Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
Editor and Book Reviews Editor: John Edwards (St Francis Xavier University, Canada)
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Volume: 23 Number: 1 Page: 36–49
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The Dutch-French Language Border in Belgium
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Roland Willemyns
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This article is restricted to a description of language border fluctuations in Belgium as far as its Dutch-French portion is concerned. After a brief description of the so-called 'language question' in
Belgium the notion of language border is discussed in general. Then comes an overview of the status and function of the language border in Belgium and of the actual language border fluctuations as they
have occurred up to the present day. Two problem areas: the 'Voerstreek' and the Brussels suburban region are discussed in more detail. Afterwards language shift and change through erosion in Brussels are
analysed as well as the part played in that process by linguistic legislation, language planning and sociolinguistic developments. Finally a typology of language border change is drawn up and the patterns
of change are identified in order to explain and account for the almost unique nature of the Belgian portion of the Romance-Germanic language border.
© Multilingual Matters 2002
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