La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français

The history of the French language in the current French-speaking regions of Belgium is the result of the complex relations between French and Walloon, as well as a long-standing tension related to identity, where the need is felt to distinguish oneself from France while sharing its language. This a...

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Main Author: Armel Wynants
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Université de Bretagne Occidentale – UBO 1998-10-01
Series:La Bretagne Linguistique
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lbl/3720
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author Armel Wynants
author_facet Armel Wynants
author_sort Armel Wynants
collection DOAJ
description The history of the French language in the current French-speaking regions of Belgium is the result of the complex relations between French and Walloon, as well as a long-standing tension related to identity, where the need is felt to distinguish oneself from France while sharing its language. This article first recalls that contrary to the opinion that was dominant in the 19th century, Central French in written form was early adopted in the area, from the Middle Ages on, leaving Walloon to appear only by inadvertence. It was in the 19th century that literature in Walloon developed. But it remained restricted: the construction of Belgian identity was based on the paradox of an apology for its Flemish roots, expressed through the French language. This situation lasted until Flanders made its linguistic claim heard. The result was a new interest in Walloon specificities, without however putting off a pragmatic attitude towards standard French.
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spelling doaj.art-f290915394954d35b4cd785b91858c812024-02-13T10:43:39ZfraUniversité de Bretagne Occidentale – UBOLa Bretagne Linguistique1270-24122727-93831998-10-011232333510.4000/lbl.3720La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le françaisArmel WynantsThe history of the French language in the current French-speaking regions of Belgium is the result of the complex relations between French and Walloon, as well as a long-standing tension related to identity, where the need is felt to distinguish oneself from France while sharing its language. This article first recalls that contrary to the opinion that was dominant in the 19th century, Central French in written form was early adopted in the area, from the Middle Ages on, leaving Walloon to appear only by inadvertence. It was in the 19th century that literature in Walloon developed. But it remained restricted: the construction of Belgian identity was based on the paradox of an apology for its Flemish roots, expressed through the French language. This situation lasted until Flanders made its linguistic claim heard. The result was a new interest in Walloon specificities, without however putting off a pragmatic attitude towards standard French.https://journals.openedition.org/lbl/3720normFrench (language)is there a French sociolinguistic exception? (colloquium)BelgiumWalloon (language)Liège
spellingShingle Armel Wynants
La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
La Bretagne Linguistique
norm
French (language)
is there a French sociolinguistic exception? (colloquium)
Belgium
Walloon (language)
Liège
title La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
title_full La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
title_fullStr La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
title_full_unstemmed La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
title_short La Belgique francophone, la Wallonie et le français
title_sort la belgique francophone la wallonie et le francais
topic norm
French (language)
is there a French sociolinguistic exception? (colloquium)
Belgium
Walloon (language)
Liège
url https://journals.openedition.org/lbl/3720
work_keys_str_mv AT armelwynants labelgiquefrancophonelawallonieetlefrancais