West Flemish

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A language of Belgium

Alternate Names

Vlaams, West Vlaams, West-Vloams, Western Flemish, Westvlams

West-Vlams

User Population

1,070,000 in Belgium (1998 University of Ghent). Total users in all countries: 1,232,000.

West Flanders province.

Language Maps

Andorra and France

Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

None known. Considered a variant of Dutch [nld]. Reportedly similar to German [deu], English [eng], Frisian [fry].

SOV.

Some of all ages. Also use English [eng]. Also use French [fra].

Language Development

Bible portions: 1980–2003.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about West Flemish

Latin script [Latn].

Christian.

Also spoken in:

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France

Language NameWest Flemish

User Population

30,000 in France (2013).

Location

Hauts-de-France region: Dunkerque area and southeast to Belgium border.

Alternate Names

Flamand, Frans Vlaams, Vlaams, Vlaemsch, Vlamingen, flamand occidental

Language Status

8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2013, No. 595), Education.

Language Use

Home, community. Older adults only. Positive attitudes. Shifted to French [fra]. Also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Dutch [nld] sometimes referred to as Vlaams. Different orthographies used in the 3 countries. Christian.

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Netherlands

Language NameWest Flemish

User Population

132,000 in Netherlands (2016).

Location

Zeeland province.

Alternate Names

Vlaams, West Vlaams, West-Vlams

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

For some, L1 only. Home, community. Some of all ages. Also use Dutch [nld].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 99% in Dutch [nld].

Other Comments

Sometimes refer to Dutch as Vlaams. Dutch is language of trade, tourism, school. Difficult to understand nearby Brabant dialect of Dutch, perhaps due to Scheldt River being natural barrier. Christian.

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