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{{expand Dutch|topic=|otherarticle=Nederlandse dialecten|date=November 2012}} {{expand Dutch|topic=|otherarticle=Nederlandse dialecten|date=November 2012}}
{{Dutch dialects}} {{Dutch dialects}}
'''Dutch dialects''' are primarily the dialects that are both ] with the ] and spoken in the same language area as the ]. They are remarkably diverse and are found within Europe mainly in the ] and ]. '''Dutch dialects and varieties''' are primarily the ]s and ] that are both ] with the ] and spoken in the same language area as the ]. They are remarkably diverse and are found within Europe mainly in the ] and ].


The Dutch province of ] is bilingual. The ], distinct from Dutch, is spoken here along with standard Dutch and the Stadsfries dialect. A West Frisian standard language has also been developed. The Dutch province of ] is ]. The ], distinct from Dutch, is spoken here along with Standard Dutch and the ]. A West Frisian standard language has also been developed.


== Overview map == ==First dichotomy==
]
]<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |author-last=Daan |author-first=Jo |title=Van Randstad tot Landrand |date=1969 |publisher=Noord-Hollandsche Uitgevers Maatschappij |location=Amsterdam}}</ref> and ]<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |editor-last1=König |editor-first1=Ekkehard |editor-last2=van der Auwera |editor-first2=Johan |title=The Germanic Languages |date=2005 |orig-year= 1st published 1994 |edition=Digital print |series=Routledge Language Family Descriptions |publisher=Routledge |location=London / New York |isbn=978-0-415-05768-4}}. Georges De Schutter is the author of the chapter ''Dutch''.</ref>|335x335px]]
]

]
]<ref name=":1" /> and ]<ref name=":2" /> categorised the Dutch dialects in the European parts of Netherlands, Belgium and France. Dutch dialects in the rest of Europe and overseas were not taken into account.
Dutch dialects can be divided into two main language groups:

=== Legend ===

{{legend|#cfe7f2|]}} '''South-western dialect group'''

: 1.&nbsp; ], including ] and ]
: 2.&nbsp; ]


{{legend|#f1cbcb|]}} '''North-western dialect group'''

: 3.&nbsp; ]
: 4.&nbsp; Westhoeks
: 5.&nbsp; ]* and ]*
: 6.&nbsp; ]*
: 7.&nbsp; ]
: 8.&nbsp; ]*
: 9.&nbsp; ], ], ] and ]*

'''*''' The Hollandic dialects denoted with an asterisk are highly influenced by the ] dialect of the ].


{{legend|#e9e0f7|], ]}} '''North-eastern dialect group'''

: 10.&nbsp; ]
: 11.&nbsp; ] and ]
: 12.&nbsp; ]
: 13.&nbsp; ]
: 14.&nbsp; ]
: 15.&nbsp; ]
: 16.&nbsp; Tweants-Graafschaps (both Tweants and Achterhooks)
: 17.&nbsp; Guelderish-Overijssels (], ], Northwest Overijssels, and ])
: 18.&nbsp; ]


{{legend|#c3edce|]}} '''Northern-central dialect group'''

: 19.&nbsp;]


{{legend|#ffe4b5|]}} '''South-central dialect group'''

: 20.&nbsp; ]
: 21.&nbsp; North Brabantian and North Limburgish
: 22.&nbsp; ]
: 23.&nbsp; ]


{{legend|#edf1b9|]}} '''South-eastern dialect group'''

: 24.&nbsp; ], excluding the ] and ] which linguistically belong to the German ]


'''Miscellaneous'''

{{legend|#dbe3e2|FL}} is the ] of ]. It was established out of the former ] by ] in the 1950s and 1960s. Due to its short existence there is no majority dialect spoken, as the inhabitants came from different parts of the Netherlands. The only exception is ], by the population of the former island of ].


