The French-Belgian Border as Language Divide

It was a great experience to stand on the border between France and Belgium, or more specifically, the border between the region of French Flanders that was annexed by France in the 17th century and the Flemish Flanders of Belgium. It is amazing that something unseen by the naked eye could represent something so significant to a region and transcend it so as to impact an entire culture. I enjoyed learning how this divide, a physical border, between the two regions is currently manifested in the language divide between the French and Dutch.

Lille, France

Throughout this course, it has been a challenge to truly define the Dutch identity. While I believe the concept of identity is a lofty one to understand in general, the Dutch identity has proven to be even more difficult to unwrap due to its history with Europe and its various countries. The language barrier between the French and Dutch cultures of Belgium has made defining and understanding Belgian identity a daunting task. Add to this the knowledge that there are region-specific Dutch identities, such as the Netherlands' Dutch Dutch culture in opposition to the Flemish Dutch culture, a distinction that was pointed out during our home stay dinner this past Friday. Although both qualify as Dutch cultures, the languages themselves differ as they break into regional dialects, the Netherlandish Dutch proving to be more Germanic and harsh in tone, a description from Order of the Prince member and former president, An de Moor, while the Flemish Dutch has a softer, French influence.

Lille, France

As there are already "rivalries" between the different Dutch cultures, I knew it was inevitable that there would be division between French Flanders and Belgian Flanders, a rivalry that soon manifested itself during the city tour of Lille between the director of the cultural organization Ons Erfdeel, Luc Devoldere, a Flemish man from Belgium, and our French tour guide, whose name I do not recall. I was not surprised that the spirit of competitiveness originated on the part of Luc. For a person of Flemish descent, I have learned, the preservation of the Dutch language and its culture is a priority unprecedented in the French culture due to its history with power. As discussed in lecture, there is still a defensiveness on the side of Dutch speakers. This is due in large to the history of the Dutch language and its association with the poor, oppressed working class.

Lille, France

I thought Luc was a wonderful guide when he spoke at the cultural organization. He was enthusiastic and knowledgable. However, in the company of our French tour guide, I felt that he became childish in his constant under-footed questions, and superlative comments about the Flemish influence in the French city of Lille. But in all it was an interesting interaction that provided an actual example of this boundary and divide between the two countries of France and Belgium, their cultures and their language and the divide within the two differing regions of French Flanders and Dutch Flanders.

 

Sophia