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West Flemish
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A language of
Belgium
Location
West Flanders province.
Also spoken in:
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France
Language Name
West 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 Name
West 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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