Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Dutch language

2016-07-16T14:48:54Z

The Fleming: lay out

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However, due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This led to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occurred in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation
|-
| b || '''b'''ed
|-
| c || '''c'''ute
|-
| d || '''d'''oor
|-
|d͡ʒ || '''j'''eans
|-
| f || '''f'''un
|-
| g || '''g'''ood
|-
| ɣ || Spanish fue'''g'''o
|-
| ɦ || '''h'''ave, voiced "h"
|-
| ʔ || uh'''-'''oh
|-
| j || '''y'''llow
|-
| k || '''c'''an
|-
| l || '''l'''eaf
|-
| m || '''m'''eat
|-
| n || '''n'''eat
|-
| ɲ || El Ni'''ñ'''o
|-
| ŋ || lo'''ng'''
|-
| p || '''p'''ole
|-
| r || Spanish "r"
|-
| s || '''s'''ilver
|-
| ʃ || '''sh'''ell
|-
| t || '''t'''ax
|-
| t͡ʃ || '''ch'''eck
|-
| v || '''v'''an
|-
| ʋ || between a "w" and "v"
|-
| x || Scottish lo'''ch'''
|-
| z || ro'''s'''e
|-
| ʒ || vi'''s'''ion
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category:Germanic Languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-07-16T14:46:54Z

The Fleming: lay out

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However, due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This led to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occurred in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
!IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation ! IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation
|- |-
| b || '''b'''ed ! ɑ || n'''u'''t
|- |-
| c || '''c'''ute ! ɛ || p'''e'''t
|- |-
| d || '''d'''oor ! ɪ || th'''i'''n
|- |-
|d͡ʒ || '''j'''eans ! ɔ || kn'''o'''t
|- |-
| f || '''f'''un ! ɵ || short b'''i'''rd
|- |-
| g || '''g'''ood ! u || f'''oo'''t
|- |}
| ɣ || Spanish fue'''g'''o
|-
| ɦ || '''h'''ave, voiced "h"
|-
| ʔ || uh'''-'''oh
|-
| j || '''y'''llow
|-
| k || '''c'''an
|-
| l || '''l'''eaf
|-
| m || '''m'''eat
|-
| n || '''n'''eat
|-
| ɲ || El Ni'''ñ'''o
|-
| ŋ || lo'''ng'''
|-
| p || '''p'''ole
|-
| r || Spanish "r"
|-
| s || '''s'''ilver
|-
| ʃ || '''sh'''ell
|-
| t || '''t'''ax
|-
| t͡ʃ || '''ch'''eck
|-
| v || '''v'''an
|-
| ʋ || between a "w" and "v"
|-
| x || Scottish lo'''ch'''
|-
| z || ro'''s'''e
|-
| ʒ || vi'''s'''ion
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category:Germanic Languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-07-16T14:43:55Z

The Fleming: vowels added

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However, due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This led to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occurred in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
!IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation ! IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation
|- |-
| b || '''b'''ed | ɑ || n'''u'''t
|- |-
| c || '''c'''ute | ɛ || p'''e'''t
|- |-
| d || '''d'''oor | ɪ || th'''i'''n
|- |-
|d͡ʒ || '''j'''eans | ɔ || kn'''o'''t
|- |-
| f || '''f'''un | ɵ || short b'''i'''rd
|- |-
| g || '''g'''ood | u || f'''oo'''t
|- |}
| ɣ || Spanish fue'''g'''o
|-
| ɦ || '''h'''ave, voiced "h"
|-
| ʔ || uh'''-'''oh
|-
| j || '''y'''llow
|-
| k || '''c'''an
|-
| l || '''l'''eaf
|-
| m || '''m'''eat
|-
| n || '''n'''eat
|-
| ɲ || El Ni'''ñ'''o
|-
| ŋ || lo'''ng'''
|-
| p || '''p'''ole
|-
| r || Spanish "r"
|-
| s || '''s'''ilver
|-
| ʃ || '''sh'''ell
|-
| t || '''t'''ax
|-
| t͡ʃ || '''ch'''eck
|-
| v || '''v'''an
|-
| ʋ || between a "w" and "v"
|-
| x || Scottish lo'''ch'''
|-
| z || ro'''s'''e
|-
| ʒ || vi'''s'''ion
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category:Germanic Languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Debate:Should Americans be required to buy health insurance?

2016-06-06T13:28:29Z

The Fleming: NO: edited second paragraph, added last sentence of the third paragraph, added two more paragraphs

'''Should Americans be required to buy health insurance?'''

