Belgians divided by language barrier - 23 Sep 07

Failure by Belgium's political parties to form a government since elections in June have prompted fears of a split in the tiny European country.

Al Jazeera's Tania Page reports from Belgium, where the country is seen as roughly divided between the Dutch-speakers in the North and the mainly Franco-phone population in the south.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• aljazeera
• Tania
• Page
• Belgium
• language
• French
• Flemish
• separate
• divide

[o0ze]

2:12 "Belgium is a little country, if we're seperated we're... smaller."

I bet she has a Captain Obvious cape hidden away somewhere in her underground lair.

[belbraz10]

And about the flemish school: isn't it normal that whem you emigrate to an other country with a different language that you learn that language? There is the problem: lot's of french speaking walloons came living in flanders without learning the language. Isn't it normal that their kids are expected to learn dutch at school, by going to a dutch school? It's all a case of respect, in both ways! I'm Belgian and proud of it! Now after almost a year without government, it's time to find a sollution!

[leoYANG96]

@fgj4001 It's completely unacceptable. They're proud of their languages, because it encompasses their culture, their birthplace. It's easy for you to say because it's your mother tongue. As far as I know, both Flanders and Wallonia are very proud. Another reason is that they wouldn't simply adopt English, because it's the global language, it's everywhere in the world; I agree it's practical, but no linguist'd agree. After all, the country who's responsible for all this mess is the UK.

[SturmUndDrang13]

@basscann0n. Nothing belongs to the world.

[basscann0n]

@SturmUndDrang13 Brussels is a city which now belongs to the world.

[basscann0n]

@Aeoen Not between the young funnily enough, between the old and greedy!

[fgj4001]

i have one solution. Belgium should set up or establish another different language which could english.Most people speack two or three language easily in that country

[Synthiotics]

typo... "i was"

[Synthiotics]

@LizzieShan1994 i'm was talking about actual flemish names that also are pronounced as if they're french, not leterme... same with brugge/bruges and other belgian cities, everyone always uses the french names.

[LizzieShan1994]

@Icaurs389 yea, belgians aren't bothered with giving up their country right, dumbass

[LizzieShan1994]

@Synthiotics yea i know, it's what i said

[Synthiotics]

@LizzieShan1994 even if it's a flemish name she still pronounces it as if it's french...