Flemish is a dialect
The question whether Flemish is a language or a dialect is as interesting, and as futile, as asking if Mancunian, Texan or Appalachian are languages or dialects of English. In the Netherlands as well as in Flanders the official language is Dutch, as spoken and written in the media. As in all languages, dialects, such as Flemish or Saxon, feed into the language. As time progresses, dialects tend to fade out in favour of received pronunciation.
Sent by: Bart
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In Italy everybody speaks 'Standard Italian' but many use their dialect, more so in the north-east and in the southern regions. A Napolitan speaking in 'pure dialect' would be very hard or even impossible to understand for one living in Tuscany like me. But Napolitan is not considered a language but a dialect. On the other hand Sardinian is considered a language while for Sicilian the status is uncertain because some scholars say it is a language, others say it is a dialect of Italian. I think the situation is very similar for Dutch/Flemish.
I think the reason why Dutch people are reacting so little is a very simple one; the couldn't care less! Whether Dutch and Flemish are one language with different spelling and pronunciation, or two languages, they don't care. Technically they are two seperate languages, both with various dialects and accents, as any language.
I agree with Bart that the question is futile. What is a language? As one linguist said: 'a language is a dialect with a navy and an army'. It is all a matter of power. Flemish is not officially a language, but if certain politicians have their way, it might become one and then the discussion would start which variant to choose and the whole power debate could start from scratch, would it be Antwerp, would it be Ghent? In the seventeenth century, the standard variant was decided by the dominant region, which was then Amsterdam, heavily influenced by the Flemish immigrants, fleeing from Flanders. The region around Amsterdam, the so-called Randstad is still the most dominant in the Netherlands, but Flanders in Belgium is equally vibrant. So why not stop arguing about who is 'right' and simply enjoy the differences among equals? I personally think that dialects show how rich a language is, imagine how boring it would be if everybody spoke Standard Dutch?! Hagelslag on my bread in the morning and jus on my potatoes? I don't think so!)
PS: Funny really, how it is mostly Flemish people who react, I don't think Dutch peole care very much (fyi: I myself was born in Belgium, but both my parents are Dutch).
I agree with Bart too! You'll never hear a Belgian say he speaks Flemish, it's always Dutch! But like you have with any other language, it has its regional dialect. In the Netherlands, they speak Dutch, but they also have different dialects across the country, in Belgium, we speak a Dutch with some differences with the Dutch from the Netherlands, and there are some local variants. But like Anneke says, I don't think there are many Belgians or Dutchmen who bother about the differences.
Flemish is many dialects of Dutch which is the English word for Nederlands. The English call it Dutch. Dutch-speaking people call German Duits and the Germans call their language-of-many-dialects Deutsch.
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