⚫ * ''']''' (Dutch: ''Nederfrankisch'') language area in the South and West of the Netherlands (first map to the left).
The blank area (near zone 9 and 10) speak dialects of the ].
⚫ * ''']''' (Dutch: ''Nedersaksisch'') language area in the east of the Netherlands (second map to the left): in ], ], ], major parts of ], and parts of ], ] and ].


===Classifications=== == Classifications ==
In ''Driemaandelijkse bladen'' (2002) the following phonetically based division of dialects in the Netherlands is given:<ref>Wilbert (Jan) Heeringa, ''Over de indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen. Een nieuwe methode getoetst'', in: ''Driemaandelijkse bladen'', jaargang 54, 2002 or ''Driemaandelijkse bladen voor taal en volksleven in het oosten van Nederland'', vol. 54, nr. 1-4, 2002, pp. 111–148, here p. 133f. (Heeringa: → cp. ). In this paper, Heeringa refers to: Cor & Geer Hoppenbrouwers, ''De indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen: Dialecten van 156 steden en dorpen geklasseerd volgens de FFM'' , 2001</ref> In ''Driemaandelijkse bladen'' (2002) the following phonetically based division of dialects in the Netherlands is given:<ref>Wilbert (Jan) Heeringa, ''Over de indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen. Een nieuwe methode getoetst'', in: ''Driemaandelijkse bladen'', jaargang 54, 2002 or ''Driemaandelijkse bladen voor taal en volksleven in het oosten van Nederland'', vol. 54, nr. 1-4, 2002, pp. 111–148, here p. 133f. (Heeringa: → cp. ). In this paper, Heeringa refers to: Cor & Geer Hoppenbrouwers, ''De indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen: Dialecten van 156 steden en dorpen geklasseerd volgens de FFM'' , 2001</ref>
# {{lang|nl|Nedersaksisch}} # {{lang|nl|Nedersaksisch}}
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* Limburg * Limburg
* Northeast Luik * Northeast Luik

==First dichotomy==
{{See also|List of Low Saxon-Low Franconian languages}}]Dutch dialects can be divided into two main language groups:

⚫ * ''']''' (Dutch: ''Nedersaksisch'') language area in the east of the Netherlands (depicted in green in the map on the right): in ], ], ], major parts of ], and parts of ], ] and ]. Together with the Low Saxon variants in Germany it forms the ].
⚫ * ''']''' (Dutch: ''Nederfrankisch'') language area in the south-west of the Netherlands (depicted in yellow in the map on the right).


==Minority languages== ==Minority languages==
Line 121: Line 61:


=== Limburgish === === Limburgish ===
] receives protection by chapter 2 of the charter. In ], where Limburgish is spoken as well, it does not receive such recognition or protection because Belgium did not sign the charter. ] has been influenced by the ] dialects like the ] dialect ] and has had a somewhat different development since the late Middle Ages. ] receives protection by chapter 2 of the charter. In ], where Limburgish is spoken as well, it does not receive such recognition or protection because Belgium did not sign the charter. ] has been influenced by the ] dialects like the ] dialect ] and has had a somewhat different development since the late Middle Ages.


=== Dutch Low Saxon === === Dutch Low Saxon ===
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==Holland and the Randstad== ==Holland and the Randstad==
In ], ] is spoken, but the original forms of the dialect, which were heavily influenced by a West Frisian ] and, from the 16th century, by ] dialects, are now relatively rare. The urban dialects of the ], which are Hollandic dialects, do not diverge from standard Dutch very much, but there is a clear difference between the city dialects of ], ], ] and ]. In ], ] is spoken, but the original forms of the dialect, which were heavily influenced by a West Frisian ] and, from the 16th century, by ] dialects, are now relatively rare. The urban dialects of the ], which are Hollandic dialects, do not diverge from standard Dutch very much, but there is a clear difference between the city dialects of ], ], ] and ].


