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Line 1: − − ==Use of apostrophe== − − Apostrophe + lower case s ('s) + word beginning with upper case letter can often be found at the beginning of a sentence, e.g. − − : 's Ochtends/'s Middags/'s Avonds − − This derives from the old Dutch ''des ochtends'', ''des middags'' and ''des avonds'', in which ''des'' is an inflected article, meaning "of the morning/afternoon/evening". Some Southern dialects use the terms ''vandemorgend'', ''vandemiddag'', and ''vandenavond'' literally translating the more archaic forms of "des" with "vande(n)".[http://www.translationdirectory.com/article658.htm] Line 16:
Line 8: − + − + − ==See Also== − The [[Afrikaans|Afrikaans language]] +
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''.
'''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==
==Status in Belgium==
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.
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-. 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.
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?"
''Hebban olla vogala nestas hagunnan, hinase hic enda thu, uuat unbidan uue nu.'' In modern Dutch it would look like the following: ''Alle vogelen zijn aan hun nesten begonnen, behalve ik en jij, waarop wachten we nu''
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==
==References==
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