East Flemish

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East Flemish

Spoken in

Flanders , Netherlands
Linguistic
classification
The distribution area of ​​the East Flemish in BeNeLux

The East Flemish is a dialect group of the Netherlands , in the Belgian province of East Flanders , in the eastern part of Zeeland Flanders in the Dutch province of Zeeland , and in a strip to the east of West Flanders spoken. Well-known cities in the dialect area are Aalst , Beveren , Deinze , Eeklo , Gent , Geraardsbergen , Hulst , Lokeren , Ninove , Oudenaarde , Ronse , Sint-Niklaas , Wetteren and Zottegem . It has been measured to be the fastest-spoken language in Flanders, closely followed by West Flemish . The difference is insignificant, however.

classification

The dialects in the (north) west of East Flanders resemble West Flemish, while those of Denderstreek and the east of Waasland are more like Brabant . East Flemish is sometimes referred to as a transition between West Flemish and Brabantine. In linguistics, too, it is sometimes included in the Flemish dialect group together with West, French and Zeeland-Flemish, and sometimes in the Brabant-East Flemish group.

development

Linguistic studies have shown that West and East Flanders had much in common until the 16th century, but since then the languages ​​have diverged due to Brabant influences. It is noticeable that the dialect of Ghent is very different from the language of the surrounding communities, more so than is the case with Bruges or Antwerp, for example . The similarities between the dialects of Ghent and Ronse , which may have developed in the same way, are also striking . The characteristic "r" most likely developed from French , which for a long time was the most distinguished language of the elite in both cities. Like all regional Flemish languages, East Flemish was influenced from outside, for example by the Spanish, Austrians and French. Many French expressions were adopted by the "French" Flemish elite of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

dictionary

In 2005 an etymological dictionary of East Flemish was published, written by the West Flemish dialect expert Frans Debrabandere.

song

A well-known song in East Flemish is De wilde boerndochtere by Ivan Heylen .

literature

  • Frans Debrabandere: Oost-Vlaams en Zeeuws-Vlaams etymologically woordenboek: de herkomst van de Oost- en Zeeuws-Vlaamse woorden . LJ Veen, Amsterdam 2005, ISBN 978-90-204-0364-0 .