In some rural Hollandic areas, more authentic Hollandic dialects are still being used, especially north of Amsterdam. In some rural Hollandic areas, more authentic Hollandic dialects are still being used, especially north of Amsterdam.
Line 137: Line 77:


==Extension across the borders== ==Extension across the borders==
* ], spoken in ] (Netherlands), as well as the closely related ] in adjacent ] (Germany), has been influenced by the ] and takes a special position within the ]. * ], spoken in ] (Netherlands), as well as the closely related ] in adjacent ] (Germany), has been influenced by the ] and takes a special position within Dutch Low Saxon.
* ] (Zuid-Gelders) is a dialect spoken in ] (Netherlands) and in adjacent parts of ] (Germany). * ] (Kleverlands) is a dialect spoken in ] (Netherlands) and in adjacent parts of ] (Germany).
* ] ({{lang|nl|Brabants}}) is a dialect spoken in ], ] (Belgium) and ] (Netherlands). * ] ({{lang|nl|Brabants}}) is a dialect spoken in ], ] (Belgium) and ] (Netherlands).
* ] ({{lang|nl|Westvlaams}}) is spoken in ] (Belgium), the western part of ] (Netherlands) and historically also in ] (France). * ] ({{lang|nl|Westvlaams}}) is spoken in ] (Belgium), the western part of ] (Netherlands) and historically also in ] (France).
* ] ({{lang|nl|Oostvlaams}}) is spoken in ] (Belgium) and the eastern part of ] (Netherlands). * ] ({{lang|nl|Oostvlaams}}) is spoken in ] (Belgium) and the eastern part of ] (Netherlands).
Line 151: Line 91:
* ] ({{lang|nl|West-Vlaams}}) including ] in the far North of France, * ] ({{lang|nl|West-Vlaams}}) including ] in the far North of France,
* ] ({{lang|nl|Oost-Vlaams}}), * ] ({{lang|nl|Oost-Vlaams}}),
* ] ({{lang|nl|Brabants}}), which includes several main dialect branches, including Antwerpian, and * ] ({{lang|nl|Brabants}}), which includes several main dialect branches, including Antwerpian, and
* ] ({{lang|nl|Limburgs}}). * ] ({{lang|nl|Limburgs}}).
Some of these dialects, especially West and East Flemish, have incorporated some French ]s in everyday language. An example is ''fourchette'' in various forms (originally a French word meaning fork), instead of ''vork''. Brussels is especially heavily influenced by French because roughly 85% of the inhabitants of ] speak French. Some of these dialects, especially West and East Flemish, have incorporated some French ]s in everyday language. An example is ''fourchette'' in various forms (originally a French word meaning fork), instead of ''vork''. Brussels is especially heavily influenced by French because roughly 85% of the inhabitants of ] speak French.
The Limburgish in Belgium is closely related to Dutch Limburgish. An oddity of West Flemings (and to a lesser extent, East Flemings) is that, when they speak AN, their pronunciation of the "soft g" sound (the ]) is almost identical to that of the "h" sound (the ]), thus, the words ''held'' (hero) and ''geld'' (money) sound nearly the same, except that the latter word has a 'y' /j/ sound embedded into the "soft g". When they speak their local dialect, however, their "g" is almost the "h" of the Algemeen Nederlands, and they do not pronounce the "h". Some Flemish dialects are so distinct that they might be considered as separate language variants, although the strong significance of language in Belgian politics would prevent the government from classifying them as such. ] in particular has sometimes been considered a distinct variety. Dialect borders of these dialects do not correspond to present political boundaries, but reflect older, medieval divisions. The Limburgish in Belgium is closely related to Dutch Limburgish. An oddity of West Flemings (and to a lesser extent, East Flemings) is that, when they speak AN, their pronunciation of the "soft g" sound (the ]) is almost identical to that of the "h" sound (the ]), thus, the words ''held'' (hero) and ''geld'' (money) sound nearly the same, except that the latter word has a 'y' /j/ sound embedded into the "soft g". When they speak their local dialect, however, their "g" is almost the "h" of the Algemeen Nederlands, and they do not pronounce the "h". Some Flemish dialects are so distinct that they might be considered as separate language variants, although the strong significance of language in Belgian politics would prevent the government from classifying them as such. ] in particular has sometimes been considered a distinct variety. Dialect borders of these dialects do not correspond to present political boundaries, but reflect older, medieval divisions.


