West Flemish ( West-Vlams or West-Vloams or Vlaemsch (in French Flanders ), Dutch : West-Vlaams , French: flamand occidental ) is a collection of Low Franconian varieties spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and the Netherlands.
24-573: West Flemish is spoken by about a million people in the Belgian province of West Flanders , and a further 50,000 in the neighbouring Dutch coastal district of Zeelandic Flanders (200,000 if including the closely related dialects of Zeelandic ) and 10-20,000 in the northern part of the French department of Nord . Some of the main cities where West Flemish is widely spoken are Bruges , Dunkirk , Kortrijk , Ostend , Roeselare and Ypres . West Flemish
48-647: A long ie ( [i] ). Like for the ui , the long o ( [o] ) can be replaced by an [ø] ( eu ) for some words but a [uo] for others. That often causes similarities to ranchers English. Here are some examples showing the sound shifts that are part of the vocabulary: Plural forms in Standard Dutch most often add -en , but West Flemish usually uses -s , like the Low Saxon dialects and even more prominently in English in which -en has become very rare. Under
72-470: A long ie ( [i] ). Like for the ui , the long o ( [o] ) can be replaced by an [ø] ( eu ) for some words but a [uo] for others. That often causes similarities to ranchers English. Here are some examples showing the sound shifts that are part of the vocabulary: Plural forms in Standard Dutch most often add -en , but West Flemish usually uses -s , like the Low Saxon dialects and even more prominently in English in which -en has become very rare. Under
96-522: A short u ( [ɐ] ), a phenomenon also occurring in Russian and some other Slavic languages , called akanye . That happens spontaneously to some words, but other words keep their original short o sounds. Similarly, the short a ( [ɑ] ) can turn into a short o ( [ɔ] ) in some words spontaneously. The diphthong ui ( /œy/ ) does not exist in West Flemish and is replaced by a long u ( [y] ) or
120-407: A short u ( [ɐ] ), a phenomenon also occurring in Russian and some other Slavic languages , called akanye . That happens spontaneously to some words, but other words keep their original short o sounds. Similarly, the short a ( [ɑ] ) can turn into a short o ( [ɔ] ) in some words spontaneously. The diphthong ui ( /œy/ ) does not exist in West Flemish and is replaced by a long u ( [y] ) or
144-477: Is a collection of Low Franconian varieties spoken in western Belgium and the neighbouring areas of France and the Netherlands. West Flemish is spoken by about a million people in the Belgian province of West Flanders , and a further 50,000 in the neighbouring Dutch coastal district of Zeelandic Flanders (200,000 if including the closely related dialects of Zeelandic ) and 10-20,000 in the northern part of
168-1756: Is divided into 8 administrative arrondissements . The Province of West Flanders is divided into 4 judicial arrondissements . Municipalities that have city status have (city) after their names. 1. Alveringem 2. Anzegem 3. Ardooie 4. Avelgem 5. Beernem 6. Blankenberge (city) 7. Bredene 8. Bruges (city) 9. Damme (city) 10. De Haan 11. De Panne 12. Deerlijk 13. Dentergem 14. Diksmuide (city) 15. Gistel (city) 16. Harelbeke (city) 17. Heuvelland 18. Hooglede 19. Houthulst 20. Ichtegem 21. Ypres (Ieper) (city) 22. Ingelmunster 23. Izegem (city) 24. Jabbeke 25. Knokke-Heist 26. Koekelare 27. Koksijde 28. Kortemark 29. Kortrijk (city) 30. Kuurne 31. Langemark-Poelkapelle 32. Ledegem 33. Lendelede 34. Lichtervelde 35. Lo-Reninge (city) 36. Menen (city) 37. Mesen (city) 38. Meulebeke 39. Middelkerke 40. Moorslede 41. Nieuwpoort (city) 42. Ostend (city) 43. Oostkamp 44. Oostrozebeke 45. Oudenburg (city) 46. Pittem 47. Poperinge (city) 48. Roeselare (city) 49. Ruiselede 50. Spiere-Helkijn 51. Staden 52. Tielt (city) 53. Torhout (city) 54. Veurne (city) 55. Vleteren 56. Waregem (city) 57. Wervik (city) 58. Wevelgem 59. Wielsbeke 60. Wingene 61. Zedelgem 62. Zonnebeke 63. Zuienkerke 64. Zwevegem West Flemish language West Flemish ( West-Vlams or West-Vloams or Vlaemsch (in French Flanders ), Dutch : West-Vlaams , French: flamand occidental )
