Language Attitudes in the Dutch Language Area: An Introduction

Abstract. The article focuses on dialect change in the western and eastern periphery of the southern Dutch language area, i.e. in the province of West-Flanders and the province of Limburg. Both by a general survey of the dialect situation in these regions and by the analysis of two instances of phonological change, it is demonstrated that the actual state and dynamics of these areas is essentially different in terms of dialect loss and dialect vitality. The West-Flemish data reveal an intertwining of interdialectal and standard language influence, whereas the changes registered in the Limburg data unambiguously point to standard language influence.

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Merging verb cluster variation

Linguistic Variation ◽

10.1075/lv.00008.bar ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 144-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sjef Barbiers ◽

Hans Bennis ◽

Lotte Dros-Hendriks

Keyword(s):

Word Order ◽

Verbal Material ◽

Syntactic Knowledge ◽

Word Order Variation ◽

Order Variation ◽

Language Area ◽

Verb Clusters ◽

Dutch Language ◽

Cluster Variation ◽

Occurrence Patterns

Abstract In this paper we argue that verb clusters in Dutch varieties are merged and linearized in fully ascending (1-2-3) or fully descending (3-2-1) orders. We argue that verb clusters that deviate from these orders involve non-verbal material: adjectival participles, or nominal infinitives. As a result, our approach does not involve any unmotivated movements that are specific for verb clusters. Support for our analysis comes from (i) the interpretation of verb clusters; (ii) the fact that order variation depends on the types of verbs involved, which can be explained by selectional requirements of the verbs; and (iii) the geographic co-occurrence patterns of various orders. First, the 1-3-2 and 3-1-2 orders are argued to be ascending orders with a non-verbal 3. Indeed these orders occur in grammars that have ascending, rather than descending, verb clusters. Secondly, the 1-3-2 order is argued to be an interrupted V1-V2 cluster with a non-verbal 3. Indeed, this order is most common in the region where non-verbal material can interrupt the verb cluster. Our analysis of word order variation in verb clusters in terms of principles of grammar is further supported by an experiment in which we asked a large number of speakers distributed over the Dutch language area to rank all logically possible orders, including orders that are not common in their own variety of Dutch. The results demonstrate that speakers apply their syntactic knowledge to rank verb cluster orders that they do not use themselves. We argue that this knowledge cannot be due to familiarity with the various orders.

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Die Aufnahme von Ilse Aichingers Die größere Hoffnung im niederländischen Sprachraum

Internationales Archiv für Sozialgeschichte der deutschen Literatur ◽

10.1515/iasl-2012-0016 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Els Andringa

Keyword(s):

Language Area ◽

Dutch Language

AbstractThis article sketches the reception of Die größere Hoffnung in the Dutch language area from the first reviews in the early fifties up to the present day. The focus is on Frank Schuitemaker’s translation which appeared in 1981 together with an introduction to Aichinger’s life and work. A few examples show that the translator based his choices on a careful interpretation and thorough knowledge of Aichinger’s work. Nevertheless the reception remained modest, despite evidence of increased interest after the second edition appeared in 1987, the year in which Aichinger received the Europalia price.

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Breyten Breytenbachs poëzie in Raster

Tydskrif vir Letterkunde ◽

10.17159/2309-9070/tvl.v.54i2.435 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 26-41

Author(s):

Camille Bourgeus ◽

Yves T'Sjoen

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Political Engagement ◽

Common Belief ◽

Poetic Language ◽

Shared Interest ◽

Graphic Artist ◽

Metaphoric Language ◽

Language Area ◽

Dutch Language ◽

African Writer

From 1969 until 1972 the South-African writer and graphic artist Breyten Breytenbach published 29 poems, prose texts and three drawings in the Dutch experimental periodical Raster (first edition: 1967). H. C. ten Berge, writer, poet and Raster's main editor, attributed Breytenbach an unusually prominentÂ position in his magazine. In the Dutch language area of the late sixties and early seventies, Breytenbach was mostly known for his political engagement within the anti-apartheid movement. Ten Berge, however, also praised his work for its formal and experimental aesthetic qualities. According to Ten Berge experiment and engagement are related to one another in a very unique way. By examining the position of Breytenbach in Raster, the paper presents a documentation of the exceptional literary relationship between Breytenbach and Ten Berge, as well as their shared interest in certain motifs in poetry, the use of a specific metaphoric language (e.g. perception of nature and body) and a common belief in the power of poetic language.

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