>>>I can't imagine English television programmes being subtitled in the
States and vice versa. Flemish drama series are!
Josney comments: European Portuguese soap operas are subtitled in Brazil,
does it make Brazilian Portuguese a new language?
Dutch and Flemish
Flemish far more than a dialect of Dutch
I'd like to congratulate you on the fact that you make a difference between
Dutch and Flemish in your feature on Languages across Europe. Some people
here in Belgium and the Netherlands are still fighting over the question
whether there even is one. Officially Flemish does not exist, but every day
life proves that it does. It pleases me even more that you indicate the
nuances correctly. By the way, I'm Flemish myself.
The question whether Flemish is simply a local variation of Dutch is related
to the similar question whether American is one of English. There is one big
difference however. I can't imagine English television programmes being
subtitled in the States and vice versa. Flemish drama series are! That is an
important indicator of the language being similar, but not quite the same.
It's a fact that most people in Flanders understand Dutch when they speak
their language, but almost none of Dutch initially understand Flemish or
rather what they mean. The grammar and the spelling are identical, but as
far as vocabulary is concerned there is a significant difference. You only
start realising that when you talk to somebody from Holland.
I'd like to add that I find it downright arrogant to label Flemish as a
dialect of Dutch. It's far more than that. Maybe once it used to be only
that, when the French-speaking bourgeoisie ruled the region. But by now, it
is my strong believe that it at least deserves to be treated in the same way
as American English.
Sent by: Sven
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