Online Encyclopedia
Flemish language
Flemish (in Dutch, Vlaams) is
- any of the dialects of Dutch spoken in Belgium; see Dutch language.
- the language spoken in Flanders is not a separate language, but there are some distinct differences in vocabulary and pronunciation, similar to that between British and American English. On the other hand, the Flemings use exactly the same grammar and orthography as the Dutch. The term is thus usually used to distinguish the Dutch spoken in Flanders from that of the Netherlands.
Further subdivisions include the West Flemish, East Flemish , Antwerp-Brabant and Limburg dialects although these dialect groups are not limited only to the territory of Flanders. For example, West Flemish is spoken in a small part of Northern France and the Netherlands, while both the Antwerp-Brabant group and the Limburg dialects are also spoken in the bordering regions belonging to the Netherlands.
Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45