The ] dialect group, for instance, also extends to much of the south of the Netherlands, and so does ]. West Flemish is also spoken in ] (part of the Dutch province of Zeeland), and by older people in ] (a small area that borders Belgium). The ] dialect group, for instance, also extends to much of the south of the Netherlands, and so does ]. West Flemish is also spoken in ] (part of the Dutch province of Zeeland), and by older people in ] (a small area that borders Belgium).


==Non-European dialects, and daughter languages== ==Non-European dialects, and daughter languages==
Line 164: Line 104:


=== Dutch Caribbean === === Dutch Caribbean ===
The ] are part of the ]. The region consists of the ] (], ] and ]), three overseas ] inside the country of the ], plus three ] inside the Kingdom, namely ], ], and ]. Dutch is one of the official languages in all four of the constituent countries of the Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/dossiers/22/nederlands-in-het-caribisch-gebied-en-suriname |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref> however English and a Portuguese-based creole-language, called ], are the most spoken languages on the Dutch Caribbean.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Statistiek |first=Centraal Bureau voor de |title=Caribisch Nederland; gesproken talen en voertaal, persoonskenmerken |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/82867NED?q=nederlandse%20taal%20gesproken |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |language=nl-NL}}</ref> The Dutch dialects in the Dutch Caribbean differ from island to island. The ] are part of the ]. The region consists of the ] (], ] and ]), three overseas ] inside the country of the ], plus three ] inside the Kingdom, namely ], ], and ]. Dutch is one of the official languages in all four of the constituent countries of the Kingdom,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/dossiers/22/nederlands-in-het-caribisch-gebied-en-suriname |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref> however English and a Portuguese-based creole-language, called ], are the most spoken languages on the Dutch Caribbean.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Statistiek |first=Centraal Bureau voor de |title=Caribisch Nederland; gesproken talen en voertaal, persoonskenmerken |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/cijfers/detail/82867NED?q=nederlandse%20taal%20gesproken |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |date=27 September 2022 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> The Dutch dialects in the Dutch Caribbean differ from island to island.


[[File:Map of the Dutch World.svg|thumb|World map of Dutch-speaking countries: [[File:Map of the Dutch World.svg|thumb|World map of Dutch-speaking countries:
Line 178: Line 118:


=== Suriname === === Suriname ===
] is a Dutch dialect spoken as a native language by about 80% of the population in ]. Dutch is one of the official languages of Suriname.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/dossiers/22/nederlands-in-het-caribisch-gebied-en-suriname |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref> ] is a Dutch dialect spoken as a native language by about 80% of the bilingual population in ]. Dutch is the sole official language of Suriname.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/dossiers/22/nederlands-in-het-caribisch-gebied-en-suriname |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref>

=== Africa ===
] is a ] of Dutch. It evolved mainly from 17th century Dutch dialects (estimated to 90-95%), but had influences from various ] in ]. However, it is still largely ] with Dutch. It is spoken in ], ] and (to a lesser extent) ], ], and ].


=== Indonesia === === Indonesia ===
A part of the elderly population in the former Dutch colony in ], the ], still speaks a Dutch dialect.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia and South Africa - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/informatie/259/indonesia-and-south-africa |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref> ] is still spoken by some older residents in the former Dutch colonies of ], ], where they speak a 19th to 20th century Dutch dialect.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia and South Africa - Taalunie |url=https://taalunie.org/informatie/259/indonesia-and-south-africa |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=taalunie.org |language=nl}}</ref>


