3 Official Tongues and Lots of Linguistic Diversity
For contacts with the authorities three official languages can be used: Dutch, French and German. These languages are not spoken everywhere, because Belgium is subdivided into federated states. Each federated state has its own official language. Only the Brussels-Capital Region is bilingual.
What are the official languages of Belgium?
Like any other country, Belgium also has official languages. These are Dutch, French and German. These three languages are spoken in areas that are more or less delineated. Mid-last century, language areas were delineated on the basis of language use.
What is the difference between the Dutch and French languages in Belgium?
The Dutch and French spoken in Belgium have minor differences in vocabulary and semantic nuances from the varieties spoken in the Netherlands and France. Dutch dialects are common but dialects such as the Walloon language, Picard or Limburgish are not used in public life any longer.
Which is the Belgian national language with the fewest speakers?
The Belgian national language with the fewest speakers is German. For this language, Belgium is home to just 75,000 primary language speakers, almost all of whom reside in the eastern region of Liege, situated next to Belgium’s border with Germany.
Is there a German community in Belgium?
Further information: German language German is the least prevalent official language in Belgium, spoken natively by less than 1% of the population. The German-speaking Community of Belgium numbers 77,000, residing in an area of Belgium that was ceded by the former German Empire as part of the Treaty of Versailles, which concluded World War I.
What language do most people speak in Belgium?
What are the official languages of Belgium?
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. A number of non-official minority languages are spoken as well. As no census exists, there are no official statistical data regarding the distribution or usage of Belgium’s three official languages or their dialects. However, various criteria, including the language(s) of parents
Which language do they speak in Belgium?
Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French.English, however, is not the primary language they speak in the country. But even if it is not, a large percentage of the population speaks English.As such, you can speak the language in many situations all over Belgium A large number of Flemish and French speakers can speak and understand a second language.
Do they speak English in Belgium?
The capital region of Brussels is bilingual, so Belgians normally speak French and Flemish fluently. Normally locals also speak English. Belgium has three official languages: French, Dutch and German. In Belgian schools the official two languages taught are French and Dutch, so the majority of Belgians are bilingual.