What is the official language in Belgium. See what "Languages of Belgium" is in other dictionaries
Population
Belgium had a population of 10.4 million in 2008. Population growth is only 0.11%. Due to a decrease in the birth rate, the population of the country has grown by only 6% in 30 years. The birth rate was 10.22 per 1,000 inhabitants, and the death rate was 10.38 per 1,000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate in Belgium is 4.5 per 1,000 people. The migration rate is low - only 1.22 per 1,000 Belgians.
Average life expectancy in Belgium is 79.07 years (75.9 for men and 82.38 for women).
Belgium has a permanent population of approx. 900 thousand foreigners (Italians, Moroccans, French, Turks, Dutch, Spaniards, etc.).
The ethnic composition in Belgium is divided into: 58% Flemings, 31% Walloons and 11% mixed and other ethnic groups.
Indigenous people of Belgium consists of the Flemings - the descendants of the Frankish, Frisian and Saxon tribes, and the Walloons - the descendants of the Celts. The Flemings live mainly in the north of the country (in East and West Flanders). They are blonde and have resemblance with the Dutch. The Walloons live mainly in the south and are similar in appearance to the French.
Religion
Belgian constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
The majority of believers (approx. 75% of the population) are Catholics. Religions such as Islam (250 thousand people) and Protestantism (about 70 thousand people) are also officially recognized. In addition, about 35 thousand people are adherents of Judaism, 40 thousand - Anglicanism, and 20 thousand - Orthodoxy. The church is separated from the state.
Language
Belgium has three official languages.
French is spoken in the southern part of the country, in the provinces of Hainaut, Namur, Liege and Luxembourg, the Flemish version of the Dutch language is in West and East Flanders, Antwerp and Limburg. The central province of Brabant with the capital Brussels is bilingual and is divided into northern Flemish and southern French parts. French-speaking regions of the country are united under common name The Walloon region, and the north of the country, where the Flemish language dominates, is commonly called the Flanders region. In Flanders live approx. 58% of Belgians, in Wallonia - 33%, in Brussels - 9% and in the area of the distribution of the German language, which went to Belgium after the First World War - less than 1%.
After the country gained independence, friction constantly arose between the Flemings and the Walloons, which complicated the social and political life countries. As a result of the revolution of 1830, the task of which was to separate Belgium from the Netherlands, French became the official language. In the following decades, Belgian culture was dominated by French influence. Francophonie strengthened the social and economic role Walloons, and this led to a new upsurge of nationalism among the Flemings, who demanded to equalize their language in status with French. This goal was achieved only in the 1930s after the adoption of a series of laws that gave the status of the state language to the Dutch language, which began to be used in administrative matters, legal proceedings and teaching.
In 1973 the Flemish Cultural Council decided that the Flemish language should be officially called Dutch, not Flemish.
The inhabitants of Belgium are pragmatic and famous for their ability to manage the household. Since Belgium is a highly developed state, the employment structure of the country's residents has some peculiarities: in the industrial sector, the number of employees is gradually decreasing, but employment is growing in such areas as insurance and banking, and trade. So about 97% of Belgians live in cities, in agriculture very few people are employed.
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Belgium does not belong to the countries in which only one people lives. On the contrary, it is a multinational state, in different corners who speak several languages. It is not surprising that a mono-ethnic culture on the territory of this country could not have developed in principle - therefore, a single Belgian language could not exist either.
This is due to two factors:
- Belgian territory has long been inhabited by representatives different peoples. Of course, they wished to preserve their traditions and culture, and the language is an integral part of the latter;
- the state is located at the crossroads of trade routes between Germany, France, England and the Netherlands. It is also worth noting that for Flanders, the northern region of the country, trade with other lands has always been one of the main sources of income.
There are only three official languages in Belgium:
- French;
- Dutch;
- Deutsch.
Besides, Belgians speak a wide range of other languages and dialects.
The linguistic diversity in the country was legalized in 1960, when Belgium was divided according to this principle into three territorial communities: French, German-speaking and Flemish. Next, let's talk about the official languages of Belgium and on which lands each of them is most common.
German is the least widely spoken official language in this country. It is spoken by only about 71 thousand people living in the province of Liege (the population of the entire country, according to Wikipedia, is about 11.3 million people). To be precise, the German-speaking community lives in nine provinces in the east of the country. Its capital is Eupen.
