Brussels shifted to French because people regarded it as the most prestigious language spoken in Belgium. For many Belgians at the time, speaking French was a prerequisite for access to higher education and the most affluent jobs.
The tension between the two regions only got more intense after Belgium gained independence in 1830 from the Netherlands. French became the official language, which highlighted existing class tensions between the nobility (who generally spoke French) and the Flemish (who were seen as lower-class).
Why was French such a prominent language in the Belgian Revolution?
The revolution in Belgium was against the occupying Dutch, which probably contributes also to make french the prominent language at the time. The educated classes were speaking french, like most of Europe up to the WWI. The workers were speaking the local languages.
What language is spoken in Belgium?
Belgium has been Franconian land with both French and Dutch dialects spoken there. Low Franconian Dutch became the language of middle Francia, French of West Francia and German that of East Francia. And French consisted of different dialects, Wallonian and Picard being two of them.
What is the accent like in Belgium?
And above all, the accent is nothing to fret over. In Belgium, there are three major languages spoken: French, Dutch (aka Flemish) and German. Wallonia, in the south (the bit closest to France), is where French is spoken. In the north (closer to the Netherlands), they speak Dutch.
Why does Belgium have 3 languages?
Historically speaking, the country has had quite a wide variety of rulers, influencing how multilingual and multicultural Belgians are today. Due to their close proximity to these three countries, they have three official languages that divide Belgium into three main regions.
Why do Belgians speak French and Dutch?
In 1830, the Belgians had enough of the Dutch king Willem I and his malarky, and declared themselves independent. The inhabitants of Wallonia, the region that is called ‘Wallonie’, speak French. Brussels, the capital, is officially bilingual: all signs are in both Dutch and French.
Is Belgium mostly French?
Of the inhabitants of Belgium, roughly 59% belong to the Flemish Community, 40% to the French Community, and 1% to the German-speaking Community.
Does Belgium only speak French?
French is one of the three official languages of Belgium alongside Dutch and German. It is spoken natively by around 45% of the population, primarily in the southern region of Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region.
Are Belgian people French or German?
Belgians are made up of two main linguistic and ethnic groups; the Dutch-speakers (called the Flemish) and the French-speakers (mostly Walloons), as well as a third tiny but constitutionally recognized group from two small German-speaking areas.
Why is it called Flemish?
‘Flemish’ was historically a geographical term, as all inhabitants of the medieval County of Flanders in modern-day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands were referred to as ‘Flemings’, irrespective of their ethnicity or language.
Why is there no Belgian language?
History created the divisions and the lack of national identity in Belgium. In the 5th Century, the Germanic-speaking, barbarian Franks halted their invasion of the Roman Empire’s Latinized province of Gaul along the line of what is now Belgium, and that frontier, more or less, still divides one language from another.
Why is Belgium half French?
The main reason for Brussels being mainly French-speaking was the low social prestige of the Dutch language in Belgium during the 19th century and the severe discrimination of both Dutch as a language and of the Flemings.
What is Canada called in French?
Canada is translated in French by
Je voudrais l’envoyer au Canada. I would like to send it to Canada. Tu habites au Canada, donc tu es Canadien.
What is Belgium first language?
The primary language in Belgium is Dutch, spoken by approximately 60% of the population. The Flemish dialect is almost identical to the Dutch spoken across the border in the Netherlands, but some differences in vocabulary have led some to refer to the language colloquially as ‘Flemish’.
Is Brussels French or Dutch?
Brussels is bilingual: French and Dutch are the official languages there. Yet Brussels is home to only a minority of Flemish people. This may sound strange, but the reason is simple. For centuries, Brussels was a Dutch-speaking city and today it is still the capital of Flanders.
Can you live in Belgium speaking English?
It isn’t practical to move to Belgium if you don’t want to learn another language. You won’t get very far only speaking English here. If you are English speaking and you are willing to learn another language to live and work here then I would say give it a go.
Can you speak English in Belgium?
Based on these three regions, Belgium has three official languages – English, Dutch, and French. English is however not the primary language of the country. But even if it is not, a large percentage of the population speaks the English language. As such, you can speak it in different situations all over Belgium.
How do you say hello in Belgium?
Most people in Belgium speak French, with a small portion of the Belgian population speaking Dutch (Flemish).
Belgian Phrases.
| Hello: Salut | Pronounced: Sal oo |
|---|---|
| Good Evening: Bonsoir | Pronounced: Bon swar |
| Good Morning/Afternoon: Bonjor | Pronounced: Bon jor |
| Thank You: Merci | Pronounced: Mer see |
Is Flemish and Dutch the same?
Although speakers of English usually call the language of the Netherlands “Dutch” and the language of Belgium “Flemish,” they are actually the same language.
Why is there no Belgian language?
History created the divisions and the lack of national identity in Belgium. In the 5th Century, the Germanic-speaking, barbarian Franks halted their invasion of the Roman Empire’s Latinized province of Gaul along the line of what is now Belgium, and that frontier, more or less, still divides one language from another.
What is Belgium first language?
The primary language in Belgium is Dutch, spoken by approximately 60% of the population. The Flemish dialect is almost identical to the Dutch spoken across the border in the Netherlands, but some differences in vocabulary have led some to refer to the language colloquially as ‘Flemish’.
What is I love you in Belgium?
Ik hou van je.
What languages are spoken in Belgium?
Do people in Belgium speak French or Dutch?
French is spoken by around 40% of Belgians as their primary tongue, while just 1% of the population speaks German as their first language. Many Belgians also speak one or more second languages. 16% speak Flemish Dutch as a second language, 49% speak French and 22% speak German. In fact, Belgium is well ahead of many EU countries when it comes
What is the official language of Belgium?
What Are The 3 Official Languages Of Belgium? British Broadcasting Corporation – Languages – Languages. Languages: French, Dutch, and German are official languages. More than a third of the population uses Wallon, the local variation of French. More than 60% of our population speaks Flemish at home, and Flemish is spoken in northern Germany.
Why does Belgium shine so brightly?
Why does Belgium shine so brightly? Belgium’s penchant for extravagant motorway lighting is suddenly in the spotlight thanks to pictures posted by French astronaut Thomas Pesquet. The images of Europe taken from the International Space Station (ISS) have notched up tens of thousands of reactions on Facebook. Belgium can be seen glowing more brightly than its neighbours.