Flemish language
- noun
- The Flemish language is widely spoken in the northern part of Belgium.
Examples
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Many Belgians in Flanders use the Flemish language at home and in schools.
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She is fluent in both French and the Flemish language.
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Many people in Belgium speak the Flemish language.
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Is Flemish language different from Dutch?
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Many Belgians in Flanders use the Flemish language at home and in schools.
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She is fluent in both French and the Flemish language.
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The Flemish language is widely spoken in the northern part of Belgium.
Synonyms
A form of Dutch spoken in northern Belgium
A form of Dutch spoken in northern Belgium
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'Flemish' names the language variety and 'language' denotes a spoken/written system, so together they mean 'the language called Flemish'. This is a straightforward adjective+noun/compound pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.
Etymology
Flemish language gets its name from the people of Flanders, the northern part of Belgium, who spoke a local form of speech. Because those people used a local form of 'Dutch', Flemish language came to mean the version of 'Dutch' spoken in Belgium today.