On these lands there was such a linguistic situation, because for 105 years they were part of Prussia, and during the First and Second World Wars they were captured by Germany. However, it is worth noting that during the Second World War, the inhabitants of the eastern Belgian lands met German soldiers as liberators.
At the official level, the use of French is allowed in the German-speaking community, but in general, almost everyone on its territory speaks German - and this is even despite the fact that the country's authorities have been de-Germanizing these lands for quite a long time.
There are no universities in the German-speaking community. Therefore, those who wish to receive higher education at the university you have to go to other regions of Belgium or other states that are part of.
French in Belgium
French remained the only official language in Belgium until the end of the 18th century. Now it is spoken by 4.2 million Belgians, and the French language community occupies most of the country. It occupies almost all of Wallonia except for a few eastern German-speaking cantons and the Brussels-Capital Region.
French is spoken by over 90% of the population of Brussels. However, the language situation in the capital of the country will be discussed further.
French was spoken in the country back in the Middle Ages, but it finally established itself after the power of Napoleon Bonaparte was established on the territory of modern Belgium. The inhabitants of the Romanesque regions quickly assimilated the peculiarities of literary French, but did not completely forget their native dialects.
At the junction of these two language environments and Belgian French was formed. It differs from the classical version by a considerable number of archaisms (in particular, old forms of numerals), borrowings from German, as well as a significant difference in the pronunciation of many words.
The native French do not take Belgian seriously. They joke that when the Belgians talk, the Parisians smile.
Dutch in Belgium
Dutch is spoken in the Flemish region of the country, as well as native speakers in the Brussels-Capital Region. He, in turn, is divided into another 120 dialects (in fact, every 15 kilometers you can hear a different kind of language).
At the same time, at the official level (in the press, education, etc.) in this region, they try to avoid the use of dialects. As a result, their influence on Dutch in Belgium diminished; in particular, young people know them much less than the older generation. Dialects have survived only in certain regions: in Limburg and.
Difference between Belgian and classical Dutch is essential. It is expressed in terms of:
- vocabulary;
- grammar (for example, in the Belgian version of Dutch, diminutive forms of nouns look different, as well as forms of individual irregular verbs);
- phonetics.
Language situation in Brussels
At the end of the 19th century, Dutch speakers made up about 70% of the population of Brussels, but by 2007 Francophones already made up 90% of the residents of the Belgian capital. At the same time, both languages are still used today as in Everyday life, and at the official level: documents, advertising, street names, road signs presented in Brussels in two languages.
At the same time, many Brussels, for whom French is native, they know about the same level as Dutch. There are people who also speak the Brussels dialect (this is Dutch with an admixture of French and Spanish). Obviously, they all mastered 1-2 more languages in the process of communicating with representatives of other communities, as well as traveling to other regions of the country.
It is believed that a person who knows French and Dutch at about the same level is more likely to become successful in Belgian society. That is why children from French-speaking families often attend schools that teach in Dutch.
findings
After reading this article the question of what languages are spoken in Belgium will no longer arise. The official languages in this country are French, Dutch and German and, moreover, the first two are most common.
Initially the only national language The country was French, but in the middle of the 20th century the situation changed. The entire territory of Belgium was divided into carrier communities specific language.
Brussels has a special language situation: The absolute majority of the city's residents speak French, but Dutch is used everywhere along with it. Many Francophones are fluent in Literary Dutch.
Visitors can freely communicate with local residents in English: Belgians have been learning it since childhood. This language is also taught in all educational institutions.
Perhaps, for many tourists, one of the most important questions will be what official language in Belgium.
Despite the small territory, this Kingdom has 3 official state languages. In addition, root uses a large number of other languages and dialects.
. Its history is inseparable from the history of Europe as a whole. For a long time this territory was inhabited by people - carriers various languages and cultural traditions. Their descendants still live here. They are trying to preserve the ancient heritage.
Language for any nation is a means of communication and not only. It is a symbol of self-determination. There are many in Belgium various communities. Guests who come here in our time, French is most often heard on the streets. The second state language is Dutch. In addition, many here speak German and English.
For convenience, all signs, signs and guides are written in two or more languages at once. So you can't get lost here. But when dealing with local population may have problems. Sometimes it is well audible that a person speaks, for example, in English, but it is difficult to make out something. The reason is in the peculiar pronunciation, which is characteristic of a particular dialect.
