Re: "Dutch English"; language death on Phalera [was Re: Active and Passive please help]
| From: | Christophe Grandsire <christophe.grandsire@...> |
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| Date: | Tuesday, December 18, 2001, 14:06 |
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En réponse à Almaran Dungeonmaster <dungeonmaster@...>:
>
> I don't know the exact numbers, but 80% sounds reasonable. English has
> been
> accepted as the language of business and science in The Netherlands. All
> my
> university books and readers (including those written by Dutch
> professors)
> are in English, english programms on TV are subtitled in Dutch.
Not only English :))) . It's nice to watch sometimes French movies in original
version. I've been told that the real reason why every foreign program is
subtitled in the Netherlands and not dubbed is that it's much cheaper :))) .
Since the Netherlands are the most litterate country in the world (more than
99% of the population can read and write), it doesn't bring much trouble. Only
little children who cannot read yet get their programs dubbed.
There
> is
> also a trend among many young dutch people to have an aversion against
> translated English: voiced-over movies are for little children,
Which made me wonder how they would treat Harry Potter :))) . AFAIK both
versions: dubbed and subtitled, have been released.
> translated
> novels are for stupid people etc. This is not absolute, but among my
> friends
> (between 18 and 25, below academic level of schooling) I see this
> behaviour
> often.
>
Well, I'm not sure about translated novels. I have a hard time finding books in
original version around here in The Hague. I had absolutely no problems with
that when I lived in Paris and even when I lived in Rouen (which is quite a
small town in France).
> English is quickly on its way of becoming a kinf of second official
> language
> in The Netherlands (and, of course, there are pursitans who want to keep
> our
> language free from foreign influences and bla bla bla....)
>
Well, you're managing quite well. Most international words that are common to
French, English and a few other languages are translated with Dutch roots in
Dutch, and most people actually use them! (being a Ph.D. myself, it obliges me
to switch back to English as soon as I speak about scientific matters).
Christophe.
http://rainbow.conlang.free.fr
Take your life as a movie: do not let anybody else play the leading role.
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