Despite the small area and relatively small quantity There is no common language among residents of the country, and society uses the dialects and dialects of neighboring countries for communication. Most widespread The following languages ​​and their branches were received on the territory of Belgium:

  • French;
  • Dutch;
  • German.

Each of them is official, which is confirmed by relevant legislative acts. Belgium, like most European countries, has a multinational composition. However, the majority of its population is formed by only 2 ethnic groups - the Walloons and the Flemings. The first of them are direct descendants of the Gauls and constitute the French Community, while the second have Dutch roots and belong to the Flemish group.

Initially, only one language had official status in Belgium - French, although the majority of the population were Flemings. Initially everything legislative acts, official documents, training programs and facilities mass media were compiled on national language. However, in 1873, thanks to the activity of the Flemish ethnic communities, the Dutch language acquired the official status of the national Belgian language. Despite this, it remained in the shadows for a long time and only after 1963 did it reach the same level as the French one. It was during this period that the government legislated the use of two languages ​​for drawing up official papers and holding events.

Communauté française (French Community): distribution and sphere of influence

French is one of the main languages ​​of Belgium, which has had official status since its independence. Although the majority of the population has always been Flemish, the influence of Walloon culture has been enormous. Therefore, even the numerical advantage of immigrants from the Netherlands did not become a reason for changing the country’s speech policy.

In modern Belgium, the French community makes up about 39–40% of total number local residents. Most of it is located directly near the French border and occupies the entire southern part country, which received the unofficial name Wallonia. It consists of five southern provinces:

  • Liege;
  • Walloon Brabant;
  • Luxembourg;
  • Namur.

It is these five regions that are the Communauté française and occupy almost 60% of total area states. Most of these lands belong to the French-speaking population. It is on their territory that the Picardy, Champagne, Gomish and Walloon dialects, which come from the northern regions of France and are the main ones for communication between people, are most often heard. However, most often on the streets of Communauté française it is the Walloon dialect that is heard, which is the most widespread and easiest to use.

Vlaamse Gemeenschap (Flemish Community): geographical location and diversity of dialects

Since 1873, the Dutch language has acquired the status of a second national language. However, to confirm it legal status it took another 90 years.

Today the Flemings make up about 59–60% of the total population of Belgium and form the corresponding community Vlaamse Gemeenschap. Unlike the Communauté française, which is located in southern regions countries, representatives of the Flemish Group occupy northern regions states are:

  • West Flanders;
  • East Flanders;
  • Antwerp;
  • Limburg;
  • Flemish Brabant.

It is these five provinces that are located on the border with the Netherlands and form one large region called Flanders. Most of the population in this region uses Dutch and its many dialects to communicate. However, Belgian Dutch differs significantly from classic Amsterdam Dutch. In each region of Flanders, people speak different dialects, which are part of the West Flemish, East Flemish, Brabant and Limburgish speech groups.

More information about Flanders can be found here.

IN lately Traditional Dutch is becoming more widespread among young people, and all its dialects are gradually degenerating. Today, most young people practically do not use them in colloquial speech, using only for communication with representatives of the older generation.

Usually the language is main problem for guests of any country, and in Belgium the language acquires special meaning, since it is a symbol of self-determination of different communities. Foreigners coming to Belgium speak French much more often than Dutch; Some visitors traveling to Flanders suggest that by speaking French they are at least partly adapting to Belgian culture. This seems logical, but in Flanders they will most likely be asked to speak English.

Visitors to Wallonia are unlikely to encounter such a problem, although those who speak Dutch may encounter a wall of misunderstanding in the Walloon countryside. In any case, just don't large number Belgians insist on the priority of their language to such an extent that it turns into impoliteness towards guests.

To the outside observer, language issues can be quite entertaining. Very often, Belgians speak to each other in a kind of neutral language, mixing French and Dutch words and adding English phrases to them.
Almost all advertisements are published in two languages. Each community has its own national dishes, special beers and cheeses with names in French or Flemish (it is very close to Dutch). Official forms - they are filled out in triplicate - must be printed in two languages. And sometimes even three, if you count German. The Eastern Cantons of Wallonia have a German-speaking community, adding diversity to this mix of languages.
There is no such linguistic minority in Flanders, although part of the population of East Flanders speaks a dialect that other Flemings have difficulty understanding. In addition, most Belgians speak English. German is also quite widely spoken.



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