One Nation, One Language? The Case of Belgium

Authors: Vogl, Ulrike¹; Hüning, Matthias²

Source: Dutch Crossing: Journal of Low Countries Studies, Volume 34, Number 3, November 2010 , pp. 228-247(20)

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Abstract:

In this article the linguistic situation in Belgium and its historical development is discussed. The country has often been called a role model for the linguistic future of Europe because of its alleged success in granting equal rights to its French and Dutch language communities while preserving political unity. This paper, however, argues that Belgium is an example of a European region where the struggle for linguistic rights led from the establishment of monolingual territories (Flanders and Wallonia), to an opposition to individual bilingualism and finally to communicative 'isolation' of its language communities. This claim is based on a critical account of language use in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Flanders and of language ideologies in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Belgium.

Keywords: FLEMISH MOVEMENT; SOCIO-LINGUISTICS; BELGIUM; BILINGUALITY

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/030965610X12820418688570

Affiliations: 1: Niederländische Philologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45 D-14195 Berlin;, Email: uvogl@zedat.fu-berlin.de 2: Niederländische Philologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Habelschwerdter Allee 45 D-14195 Berlin;, Email: matthias.huening@fu-berlin.de

Publication date: 2010-11-01

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