=== North America === === North America ===
Until the early 20th century, variants of Dutch were still spoken by some descendants of ]. Nowadays, there are only a few semi-speakers of these dialects left, or the dialect went extinct already. Until the early 20th century, variants of Dutch were still spoken by some descendants of ]. Nowadays, there are only a few semi-speakers of these dialects left, or the dialect went extinct already.
* ], in particular, had an active Dutch community with a highly divergent dialect spoken as recently as the 1950s. The ] dialect was spoken by the so called ] community. * ], in particular, had an active Dutch community with a highly divergent dialect spoken as recently as the 1950s, the ] dialect.
* In ], a derivation of ] is the ]. * In ], the ] dialect is spoken. There were only a few speakers in 2011.
* ] is a now extinct ] language mainly spoken during the 17th century west of ] in the area around the ], by the Dutch colonists who traded with or to a lesser extent mixed with the local population from the ]. * ] is a now extinct ] language mainly spoken during the 17th century west of ] in the area around the ], by the Dutch colonists who traded with or to a lesser extent mixed with the local population from the ].
* ] is a ] variety with influences and elements of Dutch.
* Despite its name, ] is not a Dutch dialect. It is actually German-based.


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
Line 199: Line 134:
==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

* Cornelissen, Georg (2003): ''Kleine niederrheinische Sprachgeschichte (1300-1900): eine regionale Sprachgeschichte für das deutsch-niederländische Grenzgebiet zwischen Arnheim und Krefeld'' {{in lang|de}}
==Bibliography==
* Driessen, Geert (2012): ''''. Nijmegen: ITS. * Driessen, Geert (2012): ''''. Nijmegen: ITS.
* Elmentaler, Michael ( ? ): "Die Schreibsprachgeschichte des Niederrheins. Forschungsprojekt der Uni Duisburg", in: ''Sprache und Literatur am Niederrhein'', (Schriftenreihe der Niederrhein-Akademie Bd. 3, 15–34). {{in lang|de}} * Elmentaler, Michael (1998 ): "Die Schreibsprachgeschichte des Niederrheins. Forschungsprojekt der Uni Duisburg", in: ''Sprache und Literatur am Niederrhein'', (Schriftenreihe der Niederrhein-Akademie Bd. 3, 15–34). {{in lang|de}}
* Frins, Jean (2005): ''Syntaktische Besonderheiten im Aachener Dreiländereck. Eine Übersicht begleitet von einer Analyse aus politisch-gesellschaftlicher Sicht''. Groningen: RUG Repro {{in lang|de}} * Frins, Jean (2005): ''Syntaktische Besonderheiten im Aachener Dreiländereck. Eine Übersicht begleitet von einer Analyse aus politisch-gesellschaftlicher Sicht''. Groningen: RUG Repro {{in lang|de}}
* Frins, Jean (2006): ''Karolingisch-Fränkisch. Die ''plattdůtsche'' Volkssprache im Aachener Dreiländereck''. Groningen: RUG Repro {{in lang|de}} * Frins, Jean (2006): ''Karolingisch-Fränkisch. Die ''plattdůtsche'' Volkssprache im Aachener Dreiländereck''. Groningen: RUG Repro {{in lang|de}}
Line 211: Line 147:
* Tervooren, Helmut (2005): ''Van der Masen tot op den Rijn. Ein Handbuch zur Geschichte der volkssprachlichen mittelalterlichen Literatur im Raum von Rhein und Maas''. Geldern: Erich Schmidt {{ISBN|3-503-07958-0}} * Tervooren, Helmut (2005): ''Van der Masen tot op den Rijn. Ein Handbuch zur Geschichte der volkssprachlichen mittelalterlichen Literatur im Raum von Rhein und Maas''. Geldern: Erich Schmidt {{ISBN|3-503-07958-0}}


==External links==
*


{{Language varieties}} {{Language varieties}}

Latest revision as of 21:37, 20 November 2024

Varieties of the Dutch Language
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This article is a part of a series on
Dutch
Low Saxon dialects
West Low Franconian dialects
East Low Franconian dialects

Dutch dialects and varieties are primarily the dialects and varieties that are both cognate with the Dutch language and spoken in the same language area as the Standard Dutch. They are remarkably diverse and are found within Europe mainly in the Netherlands and northern Belgium.

