Presentation by Biemeke

1. Nederlands has been a language of many names: Diets, Dietsch, the English Dutch, Neder-Duytsch Low Dutch and
Duitsch.
Family Tree of Germanic Languages
Indo-European
_________________I____________________
I I I
Crimean Gothic I Gothic
______________________ _I________________________
I I I
'Ingvaeonic' High German Old Low Franconian
__________________ I ________________
I I I I I I
Low Old Old Upper German Dutch Flemish
German Frisian English (Alemannic, I
I I I Bavarian) I
Old I I
Saxon Frisian English German Afrikaans
I I
I I
Pidgin Yiddish
extract: David Crystal 1990

2. Origins of the Dutch Language
• Indo-European language family tree: from Indo-European – West-
Germanic – Nether-Frankish – West-Nether-Frankish – Old-Netherlands
– Middle-Netherlands - Nederlands i,e. Dutch.
•
• From Germanic to 'Nederlands'
•
• Roman historian Tacitus reported in the 1st
centruy that the tribes in
Germania identified themselves into three groups: INGAEVONES (along
the coast), HERMINONES (lived in the middle) and the ISTAEVONES.
English evolved from Ingaevones, yet Dutch from the other two
combined.
• The origin of national continental languages has been closely linked to
socio-economic and cultural factors which were intensified in densily
populated areas and towns of Flanders, Brabant and 'Holland' in the late
Middle Ages. This 'Old-Nether-Frankish-language' arose from various
dialects.

3. The Oldest Dutch until 12th
Century
• The Nether-Frankish dialects were the forerunner of the Middle-Netherlands. It
contained many words and vowel sounds of Old-English and Old-Saxon. There
were no distinct language barriers.
• One of the oldest monastic Dutch texts dates from around 1100: 'Olla vogala'
•
• Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnen All birds have started building nests
• hinase hi(c) (e)nda thu Except you and I
• uu(at) unbida(n) (uu)e nu What are we waiting for
•
• There was a Latin translation included: abent omnes volucres nidos inceptos,
nisi ego et tu,
• quid expectamus nu(nc). There is another treasured datable sentence from the
9th
century:
• 'Tesi Samanunga vvas edele unde scona' – This monastry was noble and
beautiful

4. 13th
to 17th
Century
• 13th
to 15th
century Middle-Netherlands
•
• During the Middle Ages all official documents were written in Latin, which was
the linga franca of the European elite. The various dialects spoken were possibly
more or less mutually comprehensive
• but the population was largely illiterate of course. There was a distinct reduction
in vowels and early manuscripts of this era have survived.
•
• 16th
and 17th
century New-Netherlands
•
• New-Netherlands evolved from Middle-Netherlands. Spanish rulers were in
contempt of the Dutch and their language. Due to the 80-year war many
southerners fled to Holland. Independence created a growing own language
identity, which soon played a significant role in voyages of discovery and
colonisation abroad. The first bible in Dutch was printed in 1637; the translators
created many new words and expressions (neologisms) which are still in use
today.

5. The name of the Language
• Dietsc or Duutsc now translated as Diets or
Duits were the dialects spoken by the West-
Germanic people from the Channel to Poland as
distinct from the Roman languages of French,
Occidental and Italian. The English word 'Dutch'
has been derived directly from these origins.
From 1514 onwards the name 'Nederlands' was
adopted in contrast to 'High-German' aka
'Overlands'. Due to the expansion policy of the
Republic, the word 'Hollands' became
synonymous with 'Nederlands'.

6. Dutch Dictionaries
• The first ones appeared in the 16th
century and were
influenced by Latin, later by French and sometimes by
English. Mr. W. Sewel published in 1691 'A New
Dictionary English and Dutch' which was aimed at Dutch
and English speakers. There was no 'Dutch' dictionary at
that time.
•
• The erstwhile French king of Holland: Louis Napoleon
loved the Dutch language and felt there ought to be a
Dutch dictionary. He was much loved in 'Koninkrijk
Holland' and was known for his malapropism: 'Iek ben
Konijn van Olland' (konijn = rabbit instead of koning =
king).

7. Dutch Dictionaries
• After the French dominance the word 'Nederlands'
was used in general (this concept was already in use
in the 17th
century). In 1849 : the first Litterary
Congres in Ghent by Dutch and Flemish scholars. The
Flemish sought support from the Dutch because there
was no scope for a Dutch language in Belgium. The
first concept was presented in 1851 which was
supported and subsidised by Minister Thorbecke. The
first part of the 'Woordenboek der Nederlandsche
Taal' was issued in 1882. Here's a parody on the
very slow progress of the dictionary's compilation:

8. • O, luid klinkt de lofbazuin O, loudly here the trumpet call
• Het Woordenboek kwam tot Ajuin The Dictionary came to (Mr) Ajuin
• In dertig jaar al; dat heet In thirty years already; which means
• Zijn tijd voorzeker welbesteed Its time for sure well spent
• 't Duurt nu geen dertig jaar gewis It won't be thirty years for sure
• Eer 't tot 'azijn' genaderd is; Before it will approach 'azijn'
(vinegar)
• Stel voor elk verdre letter maar Say for every further letter just
• Tweederde van die dertig jaar Two-thirds of those thirty years
• Dan staat al na een eeuw of vier Then after just about four centuries
• 't Geheel gedrukt reeds op papier! The entirity will be printed yet!