Commonwealth of Nations
The originality of the peoples living in this small country is expressed not only in pronunciation. Each community has its own National dishes or types of beer. However, most often they differ only in the name, which changes depending on where you decide to try the traditional dish or drink.
Brussels, the capital of the state, has its own capital district. Historically, Belgium is divided into 2 large parts: Wallonia and Flanders.
Wallonia and Flanders
Each of them is divided into provinces. It is easy to guess that both have their own language and dialects. The Walloon region is mostly French-speaking. Dutch is spoken in Flanders. But the metropolitan area often uses French and German in communication.
The situation that exists today in Belgium with the state languages did not appear immediately. According to statistics, the French-speaking population is only about 40%. Most of the inhabitants are Flemings. But long time French was considered the state language, and all official documents, including the constitution, were also written in French. This was the reason for the antagonism within the country.
Flemings for everyday communication always used Flemish and Dutch. It cannot be said that everything was fine when they communicated with French-speaking compatriots. They argued in the communities a lot and often. The indigenous people of the country felt like second-class citizens.
The language of the Flemings over time, under the influence of education and other factors, became more and more like a set of different dialects. It took a lot of effort to bring it into line with literary norms Dutch language.
The Flemish Council for Culture decided that the language should be uniform, and the championship was given to the Dutch. It happened in 1973. And in 1980, it was the Dutch language that became one of the official languages of Belgium. 
In the eastern part of the country, the inhabitants use the German language. This is a small percentage of the population. Of course, they understand their neighbors from other provinces, but all TV shows, newspapers and radio programs are broadcast exclusively in German.
How to be a tourist
For those visiting this European country tourists disputes of philologists can be complex and uninteresting. It is important for them to see the cultural masterpieces left here by the ancient Romans and barbarians. In Belgium, as in any state of Europe, there are sights from the Middle Ages to the present day.
In order to make it convenient to navigate, the names of stops, hotels, shops and road signs are written in several languages.
If it is interesting to get to know the local population and appreciate the uniqueness of traditional culture, you need to know that in addition to European peoples, Belgian gypsies also live here. They are called Yenishi and Manushi. The first are French-speaking. Manush communication style is considered similar to the Swiss dialect of German.
In general, to visit the country it is enough to understand the language of international communication - English. Every Belgian learns it from lower grades schools. All staff serving tourists, and just sellers in shops, also speak English. For the Kingdom of Belgium, this has long become the norm.
Common phrases |
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I'm from Russia | je suis de la Russie | same suy de la russy |
You are welcome | sil wu ple |
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Sorry | ||
Hello | ||
| Goodbye | au revoir | about revvoir |
I don't understand | je ne comprends pas | je ne compran pa |
What is your name? | comment vous appellez-vous? | koman vuzapple-vu |
How are you? | ||
Where is the toilet here? | ou ici la toilette? | do you have a toilet? |
What is the price…? | combien coute...? | harvester kut...? |
One ticket to... | un billet jusqu "à… | en biye juska... |
What time is it now? | quelle heure est-il | kel yor ethyl |
Do not smoke | defense de fumer | defense de fume |
Do you speak English (Russian)? | parlez-vous anglais (russe)? | parle wu angle (rus)? |
| Where is… | ou se trouve…? | at se true...? |
Hotel |
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Can I reserve a room? | puis-je reserver une chambre? | puig reserve young chambre? |
Le Pourboire |
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je voudrais regler la note | or woodray ragle a la music |
|
le passor |
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room, number | ||
Store (shopping) |
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Cash | ||
card | kart de credity |
|
pack | empaquetez tout ca | ampakate tou sa |
No change | san remiz |
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la reducer |
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Very expensive | se tro cher |
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c "est bon marche | Se Bon Marchais |
|
Transport |
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la voiture |
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Stop | ||
Stop here | arete isi |
|
Departure | ||
The airport | lleroport |
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emergency cases |
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Fire Department | le service d "incendie | le service dinsandi |
Ambulance | un ambulance |
|
Hospital | ||
la pharmacy |
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Restaurant |
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Table for one (two, four) | une table pour une/deux/quatre | un tabl pur un (de, katr) |
ladison |
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Russian-Dutch phrasebook
Common phrases |
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You are welcome | Niets te dunken |
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Sorry | Ekskuseert u mii |