The Dutch province of Friesland is bilingual. The West Frisian language, distinct from Dutch, is spoken here along with Standard Dutch and the Stadsfries Dutch. A West Frisian standard language has also been developed.

First dichotomy

Low Franconian dialects in Europe
Low Saxon dialects in the Netherlands
Traditional division of Dutch dialects

Dutch dialects can be divided into two main language groups:

Classifications

In Driemaandelijkse bladen (2002) the following phonetically based division of dialects in the Netherlands is given:

  1. Nedersaksisch
    1. Gronings, North Drents, Middle or Central Drents and Westerwolds, Tweants (Gronings en Noord-Drents, Midden-Drents en Westerwolds, Twents)
    2. Zuid-Drents en Noord-Overijssels, Terrassen naar de Twentse kern
  2. Frisian (Fries)
    1. Frisian (Fries)
      1. West Frisian dialects (de Friese dialecten)
      2. Stadsfries, Kollumerlands, Bildts, Stellingwerfs (Stadfries, Kollumerlands, Bildts, Stellingwerfs)
    2. Veluws transitional dialects (Veluwse overgangsdialecten)
  3. Hollandic, North Brabantian (Hollands, Noord-Brabants)
    1. Hollandic (Hollands)
      1. North Hollandic (Noord-Hollands)
      2. South Hollandic and Utrechts (Zuid-Hollands en Utrechts)
    2. North Brabantian (Noord-Brabants)
      1. East Brabantian (Oost-Brabants)
      2. dialects in the Gelders Rivierengebied, West Brabantian (dialecten in het Gelders Rivierengebied, West-Brabants),
  4. North Belgian (Noord-Belgisch)
    1. Central Brabantian (Centraal Brabants)
    2. Peripheral Brabantian (Periferisch Brabants)
      1. Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
      2. Brabantian (Brabants)
    3. Peripheral Flemish (Periferisch Vlaams)
    4. Central Vlaams (Centraal Vlaams)
  5. Limburgish (Limburgs)

Heeringa (2004) distinguished (names as in Heeringa):

Minority languages

See also: Languages of the Netherlands

Germanic languages that have the status of official regional or minority language and are protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the Netherlands are Limburgish, Dutch Low Saxon and West Frisian.

Limburgish

Limburgish receives protection by chapter 2 of the charter. In Belgium, where Limburgish is spoken as well, it does not receive such recognition or protection because Belgium did not sign the charter. Limburgish has been influenced by the Ripuarian dialects like the Cologne dialect Kölsch and has had a somewhat different development since the late Middle Ages.

Dutch Low Saxon

Dutch Low Saxon also receives protection by chapter 2 of the charter. In some states of Germany, depending on the state, Low German receives protection by chapter 2 or 3.

West Frisian

West Frisian receives protection by chapter 3 of the charter. It evolved from the same West Germanic branch as Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon and is less akin to Dutch.

Holland and the Randstad

In Holland, Hollandic is spoken, but the original forms of the dialect, which were heavily influenced by a West Frisian substratum and, from the 16th century, by Brabantian dialects, are now relatively rare. The urban dialects of the Randstad, which are Hollandic dialects, do not diverge from standard Dutch very much, but there is a clear difference between the city dialects of Rotterdam, The Hague, Amsterdam and Utrecht.

In some rural Hollandic areas, more authentic Hollandic dialects are still being used, especially north of Amsterdam.

Another group of dialects based on Hollandic is that spoken in the cities and the larger towns of Friesland, where it partially displaced West Frisian in the 16th century and is known as Stadsfries ("Urban Frisian").

