Culture of The Netherlands - Language

Language

The main language is Dutch, while West Frisian is also a recognized language and it is used by the government in the province of Friesland. Several dialects of Low Saxon (Nedersaksisch in Dutch) are spoken in much of the north and east and are recognized by the Netherlands as regional languages according to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Another Dutch dialect granted the status of regional language is Limburgish, which is spoken in the south-eastern province of Limburg. However, both Dutch Low Saxon and Limburgish spread across the Dutch-German border and belong to a common Dutch-Low German dialect continuum.

Read more about this topic:  Culture Of The Netherlands

Famous quotes containing the word language:

    Because language is the carrier of ideas, it is easy to believe that it should be very little else than such a carrier.
    Louise Bogan (1897–1970)

    The writer’s language is to some degree the product of his own action; he is both the historian and the agent of his own language.
    Paul De Man (1919–1983)

    Syntax and vocabulary are overwhelming constraints—the rules that run us. Language is using us to talk—we think we’re using the language, but language is doing the thinking, we’re its slavish agents.
    Harry Mathews (b. 1930)