Societal Bilingualism

Essay # 65266

Language
Linguistics

An examination of the language choice pattern of Belgium.

1,394 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2003 United Kingdom

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how there are many historical and modern-day factors that can be held responsible for the language divide of Flemish and French in Belgium. It looks at how these include politics and the government, education and employment and even social affairs, and are often based around linguistic disputes. It attempts to show how the country has suffered from wars and has even divided itself into what can be seen as two separate countries purely for the sake of a language choice.

From the Paper:

"In the 1830's the Belgian constitution of the time called for neutrality regarding the linguistic education of the country's children. However, this worked to the disadvantage of the Flemish who felt that their children were being taught in the less-well equipped schools, whilst the French attended private schools thus making French the language of public administration and of the refined classes. As a result, Flemish came to be considered the language on suitable for the streets."