9. Dutch Spelling
• Spelling of the Dutch language is officially controlled in The Netherlands,
Flanders and Surinam.
• It builds on the 1883 original De Vries en Te Winkel. Alterations taken
place since are:
• 1946 (Belgium) – 1947 (Netherlands) – 1996 (Flanders and
Netherlands via the now established Dutch Language Union) – August
2006 (Flanders and Netherlands).
• Although the official spelling is compulsory only for government and
education, most language users also prefer to follow it. The guideline
taken as the starting point is the 'Green Book' ( a word list of the Dutch
language). Until 1925 South Africa adopted the same spelling rules. At
that time Afrikaans was officially recognised by the Union of South
Africa. However it was removed from its constitution in 1961 – both
languages were now considered 'synonyms'.
• Current Afrikaans is often peppered with English words and expressions.

10. Dialects
• There are five main groups: Brabants, Hollands, East-
middle-netherlands, Limburgs and Flemish
• Brabants - the southern provinces and east Flanders
• Hollands - mainly in the provinces of North and
South Holland and parts of Utrecht
• 'Oostmiddelnederlands' -Groningen, Drenthe,
Overijssel, Gelderland
• Limburgs - south of Venlo and Belgian
Limburg
• Flemish - W&E Flanders, Zeelands' Flanders
and French-Flanders

11. Dialects
• In the eastern regions dialects are a
continuation of Nether-Saxon. In the
northern Rhineland you find Nether-Franks
dialects which become Middle-Franks
towards the German border named:
Ripuarisch. These dialects in Belgium and
Dutch Limburg are identified as a separate
language called 'Limburgs' and has offical
status as a minority language in the
European Charter.

12. Language Battle in Belgium
• When the southern regions of the Netherlands were
under Spanish, French and Austrian control, you had to
speak French in order to get on in the world. The language
of the European nobility and thus also in Flanders was
(and still is sometimes) French.
•
• In 1813 a new 'nation' arose between Prussia and France:
the United Kingdom of The Netherlands (Belgium,
Nederland and Luxemburg) King Willem I pursued a
strong Dutch language policy. The Flemish universities
became exclusively Dutch language oriented. This strategy
failed however, because there were three languages
involved: Dutch, French and German plus religious
differences.

13. Language Battle in Belgium
• Belgium proclaimed independence in 1830 - although it
took another nine years before Willem I acknowledged
this status officially – and the Belgian French-speaking
elite favoured French instantly. Brussels experienced the
same dominance switch to French. The Dutch language
simply had to take a back seat until 1898 when it gained
equal status to French, due to pressure of the Flemish
protagonists. Today there is only a small minority of
Dutch speakers in Brussels.
•
• The juxtaposition of both languages is evident when you
read: 'The first Dutch speech in the Belgian parliament
took place in 1869, amidst loud laughter and jeering from
the French speakers.'

14. Language Border Dutch and French
• At present there is quite an abrupt language border
manifesting in southern Belgium quite close to the
French border. However, in the French 'West-Corner'
a type of Dutch dialect persists.
• The relationship between Dutch and French is very
complex. Dutch has many borrowed French words,
moreover from the late middle Ages up to the 20th
century French was used in the Netherlands as a
written and cultural language, at times side by side
with Dutch, sometimes replacing it. This was
predominantly in the southern regions.

15. Language Border Dutch and German
• This language border has evolved gradually and its precise location is
largely due to political factors
• The bible translation by Maarten Luther created 'High German' and this
was in use in the 16th
century and adopted in religion, science and trade.
This type of High German did not reach into the Netherlands, since its
province Holland was enjoying its Golden Age. The separation of the
influence-spheres of both standard languages coincided roughly with
the eastern 'power border' – the Republic of the Seven United
Netherlands which equally protected the Spanish Netherlands.
• In the 18th
century a few west German regions used Dutch as standard,
like Ost Friesland, Earldom of Bentheim and the Duchy Kleef (Cleve).
• The state border and language border are nowadays the same largely
due to mass eduction and strong internal migration. The term 'lower-
german' can now only apply to dialects in Germany.