==YES==

There are 47 million Americans without health insurance.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/80897.php</ref>

The result of the above mentioned people being without cover is a death rate estimated to be around 45,000/year<ref>http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/medicine-health/articles/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-lack-health-coverage</ref>

Current schemes result in high costs for Americans, and are responsible for around 60% of all declarations of bankruptcy.<ref>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/american_journal_of_medicine_09.pdf</ref>

For the above reasons, the humanitarian/utilitarian decision is evidently to support public funded healthcare in the United States of America. Furthermore, from an ecconomically motivated point of view it is also beneficial, as the cost of healthcare in other nations currently implementing a taxpayer funded system is demonstrably lower than that in the United States<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934556.html</ref>, where individuals have to find their own insurance.

It is also worth noting that there have been many cases of insurance companies either 1) denying cover for those with pre-existing conditions (thus leaving them incapable of surviving without government funding, and creating a burden for the taxpayer much higher than it would be in a public system) or 2) exploiting legal loopholes to deny cover paid for for arbitrary reasons.

The opposition argues that as "Millions of the people without insurance here aren't Americans; they are illegal aliens.". The implication made by the opponents is that because the uninsured are not american citizens they are somehow inferior. We would like to highlight for the opposition that holding Citizenship of the United States does not place one at a higher status or priority in regard to medical care, and that to decline care for aliens merely because they are so is contradictory to the "golden rule" honoured by -among many other doctrines- the Holy Bible.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==NO==

It's unconstitutional to make people buy something. Neither doctors nor hospitals here turn patients away if they lack insurance, and many will treat first, bill later (even if they know you can't pay them).

Millions of the people without insurance here aren't Americans; they are illegal aliens. Also in European countries, where there is a government controlled health care system, illegal immigrants and refugees do not have health care as either officially do not exist, or it is not known whether they will remain in the country. These people's status is actually quite comparable to foreign tourists who neither have a health insurance in the United States.

And around 10 million Americans are only without insurance because they are between jobs; it takes such a person typically 4 months to get a new job (and with it, [[health insurance]]).

Amendment 14 of the US constitution "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States." We would benefit better by standing against the government telling us what to do. The Democrat government could also have simply founded a health care system for people who could not afford one instead of forcing a large majority of Americans into its health care system.

A government should only intervene in health care issues if charity organisations cannot support the needy anymore and human lives are at risk. Forcing people to support cancer patients and others who live a responsible lifestyle but still cannot afford treatment is obligating people to save a life when they can which is a law in many American states. This is quite different from the liberal government using these issues to control more of its citizen's private space.

Being native to a European country and still living there, I can tell that a government controlled health system reduces self-initiative charity of citizens. More and more people simply consider it the responsibility of "Mother State" to take care of them and their co-citizens. This is not a Biblical way of charity, as citizens are simply paying a "charitable" institution rather than being charitable themselves.

[[category:Conservapedia Debates]]

Dutch language

2016-05-29T20:50:02Z

The Fleming: soundtable added

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This lead to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occured in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!IPA Sound !! Approximate Pronunciation
|-
| b || '''b'''ed
|-
| c || '''c'''ute
|-
| d || '''d'''oor
|-
|d͡ʒ || '''j'''eans
|-
| f || '''f'''un
|-
| g || '''g'''ood
|-
| ɣ || Spanish fue'''g'''o
|-
| ɦ || '''h'''ave, voiced "h"
|-
| ʔ || uh'''-'''oh
|-
| j || '''y'''llow
|-
| k || '''c'''an
|-
| l || '''l'''eaf
|-
| m || '''m'''eat
|-
| n || '''n'''eat
|-
| ɲ || El Ni'''ñ'''o
|-
| ŋ || lo'''ng'''
|-
| p || '''p'''ole
|-
| r || Spanish "r"
|-
| s || '''s'''ilver
|-
| ʃ || '''sh'''ell
|-
| t || '''t'''ax
|-
| t͡ʃ || '''ch'''eck
|-
| v || '''v'''an
|-
| ʋ || between a "w" and "v"
|-
| x || Scottish lo'''ch'''
|-
| z || ro'''s'''e
|-
| ʒ || vi'''s'''ion
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category: Germanic languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-05-29T19:55:25Z

The Fleming: phonology improved

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This lead to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occured in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! !! Labial !! Dental/Alveolar !! Palatal !! Velar !! Glottal !
|-
! Nasal !| m || n || ɲ || ŋ || Example ||
|-
! Plosive !| b, p || d, t || || g, k || ʔ*
|-
! Affricative !| Example || Example || d͡ʒ, t͡ʃ** || c*** || Example
|-
! Fricative !| v, f || z, s || ʒ, ʃ** || ɣ, x || ɦ
|-
! Approximant !| ʋ || || j || Example || Example
|-
! Lateral !| Example || l || Example || Example || Example
|-
! Rhotic !| r |
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category: Germanic languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-05-29T19:16:27Z

The Fleming: phonology added

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This lead to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occured in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.