192-995: Is listed as a "vulnerable" language in UNESCO 's online Red Book of Endangered Languages . West Flemish has a phonology that differs significantly from that of Standard Dutch, being similar to Afrikaans in the case of long E, O and A. Also where Standard Dutch has sch , in some parts of West Flanders, West-Flemish, like Afrikaans, has sk . However, the best known traits are the replacement of Standard Dutch (pre-)velar fricatives g and ch in Dutch ( /x, ɣ/ ) with glottal h [h, ɦ] ,. The following differences are listed by their Dutch spelling, as some different letters have merged their sounds in Standard Dutch but remained separate sounds in West Flemish. Pronunciations can also differ slightly from region to region. The absence of /x/ and /ɣ/ in West Flemish makes pronouncing them very difficult for native speakers. That often causes hypercorrection of
216-404: Is pronounced only if the next word begins with a vowel sound. Another feature of West Flemish is the conjugation of ja and nee ("yes" and "no") to the subject of the sentence. That is somewhat related to the double subject, but even when the rest of the sentence is not pronounced, ja and nee are generally used with the first part of the double subject. This conjugation can be negated with
240-404: Is pronounced only if the next word begins with a vowel sound. Another feature of West Flemish is the conjugation of ja and nee ("yes" and "no") to the subject of the sentence. That is somewhat related to the double subject, but even when the rest of the sentence is not pronounced, ja and nee are generally used with the first part of the double subject. This conjugation can be negated with
264-842: Is the westernmost province of the Flemish Region , in Belgium . It is the only coastal Belgian province, facing the North Sea to the northwest. It has land borders with the Dutch province of Zeeland to the northeast, the Flemish province of East Flanders to the east, the Walloon province of Hainaut in the south and the French department of Nord to the west. Its capital is Bruges ( Brugge ). Other important cities are Kortrijk in
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#1732772818580288-535: The /h/ sounds to a /x/ or /ɣ/ . Standard Dutch also has many words with an -en ( /ən/ ) suffix (mostly plural forms of verbs and nouns). While Standard Dutch and most dialects do not pronounce the final n , West Flemish typically drops the e and pronounces the n inside the base word. For base words already ending with n , the final n sound is often lengthened to clarify the suffix. That makes many words become similar to those of English: beaten , listen etc. The short o ( [ɔ] ) can also be pronounced as
312-535: The /h/ sounds to a /x/ or /ɣ/ . Standard Dutch also has many words with an -en ( /ən/ ) suffix (mostly plural forms of verbs and nouns). While Standard Dutch and most dialects do not pronounce the final n , West Flemish typically drops the e and pronounces the n inside the base word. For base words already ending with n , the final n sound is often lengthened to clarify the suffix. That makes many words become similar to those of English: beaten , listen etc. The short o ( [ɔ] ) can also be pronounced as
336-632: The Belgian coast, the historic center of Bruges, the Yser Tower in Diksmuide and Flanders Fields , the World War I battlefields around Ypres . A Dutch dialect called West Flemish is spoken here. The city of Bruges has two clubs playing at the highest level of football in Belgium ( Belgian First Division A ), namely Club Brugge and Cercle Brugge . Other cities with teams playing at
360-541: The French department of Nord . Some of the main cities where West Flemish is widely spoken are Bruges , Dunkirk , Kortrijk , Ostend , Roeselare and Ypres . West Flemish is listed as a "vulnerable" language in UNESCO 's online Red Book of Endangered Languages . West Flemish has a phonology that differs significantly from that of Standard Dutch, being similar to Afrikaans in the case of long E, O and A. Also where Standard Dutch has sch , in some parts of West Flanders, West-Flemish, like Afrikaans, has sk . However,
