Colloquiums in German and Dutch: Wim Vandenbussche on multilingualism in Belgium

Seminar

Date: Tuesday 11 February 2025

Time: 13.00 – 14.30

Location: E509 (and Zoom)

Guest lecture by Wim Vandenbussche, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, with the title "Babel in action: Belgium beyond the myth of monolingual Flanders, bilingual Brussels, and trilingual state".

Abstract: Babel in action: Belgium beyond the myth of monolingual Flanders, bilingual Brussels, and trilingual state

In the popular international press, Belgium often qualifies as a site of perennial language conflict between Flemings and Walloons. While official language legislation provides for specific rights for Dutch, French, and German, the traditional image of linguistic segregation fails to capture the multilingual dynamics that characterize Flanders, Brussels and Belgium in the first quarter of the 21st century. Using data from recent research projects at VUB, I will argue that Belgium and Brussels have fundamentally changed into hotspots of multilingual diversity. I will also reflect on the possible consequences of these changes on the legal and geo-political organisation of the country.

The seminar will be in English. Please contact Hanna Henryson (hanna.henryson@tyska.su.se) for more information and for the Zoom link (when applicable)!

Theme

Last updated: January 27, 2025

Source: Sections for German and Dutch

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