==Phonology==

Dutch phonology differs from other Germanic languages in that it does not aspirate its initial voiceless consonants. Just like German, voiced consonants are realized as voiceless consonants at a final word position. Also, Dutch lacks alveolar palatal consonants except in some cases.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Header text !! Labial !! Dental/Alveolar !! Palatal !! Velar !! Glottal !
|-
! Nasal !| m || n || Example || Example Example
|
! Plosive !| b, p || d, t || || g, k || ʔ**
|-
! Affricative !| Example || Example || Example || Example || Example
|-
! Fricative !| Example || Example || Example || Example || Example
|-
! Approximant !| Example || Example || Example || Example || Example
|-
! Lateral !| Example || Example || Example || Example || Example
|-
! Rhotic !|
|}
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category: Germanic languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-05-24T14:18:30Z

The Fleming: history has been completed and one paragraph has been deleted

'''Dutch''' (''Nederlands'') is a West [[Germanic language]] spoken by approximately 22 million people. It is the main language of the [[Netherlands]] and [[Suriname]], and one of the official languages of [[Belgium]]. The Dutch language in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname is regulated by the ''Nederlandse Taalunie''.

==Status in Belgium==
Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and German. Only in the five northern provinces, collectively known as the "Flemish Region" (''Vlaams Gewest''), is Dutch the official language where it is also unofficially labeled as ''Vlaams'' meaning Flemish. Until the 19th century, the majority of the population in [[Brussels]], the Belgian capital, still had Dutch as its native language. However due to favored position of French following the establishment of the Belgian Kingdom, many Flemings were forced to speak French in order to achieve a higher status in society. This lead to the increase of French speakers in the city and its surroundings. Today, only a small portion of Brussels' inhabitants speak Dutch as a native language.

==History==

The development of the Dutch language is divided into three periods: Old Dutch, Middle Dutch, and Modern Dutch. Old Dutch developed mainly from a group of West Germanic dialects called Istvaeonic. Next to that, the language also contained North Sea Germanic influences due to its proximity to the North Sea and influences from the nearby Frisians who in some areas lived together with the Low Frankish tribes (ancestors of the Dutch-speaking people). During the Middle Ages, Dutch underwent some influence from French but this never extended to the same degree as with the English language.

Old Dutch started to distinguish itself from other West Germanic dialects during the 7th century by the lengthening of vowels between to consonants and the realization of -ks- to -ss- and -ft- to -ht-; ''better → beter,foxes → vusso, and after → ahter''. Although most literature in these times was Latin, some sources written in Old Dutch have been preserved including the famous citation of a Flemish monk residing in England. ''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, wat unbidan we nu?'' "All birds have begun their nests, except for me and you, what are we waiting for now?"

About 1150, Old Dutch developed into Middle Dutch. By this time, some changes had occured in the language's phonology. The unstressed vowels in words were reduced to a schwa sound, ''vogala → vogele'', and the "th" sound was realized as "d", ''thu → du''. In the following centuries, literature in Dutch, then called ''Diets'' started to imerge including ''Leven van Sente Servas'' and the first encyclopedia written in the Dutch language ''Der Naturen Bloemen''.

During the 15th century Middle Dutch evolved into Modern Dutch. By this time the phonology had changed to what it is today. The "sc" changed into "sch" and the long "i" in some words became "ij", pronounced as ɛɪ. In the 17th century, the Dutch Reformed Church translated the Bible into their own language which marked the beginning of a Dutch standard language. This form of Dutch was most influenced by the Southern dialect, Flemish and Brabantian, where the cultural center was located. Later, it was much influenced by the dialect of Holland which was the most powerful province of the Dutch Republic.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==
*[http://www.taalunie.nl Nederlandse Taalunie website]

[[Category: Germanic languages]]
[[Category:Suriname]]
[[Category:Netherlands]]

Dutch language

2016-05-24T13:22:03Z

The Fleming: old dutch information increased

Dutch language

2016-05-24T13:15:49Z

The Fleming: status in Belgium and the language's development in history have been edited

Dutch language

2016-05-24T09:45:56Z

The Fleming: corrected

Dutch language

2016-05-24T09:42:54Z

The Fleming: information has been added and some misunderstandings have been corrected

Irish language

2016-05-23T20:34:21Z

The Fleming: corrected

'''Irish''' (''Gaeilge''), also called Irish Gaelic, is a language native to Ireland. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages together with Scottish [[Gaelic]] and Manx Gaelic, now theoretically extinct. Irish is the national language of the Republic of Ireland, and is recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union. Today, Irish is only spoken by a minority of the Irish population living in remote areas called the ''Gaeltacht''.
Although approximately one-third of the Irish population claims to have some knowledge of Irish.