16. Dutch language elsewhere
• Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten – the ABC islands, where the Dutch ousted the Spaniards
in 1634
• Since the arrival of Royal Shell, the Dutch language has been taught in primary
schools. Some schools use Papiamento and English
•
• Netherlands-India (and Indonesia) – Dutch is since its independence in 1963 no longer the
official language. Many people retained respect for it and the Republic's first
president Soekarno continued speaking Dutch and he was an avid reader.
•
• Belgian Congo – only a small minority of Congolese speak Dutch even though it was ruled
by Belgium until 1960. Many Flemish Nationalist envisaged a large 'Groot Diets' (Dutch
speaking) domain as a counter-balance to French and English domains in Africa.
•
• Surinam – the Dutch ousted the Brits in 1667. Dutch remains the largest and most
important language of the twenty different languages spoken. Dutch is still the
official language since the country's independence in 1975. Most people also speak
'Sranan'.
•

17. Dutch language elsewhere
• America – around 1650 there were 7000 people in Manhattan with the lingua franca being
Dutch.
• The Brits took over in 1674 and in 1760 the last Dutch in churches was finally
replaced. Nowadays Dutch is spoken by around 20 to 50 thousand people in the US.
•
• Canada – here are around 900.000 people of Dutch descent since WWII. There are many
Dutch- Canadian clubs and Dutch radio programmes.
•
• New Zealand – around 0.7% of its population speak Dutch, which amounts to 29.000
people.
•
• Australia – in large cities Dutch people retain strong bonds and they read Dutch
newspapers.
•
• Japan – the relationship with this country started in 1609 in Hirado until 1641, but the only
location the 20 Dutch people could live was on Decima island. Until 1870 Dutch
was used for maintaining contact with foreigners. After commemmorating 400 years of
relations between Japan and the Netherlands a project is now underway to restore the
island to its former glory.

18. Dutch language elsewhere
• Sri Lanka – the Dutch ousted the Portugese in the 16th
century and the Brits
ousted the Dutch eventually. In 1800 there were 800 Dutch and 5000
Portugese. Various words were adopted in the Singalese language. Many Dutch
surnames remain, but the language is no longer spoken.
•
• Malay Peninsula – various 'Burghers' of Dutch descend moved from Ceylon to
the Dutch colony Malakka. the Dutch language has died out but the
descendants are proud of their heritage.
•
• Germany – in 1830 80% of churches and 20% of schools in Kleef used Dutch. This
lasted up to 1900 when the economy started to focus on the Ruhr area. Many
places in 'Prussian Flanders' still have Dutch names and many have dual German
and Dutch names.
•

19. Dutch language elsewhere
• France – in the 7th
and 8th
century the Dutch-French language
border ran south of Picardy, Artesia and French-
Flanders and in these areas Dutch was predominantly used.
•
• Dutch influences on other languages – the Dutch creole
languages have all but died out, though Afrikaans is
sometimes considered a semi-creole language. If this were
confirmed, it would be the largest creole language in the
world.

20. The Japanese Connection
• In 1609 Dutch people settled in Hirado, however in 1641 everyone had to leave because
Japan no longer wanted anything to do with those pushy Europeans. Therefore all
foreigners were given orders to set their homes alight. The Dutch complied without any
protest and waited patiently in front of their rubble, asking how they would survive the
approaching winter. So they were the only foreigners allowed to stay. The Dutch also
helped in the battles of the shoguns against the Japanese christians. The could only live on
Dejima and with minimal outside contact.
•
• Around 20 Dutch people plus 200 'dwarskijkers' (cross-lookers), who would keep an eye on
dangerous barbarians. The Dutch were the only Europeans the Japanese were prepared
trade with.
• Geisha's would regularly visit to teach the Dutch 'kezen' (domestic arrangements).
•
• Via the Dutch various books arrived in Japan as well as globes, telescopes, quadrants, maps
etc.
• The type of books were: medicine, astronomy, nature science, geography, warfare,
dictionaries and ship building – introducing Japan to western science and technology. This
'Dutch-Knowledge' known as Rangaku was much appreciated. The Dutch also introduced:
coffee, paint for ships, chocolate, badminton, billiards, pianos and beer.

21. Vowel Sounds
• aa (maart) ee (eeuw) ie (Bieneke) i(tin)
oo (hoog) uu (duur)
• dipthongs: aai (maaien) ei (leiden) ij (lijden)
au (kauwen) ou (mouwen) oe (boek) ui
(muis)

22. The Japanese Connection
• In 1853 American war ships arrived in the Bay of Nagasaki and demanded that
Japan opened its borders to trade. In 1859 Dejima returned to Japanese control.
•
• Japanese scientists had to learn Dutch in order to translate the books. Until 1870
the Dutch language remained the official way of maintaining contacts with
abroad. Negotiations with commander Perry about trading rights in Japan were
conducted in Dutch.
• In order to learn more about Japanese's history of court travel you need to know
Dutch because the Dutch wrote everything down and they kept good archives.
Via Batavia many reports arrived in Dutch archives, where they are now sought
after by the Japanese.
•
• The presence of the Dutch has become part of local folklore where during street
festivals Dutch ships are paraded in the Dutch blue-white-red national colours.
There is also a Dutch theme park called Huis ten Bosch