Extension across the borders

Recent use

Dutch dialects and regional languages are not spoken as often as they used to be. Recent research by Geert Driessen shows that the use of dialects and regional languages among both Dutch adults and youth is in heavy decline. In 1995, 27 percent of the Dutch adult population spoke a dialect or regional language on a regular basis, while in 2011 this was no more than 11 percent. In 1995, 12 percent of the primary school aged children spoke a dialect or regional language, while in 2011 this had declined to 4 percent. Of the three officially recognized regional languages Limburgish is spoken most (in 2011 among adults 54%, among children 31%) and Dutch Low Saxon least (adults 15%, children 1%); West Frisian occupies a middle position (adults 44%, children 22%). In Belgium, however, dialects are very much alive; many senior citizens there are unable to speak standard Dutch.

Flanders

In Flanders, there are four main dialect groups:

Some of these dialects, especially West and East Flemish, have incorporated some French loanwords in everyday language. An example is fourchette in various forms (originally a French word meaning fork), instead of vork. Brussels is especially heavily influenced by French because roughly 85% of the inhabitants of Brussels speak French. The Limburgish in Belgium is closely related to Dutch Limburgish. An oddity of West Flemings (and to a lesser extent, East Flemings) is that, when they speak AN, their pronunciation of the "soft g" sound (the voiced velar fricative) is almost identical to that of the "h" sound (the voiced glottal fricative), thus, the words held (hero) and geld (money) sound nearly the same, except that the latter word has a 'y' /j/ sound embedded into the "soft g". When they speak their local dialect, however, their "g" is almost the "h" of the Algemeen Nederlands, and they do not pronounce the "h". Some Flemish dialects are so distinct that they might be considered as separate language variants, although the strong significance of language in Belgian politics would prevent the government from classifying them as such. West Flemish in particular has sometimes been considered a distinct variety. Dialect borders of these dialects do not correspond to present political boundaries, but reflect older, medieval divisions.

The Brabantian dialect group, for instance, also extends to much of the south of the Netherlands, and so does Limburgish. West Flemish is also spoken in Zeelandic Flanders (part of the Dutch province of Zeeland), and by older people in French Flanders (a small area that borders Belgium).

Non-European dialects, and daughter languages

See also: List of countries and territories where Afrikaans or Dutch are official languages and Dutch-based creole languages

Outside of Europe, there are multiple dialects and daughter languages of Dutch spoken by the population in the non-European parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the former Dutch colonies.

Dutch Caribbean

The Dutch Caribbean are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The region consists of the Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba), three overseas special municipalities inside the country of the Netherlands, plus three constituent countries inside the Kingdom, namely Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. Dutch is one of the official languages in all four of the constituent countries of the Kingdom, however English and a Portuguese-based creole-language, called Papiamento, are the most spoken languages on the Dutch Caribbean. The Dutch dialects in the Dutch Caribbean differ from island to island.

World map of Dutch-speaking countries:   Official and majority mother tongue   Official (administrative) but minority language  Afrikaans (daughter language) official  Countries where some knowledge persists

As of 2021 data the percentage of Dutch speakers in the populations of the Dutch Caribbean are:

  • Caribbean Netherlands: 56,8%
  • Bonaire: 76,6%
  • Saba: 33.0%
  • Sint Eustatius: 38.3%

Suriname

Surinamese Dutch is a Dutch dialect spoken as a native language by about 80% of the bilingual population in Suriname. Dutch is the sole official language of Suriname.

Indonesia

Indonesian Dutch is still spoken by some older residents in the former Dutch colonies of Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, where they speak a 19th to 20th century Dutch dialect.

North America

Until the early 20th century, variants of Dutch were still spoken by some descendants of Dutch colonies in the United States. Nowadays, there are only a few semi-speakers of these dialects left, or the dialect went extinct already.