Before the 17th century, Irish was still a majority language on the Island of Ireland. After that time, however, the language was slowly replaced by English due to British dominance and suppression of the native culture. The number of speakers dropped drastically after the Great Famine of the 1840s which resulted in a great loss of population due to starvation, illness, and emigration especially from areas with a predominantly Irish-speaking population. Today, only 140,000 people speak the language on a daily basis. Since the establishment of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government has promoted the Irish language, and nowadays, the language is taught in most schools in the Irish Republic.

Although a minority language today, Irish played a significant role in Early Medieval literature and is sometimes counted with the Classical languages such as [[Greek]] and [[Latin]]. While culture seemed to be lost in Continental Europe following the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], Irish literature flourished and continued to do so until the 1600s. These days, Irish people are still very proud of their language and consider it important for the Irish identity to preserve the language.
[[Category:Ireland]]

Irish language

2016-05-23T20:32:22Z

The Fleming: corrected and improved

'''Irish''' (''Gaeilge''), also called Irish Gaelic, is a language native to Ireland. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages together with Scottish [[Gaelic]] and Manx Gaelic, now theoretically extinct. Irish is the national language of the Republic of Ireland, and is recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union. Today, Irish is only spoken by a minority of the Irish population living in remote areas called the ''Gaeltacht''.
Although approximately one-third of the Irish population claims to have some knowledge of Irish.

Before the 17th century, Irish was still a majority language on the Island of Ireland. After that time, however, the language was slowly replaced by English due to British dominance and suppression of the native culture. The number of speakers dropped drastically after the Great Famine of the 1840s which resulted in a great loss of population due to starvation, illness, and emigration especially from areas with a predominantly Irish-speaking population. Today, only 140,000 people speak the language on a daily basis. Since the establishment of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government has promoted the Irish language, and at present, the language is taught in most schools in the Irish Republic.

Although a minority language today, Irish played a significant role in Early Medieval literature and is sometimes counted with the Classical languages such as [[Greek]] and [[Latin]]. While culture seemed to be lost in Continental Europe following the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], Irish literature flourished and continued to do so until the 1600s. These days, Irish people are still very proud of their language and consider it important for the Irish identity to preserve the language.
[[Category:Ireland]]

Irish language

2016-05-23T19:49:02Z

The Fleming: corrected

'''Irish''' (''Gaeilge''), also called Irish Gaelic, is a language native to Ireland. It belongs to the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages together with Scottish [[Gaelic]] and Manx Gaelic, now theoretically extinct. Irish is the national language of the Republic of Ireland, and is recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union. Today, Irish is only spoken by a minority of the Irish population living in remote areas called the ''Gaeltacht''.

Before the 17th century, Irish was still a majority language on the Island of Ireland. After that time, however, the language was slowly replaced by English due to British dominance and suppression of the native culture, and the number of speakers dropped drastically after the Great Famine of the 1840s which resulted in a great loss of population due to starvation, illness, and emigration especially from areas with a predominantly Irish-speaking population. Today, only 140,000 people speak the language on a daily basis. Since the establishment of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government has promoted the Irish language, and it is taught in most schools throughout the country. As a result of this, approximately one-third of the Irish population has some knowledge of Irish.

Although a minority language today, Irish played a significant role in Early Medieval literature and is sometimes counted with the Classical languages such as [[Greek]] and [[Latin]]. While culture seemed to be lost in Continental Europe following the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], Irish literature flourished and continued to do so until the 1600s. These days, Irish people are still very proud of their language and consider it important for the Irish identity to preserve the language.
[[Category:Ireland]]

Irish language

2016-05-23T19:46:55Z

The Fleming: The language's description, status, and history has been broadened

'''Irish''' (''Gaeilge''), also called Irish Gaelic, is a language native to Ireland. It nelongs to the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages together with Scottish [[Gaelic]] and Manx Gaelic, now theoretically extinct. Irish is national language of the Republic of Ireland, and is recognized as a minority language in Northern Ireland. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union. Today, Irish is only spoken by a minority of the Irish population living in remote areas called the '''Gaeltacht'''.

Before the 17th century, Irish was still a majority language on the Island of Ireland. After that time however, the language was slowly replaced by English due to British dominance and suppression of the native culture, and the number of speakers dropped drastically after the Great Famine of the 1840s which resulted in a great loss of population due to starvation, illness, and emigration especially from areas with a predominantly Irish-speaking population. Today, only 140,000 people speak the language on a daily basis. Since the establishment of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish government has promoted the Irish language, and it is taught in most schools throughout the country. As a result of this, approximately one-third of the Irish population has some knowledge of Irish.

Although a minority language today, Irish played a significant role in Early Medieval literature and is sometimes counted with the Classical languages such as [[Greek]] and [[Latin]]. While culture seemed to be lost in Continental Europe following the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], Irish literature flourished and continued to do so until the 1600s. These days, Irish people are still very proud of their language and consider it important for the Irish identity to preserve the language.
[[Category:Ireland]]