Languages! I wish I spoke a dozen of them, or at least three or four like most of my friends in Belgium do. Admit it. We Americans are kind of clueless when it comes to speaking in a foreign tongue.
When I was young, I studied two other languages in addition to my native one, but I was by no means fluent! My life changed in 2016 with a move to Belgium, a country with three official languages: French, Dutch and German. My French was poor, and my Dutch and German were non-existent. So, should I move to Wallonia, where the native language was French? As I looked for a place to live, my attention turned to the green areas around the capital. Yep, I am NOT a city gal. Colleagues recommended several outlying areas in Flanders, which is where I finally settled. In Flanders, they speak Dutch, or to be 100% accurate, Flemish.
It’s a great way to learn the language and make new friends. And the prices are so reasonable!
Dutch vs. Flemish
So, what is this Flemish you speak of, asked my American friends. Some thought I would have to learn “Belgian,” and others thought Belgium was part of France or Germany It’s true. Some of us aren’t that great with geography either! Don’t feel too bad, though. Ask a European where Iowa or Wyoming are. Most can’t point them out on a map.
Flemish is a variant of Dutch spoken by the people of Flanders. Basically, it is the same language with some subtle differences. What’s the easiest way to explain it? Look at American English vs. British English. Some words are different and pronunciations may vary, but the language is basically the same. Flemish, however, has a slightly softer sound than Dutch.
In the city of Tervuren, where I first lived, signs in the town hall clearly stated that Dutch (Flemish) was the official language and the language in which business was conducted. If you didn’t speak Flemish, you were out of luck and advised to bring someone with you. Okay, there was a tiny bit of leeway here, so I was able to conduct basic business. Still, I realized the importance of learning the language if I was going to live in the community.
Language Immersion
I wanted to learn Dutch as soon as I arrived, but my boss told me Dutch was a dead language. It would be better to brush up on my French, she said. Mais non!
Historically, French was the language of diplomacy and the higher class. Flemish was the language of farmers. As you can imagine, there’s a bit of a snob issue here. Ironically, most of the money in Belgium comes from Flanders, which also is the location of the country’s best hospital and university. You’ll find them both in Leuven, Flemish-Brabant.
I ignored the advice I received and got ready to immerse myself in my local community by signing up for Dutch classes at CVO. That’s the Centrum voor Volwassenenonderwijs. No, the Dutch language doesn’t use short words when a ridiculously long one can suffice. For us, it’s the Center for Adult Education. That is so much simpler, isn’t it?
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Mary Poppins’ famous word is nothing compared to some words in Dutch where the longest word has more than 50 letters. Yep, you read that right. The Dutch may have the longest words in the world! How about meervoudigepersoonlijkheidsstoornis, which translates to multiple personality disorder? Make it plural and it is even longer! Then there’s kindercarnavaloptochtvoorbereidingswerk or children’s carnival parade preparation work.
Generally, these long words are combinations of several words all smashed together. When friends come to visit, it’s always fun listening to them trying to pronounce the ridiculously long street names like Meikloksleutellaan or Brusselssesteenweg. I must have amused my Belgian friends when I first arrived, too.
Back to School
Okay, let’s face reality. Dutch is NOT an easy language for a native English speaker to learn. There are sounds that don’t exist in American English, like the “ui’ and “sch.” Both sounds are important, and speaking them incorrectly immediately identifies you as a foreigner. The “ui” sound is an important one, as it’s used in frequently spoken words such as “tuin” (garden), “uit” (outside), and “huis” (house). And, of course, the place where I went to study – school – posed a challenge with the “sch” sound. There is no “K” sound in the word. And don’t even get me started on the rolling “r.” This semester, I am taking a class that deals only with pronunciation!
And then there is grammar. Verbs are often at the end of the sentence, so you really have to pay attention to people when they speak to you. Be patient! That verb will show up eventually. Add to that the “de” and “het,” much like the “la” and “le” in French that identify a word’s gender. I still get those wrong — regularly!
Studying Hard
I study hard and practice whenever and wherever I can. Most Flemish people are fluent in English, so when they hear my American accent, they sometimes switch to English to accommodate me. I would politely explain that my teacher wants me to speak Flemish, so they would switch back. Boy, did I appreciate their patience and helpfulness. Sometimes, we’d have to switch to English, but year by year, it happens less frequently. I have to admit that I lapse into English with friends on many occasions.
After several years of study, I am now more comfortable with the language of my adopted country and region. I’ll always sound like an American, but hope to be one that speaks Dutch well. As they say: oefening baart kunst, or practice makes perfect. I just need lots more practice.
