One language in different variations
I am a Dutchman living near Utrecht. I used to live in Ireland and one of my best friends over there was a guy from Flanders. No way we would speak English to each other, that would have been very odd. We both used our mother tongue. Sometimes I had difficulties understanding typical Flemish words and pronunciations, but no problem really. Doesn't that prove that Flemish and Dutch are very close. They are one language in different variations.
Sent by: Bert-Jan
Comments
I am a Belgian-born American ... still speak my mother-tongue "dialect". When I go to Belgium my nieces and nephews have difficulty understanding my Flemish. And I need a nearby interpreter (my aunt) to translate much of what they say. But ... when I run across an old-timer ... tears come to their eyes, and we talk in a taal that will soon die.
Flag this comment