Dutch

Dutch is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people, mainly in the Netherlands and Belgium, and by smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. It is the third most widely spoken Germanic language, after English and German.

History

The history of the Dutch language begins around AD 450–500, after the western Germanic tribes moved into the area of the Roman Empire in the Netherlands and Belgium. The language, then called Old Dutch, was heavily influenced by the Latin spoken by the Romans and by the Old Norse of the Viking invaders.

Dialects

Dutch has a number of dialects, which are primarily used in the rural areas of the Netherlands and Belgium. These dialects are often so different from standard Dutch that they are considered separate languages by some linguists.

Grammar

Dutch grammar is similar to that of other West Germanic languages, especially Afrikaans and German. It includes the use of noun genders, strong and weak verbs, and a complex system of pronouns.

Vocabulary

The vocabulary of Dutch is mostly Germanic in origin, with loanwords from Latin, French, and English. It also has a number of words unique to Dutch.

Writing system

Dutch uses the Latin alphabet, with the addition of a few diacritical marks. The spelling system is relatively phonetic, with a few exceptions.

See also

• Germanic languages
• West Germanic languages
• Afrikaans
• German
• English

References

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