384-531: The best known traits are the replacement of Standard Dutch (pre-)velar fricatives g and ch in Dutch ( /x, ɣ/ ) with glottal h [h, ɦ] ,. The following differences are listed by their Dutch spelling, as some different letters have merged their sounds in Standard Dutch but remained separate sounds in West Flemish. Pronunciations can also differ slightly from region to region. The absence of /x/ and /ɣ/ in West Flemish makes pronouncing them very difficult for native speakers. That often causes hypercorrection of
408-484: The cities of Bruges and Ostend . Both cities also have important seaports: the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and the port of Ostend . The south is known for its textile industry, with companies such as Beaulieu and Libeco-Lagae . The region around Kortrijk is called the " Dallas of Belgium" for its entrepreneurship. Tourism is also an important industry in West Flanders. Major touristic attractions include
432-407: The extra word, toet ( [tut] ), or strenght strengthened by adding mo- or ba- (or both). West Flanders West Flanders ( Dutch : West-Vlaanderen [ˌʋɛst ˈflaːndərə(n)] ; West Flemish : West-Vloandern [βæst ˈflɒːndərn̩] ; French : Flandre-Occidentale [flɑ̃dʁ ɔksidɑ̃tal] ; German : Westflandern [ˈvɛstˌflandɐn] )
456-577: The highest level are Kortrijk ( KV Kortrijk ), Ostend ( KV Oostende ) and Waregem ( Zulte Waregem ). The teams Knack Randstad Roeselare and Prefaxis Menen play in the highest volleyball league. Knack Randstad Roeselare also plays in the CEV Champions League , the European Championsleague. BC Oostende is a basketball team which plays in the major basketball league of Belgium. The Province of West Flanders
480-417: The influence of Standard Dutch, -s is being used by fewer people, and younger speakers tend to use -en . The verbs zijn ("to be") and hebben ("to have") are also conjugated differently. West Flemish often has a double subject. Standard Dutch has an indefinite article that does not depend on gender, unlike in West Flemish. However, a gender-independent article is increasingly used. Like in English, n
504-417: The influence of Standard Dutch, -s is being used by fewer people, and younger speakers tend to use -en . The verbs zijn ("to be") and hebben ("to have") are also conjugated differently. West Flemish often has a double subject. Standard Dutch has an indefinite article that does not depend on gender, unlike in West Flemish. However, a gender-independent article is increasingly used. Like in English, n
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#1732772818580528-544: The length of the coast, from De Panne on the French border to Knokke-Heist on the Dutch border. West Flanders has two seaports , the Port of Zeebrugge and the Port of Ostend . West Flanders consists of the North Sea coast , followed by a very flat polder landscape. Only in the south are some small hills, with the Kemmelberg (159 m (522 ft)) being the highest point in the province. The Leie and IJzer are
552-460: The main rivers. West Flanders is the only Belgian province that borders both France and The Netherlands; it is the only province not landlocked . The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 46.9 billion € in 2018. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 34,700 € or 115% of the EU27 average in the same year. In the north of the province, most industry is concentrated in and around
576-443: The south and Ostend ( Oostende ) on the coast, Roeselare and Ypres ( Ieper ). The province has an area of 3,197 km (1,234 sq mi) which is divided into eight administrative districts ( arrondissementen ) containing 64 municipalities. As of January 2024, West Flanders has a population of over 1.22 million. The North Sea coast of Belgium, an important tourism destination, lies in West Flanders. A tram line runs
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