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Hello | Goede dag, hallo | Goede dag, hallo |
Goodbye | That ziens |
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I don't understand | Ik begrijp u niet | Ik begrape you nit |
What is your name? | Hoe heet ye? |
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How are you? | Hoe gaat het ermee? | Hu gat hat erme? |
Where is the toilet here? | Waar is het toilet? | Vaar is hat toilet? |
What is the price? | ||
One ticket to... | Een kaartje naar… | En cartier nar… |
What time is it now? | Hoe laat is het? | Hu lat is het? |
Do not smoke | ||
Intracking |
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Do you speak English? | Spreekt and Engels | Spreacht y angles |
Where is? | ||
Hotel |
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I need to book a room | Ik moet de reserve | Ik my de reserve |
I want to pay the bill | Alstublift |
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room, number | ||
Store (shopping) |
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Cash | ||
card | Creditcard |
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To wrap up | ||
No change | Gin batum |
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Gasloten |
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Very expensive | ||
Transport |
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trolleybus | ||
Stop | Perkeren |
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Please make a stop | Stop at me |
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Departure | ||
Vliegtug |
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The airport | Vliegveld |
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emergency cases |
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Fire Department | ||
Politiebureau |
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Ambulance | Embulence |
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Hospital | Siekenhuis |
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Restaurant |
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I want to book a table | Ik wil een tafel reserveren | Ik wil in tafel reserved |
Check please | Controller |
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Language in Belgium
There can be no unequivocal answer to the question of which language is the main language in Belgium. There are three communities in the country: Flemish, French and German. Respectively official language in Belgium it is both French, and Dutch, and German. Residents of the provinces belonging to the corresponding community speak one of them. In the past, the official language of Belgium was French. But already at the beginning of the 20th century, after the end of the First World War, the Flemings living in the country began a movement for equality in rights.
By the 60s of the last century main language Belgium was no longer French. In 1967, the country's constitution was translated into Dutch. Since then, this language of Belgium has equal rights with French. As for German, it is represented only in the province of Liege. But, nevertheless, this language of Belgium is also represented at the state level. Therefore, we can say that today three nations coexist peacefully in the country, speaking different languages.
The official alphabet of Belgium follows the Dutch alphabet, which consists of 26 letters and is based on the Latin alphabet.
At present, the main part of the Belgian population is divided into two large groups - a group of Flemings who speak Dutch, and a group of Walloons who speak Dutch. French. Also in the east of Belgium lives enough large group Germans, so German is also recognized as the official language in Belgium. Quite widespread in Belgium and English language, although it is not recognized as an official language of the country. Belgium also has a decent number of gypsies, so the gypsy language is quite common here.
Flemish group in Belgium
There is a Flemish Community in Belgium. It has its own Parliament, where the Flemings have the opportunity to make decisions regarding their community. They also have their own television, radio broadcasting, education (with the exception of awarding academic degrees), culture, and sports. The Flemish Community includes the Flemish Region and most of the Belgian capital Brussels. The Flemings speak Dutch.
Walloon group in Belgium
This is a francophone community in Belgium. It includes Wallonia and part of the capital of Belgium, Brussels. In total, the number of the Walloon group is about five million people.
The French Community has its own Parliament, as well as a Government and a Minister-President. In general, the powers of French-speaking Belgians are somewhat broader than those of the Flemish community. The Walloons also have their own education, culture, television, broadcasting, sports, health care, youth policy.
German group in Belgium
It is the smallest language community in Belgium. Its population is just over seventy thousand people. The entire German-speaking population is located in the eastern part of Belgium and borders on Germany and the state of Luxembourg. The capital of the German-speaking community is the city of Eupen.
Previously, the Eastern Cantons, where the Belgian Germans now live, belonged to Prussia. After World War I, the Germans gave these settlements to Belgium as compensation. But in the second world war Germany recaptured the Eastern Cantons of Belgium and annexed them to the Third Reich. After the end of the war, the land was returned to Belgium. It should be noted that most of the population of the Cantons considers themselves Germans and belonging to Belgium does not please her at all.
The German community also has its Parliament, but its scope is not as wide as that of the Flemings and Walloons. The powers of the Parliament extend to education, health care, culture, youth policy, as well as some social issues.