Mercator Newsletter n°56, news 23
English is an increasingly important language in the Netherlands and Flanders. Over 80% of teaching in the 'master level' is in English and business and entertainment industry slowly but surely get also English. Some have thought that the Dutch language suffer of the increase of English. There are few evidence for this; the Dutch speak their language all smooth and every day.
There is also thought that the Dutch and Flanders overestimate their knowledge of English. And of course there is plenty to improve, but on average the Dutch and Flanders speak excellent English. However, the interest in secondary schools for the German and French language decrease. Fewer people choose to study those languages, and university studies in non-English languages are increasingly reduced. The Dutch speaking people, who praised for their skills in various foreign languages, can barely speak in a language other than Dutch or English. Even the treasures they have in house - the multilingualism that immigration brings - sold off.
That
means also that translations the Dutch read mainly come from English.
They are a kind of British or Americans who happen to have their own
home language and that will continue. Intensive contact with other
cultures therefore is becoming less and less ‘these people should learn
English if they want to talk with us. English is still the universal
language?”
English doesn’t threat the Dutch language: it threatens
the knowledge of French, German, Italian, Spanish and other languages.
They are getting bilingual but losing their multilingualism.