Further reading

  • Bont, Antonius Petrus de (1958) Dialekt van Kempenland 3 Deel Assen: van Gorcum, 1958–60. 1962, 1985

References

  1. Wilbert (Jan) Heeringa, Over de indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen. Een nieuwe methode getoetst, in: Driemaandelijkse bladen, jaargang 54, 2002 or Driemaandelijkse bladen voor taal en volksleven in het oosten van Nederland, vol. 54, nr. 1-4, 2002, pp. 111–148, here p. 133f. (Heeringa: Papers → cp. PDF). In this paper, Heeringa refers to: Cor & Geer Hoppenbrouwers, De indeling van de Nederlandse streektalen: Dialecten van 156 steden en dorpen geklasseerd volgens de FFM , 2001
  2. Wilbert (Jan) Heeringa, Chapter 9: Measuring Dutch dialect distances, of the doctor's thesis: Measuring Dialect Pronunciation Differences using Levenshtein Distance, series: Groningen Dissertations in Linguistics (GRODIL) 46, 2004, (esp.) p. 231, 215 & 230 (thesis, chapter 9 (PDF), alternative source)
  3. Council of Europe: Details of Treaty No.148: European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, see Reservations and declarations
  4. Driessen, Geert (2012). Ontwikkelingen in het gebruik van Fries, streektalen en dialecten in de periode 1995-2011 (PDF) (in Dutch). ITS, Radboud University Nijmegen. p. 3.
  5. "Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie". taalunie.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  6. ^ Statistiek, Centraal Bureau voor de (27 September 2022). "Caribisch Nederland; gesproken talen en voertaal, persoonskenmerken". Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  7. "Nederlands in het Caribisch gebied en Suriname - Taalunie". taalunie.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  8. "Indonesia and South Africa - Taalunie". taalunie.org (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-31.

Bibliography

  • Driessen, Geert (2012): Ontwikkelingen in het gebruik van Fries, streektalen en dialecten in de periode 1995-2011. Nijmegen: ITS.
  • Elmentaler, Michael (1998 ): "Die Schreibsprachgeschichte des Niederrheins. Forschungsprojekt der Uni Duisburg", in: Sprache und Literatur am Niederrhein, (Schriftenreihe der Niederrhein-Akademie Bd. 3, 15–34). (in German)
  • Frins, Jean (2005): Syntaktische Besonderheiten im Aachener Dreiländereck. Eine Übersicht begleitet von einer Analyse aus politisch-gesellschaftlicher Sicht. Groningen: RUG Repro (in German)
  • Frins, Jean (2006): Karolingisch-Fränkisch. Die plattdůtsche Volkssprache im Aachener Dreiländereck. Groningen: RUG Repro (in German)
  • Frings, Theodor (1916): Mittelfränkisch-niederfränkische Studien. I. Das ripuarisch-niederfränkische Übergangsgebiet. II. Zur Geschichte des Niederfränkischen, in: Beiträge zur Geschichte und Sprache der deutschen Literatur 41 (1916), 193–271; 42, 177–248.
  • Hansche, Irmgard (2004): Atlas zur Geschichte des Niederrheins (= Schriftenreihe der Niederrhein-Akademie; 4). Bottrop/Essen: Peter Pomp. ISBN 3-89355-200-6
  • Ludwig, Uwe & Schilp, Thomas (eds.) (2004): Mittelalter an Rhein und Maas. Beiträge zur Geschichte des Niederrheins. Dieter Geuenich zum 60. Geburtstag (= Studien zur Geschichte und Kultur Nordwesteuropas; 8). Münster/New York/München/Berlin: Waxmann. ISBN 3-8309-1380-X
  • Mihm, Arend (1992): Sprache und Geschichte am unteren Niederrhein, in: Jahrbuch des Vereins für niederdeutsche Sprachforschung; 1992, 88–122.
  • Mihm, Arend (2000): Rheinmaasländische Sprachgeschichte von 1500 bis 1650, in: Jürgen Macha, Elmar Neuss, Robert Peters (eds.): Rheinisch-Westfälische Sprachgeschichte. Köln (= Niederdeutsche Studien 46), 139–164.
  • Tervooren, Helmut (2005): Van der Masen tot op den Rijn. Ein Handbuch zur Geschichte der volkssprachlichen mittelalterlichen Literatur im Raum von Rhein und Maas. Geldern: Erich Schmidt ISBN 3-503-07958-0


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