Belgium Languages: Difference between revisions

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The major languages of records in Belgium are Flemish (Dutch) in the North, and Walloon (French) in the South, and German in the East.  Latin was used extensively, particularly in Catholic records.
== Background ==
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Belgium has always been linguistically divided and to this day there is much political division between the different regions of Belgium. Belgium can be divided into four broad regions:
*In '''Flanders''' (Vlaanderen), the language was and is Flemish, a variant of Dutch
*In '''Brussels''', the local language was traditionally Flemish, but since 1800 has been progressively displaced by French. Brussels has been designated a bilingual area but in practice only 10% of modern day Brussels speaks Dutch.
*In '''Wallonia''', the local language is French.
*In parts of '''Liege''' that were annexed from Germany following WW1, German is still used.


What a genealogist needs to know is Catholic [[Belgium Church Records|church records]] always used Latin. Other churches used the local language. [[Belgium Civil Registration|Civil registration]] and government records can be written in either French or Flemish depending on the area and the political situation at the time. Any other records are likely to be written in the local language.  
The major languages of records in Belgium are Flemish (Dutch) in the North, and Walloon (French) in the South, and German in the East. Latin was used extensively, particularly in Catholic records.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Belgium,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1999.</ref>
== Dutch ==
*[[Dutch Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Media:1-NL_Civil_Registration_Birth_Records-Instruction.pdf|Reading Dutch Birth Records]] (PDF)
*[[Media:1-NL_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Reading Dutch Marriage Records]] (PDF)
*[[Media:1-NL_Civil_Registration_Death_Records-Instruction.pdf|Reading Dutch Death Records]] (PDF)
Classes in the FamilySearch Learning Center
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/beginner-dutch-handwriting-quirks-dutch-names Beginner Dutch Handwriting]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/names-in-belgium-and-the-netherlands Names in Belgium and the Netherlands]


===Online Classes===
[[File:Belgium Languages.png|700px]]
::{{LearningCenter2|93|Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 1: The Dutch Alphabet}}.
::{{LearningCenter2|94|Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Dutch Words and Dates}}.
::{{LearningCenter2|95|Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Dutch Records}}.


== German ==
==Dutch Records==
You do not have to be fluent to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them.  By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately.  Here are some resources for learning to read German records:
*[[Dutch Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Word List|German Genealogical Word List]]
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/93 Reading Dutch Handwritten Records]
*[[Germany Handwriting]]
*[https://s3.amazonaws.com/ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252/s3/research-wiki-elasticsearch-prod-s3bucket/images/0/05/1-NL_Civil_Registration_Birth_Records-Instruction.pdf Reading Dutch Birth Records]  
*Brigham Young University [https://script.byu.edu/german-handwriting/introduction German Script Tutorial]
*[https://s3.amazonaws.com/ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252/s3/research-wiki-elasticsearch-prod-s3bucket/images/e/ef/1-NL_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf Reading Dutch Marriage Records]
*[https://s3.amazonaws.com/ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252/s3/research-wiki-elasticsearch-prod-s3bucket/images/0/0f/1-NL_Civil_Registration_Death_Records-Instruction.pdf Reading Dutch Death Records]
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/884 Names in Belgium and the Netherlands]
==German Records==


These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
*It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in French and German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them.  By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately.  Here are some resources for learning to read German records.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/german-paleography-seminar-introduction German Paleography Seminar] - 10 lessons
:::[[German Word List|German Genealogical Word List]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-1 Old German Script Part 1]
:::[[Germany Handwriting|German Handwriting]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-2 Old German Script Part 2]
*These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-german-church-and-civil-records-part-3 Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3]
:*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/375 Old German Script Part 1]
:*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/377 Old German Script Part 2]
:*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/426 Old German Script (German Church and Civil Records) Part 3]
*Also online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:
:*{{LearningCenter2|38|'''Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters'''}}
:*{{LearningCenter2|39|'''Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent'''}}
:*{{LearningCenter2|40|'''Reading German Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents'''}}. In this lesson, you will explore several types of German genealogical records, including birth, baptismal, marriage, and death records.
:*[https://script.byu.edu/Pages/German/en/intro.aspx '''German Script Tutorial''']
This converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script:
*[http://www.kurrentschrift.net/index.php?s=schreiben: Kurrentschrift Converter] (enter German genealogical word, click on "convert", view your word in Kurrentschrift (Gothic handwriting)


The [http://www.kurrentschrift.net/index.php?s=schreiben Deutsche Kurrenschrift] converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script. Click on '''Schreibübung''' (Writing exercise), type a word and click on '''umwandeln''' (convert) to view the word in Kurrentschrift.
== French Records==
You do not have to be fluent in French to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read French records.
:::[[French Genealogical Word List|French Genealogical Word List]]
:::[[French Handwriting|French Handwriting]].
*There is a three-lesson course in reading French Records:
::::{{LearningCenter2|83|Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 1: The French Alphabet}},  
::::{{LearningCenter2|84|Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Key Words and Phrases}}
::::{{LearningCenter2|86|Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading French Records}}


== French ==
*For more instruction on using these records, see:
You do not have to be fluent to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them.  By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately.  These articles will be useful in helping you learn to read French records: [[French Genealogical Word List|French Genealogical Word List]] and  [[French Handwriting|French Handwriting]]. For additional help see [[France Church Records]] and [[France Civil Registration]].
** [[France Church Records|France Church Records]]
**[[France Civil Registration- Vital Records|France Civil Registration- Vital Records]].  
**[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Chapter_1:_OLD_FRENCH_RECORDS  Chapter 1: OLD FRENCH RECORDS]
**[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Chapter_2:_PARISH_CHRISTENING_AND_CIVIL_BIRTH_ENTRIES Chapter 2: PARISH CHRISTENING AND CIVIL BIRTH ENTRIES]
**[https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Chapter_3:_MARRIAGE_ENTRIES Chapter 3:MARRIAGE ENTRIES].
==Latin Records==
Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin:
*[[Latin Genealogical Word List|'''Latin Genealogical Word List''']]


== Latin ==
== References  ==
Catholic church records will usually be written in Latin. See [[Latin Genealogical Word List]] for an explanation of Latin grammar and glossary of genealogical terms.


==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Belgium]]
[[Category:Belgium]]

Revision as of 13:31, 26 December 2018

Belgium Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Belgium Background
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Moderator

The FamilySearch moderator for Belgium is Daniel Jones.

The major languages of records in Belgium are Flemish (Dutch) in the North, and Walloon (French) in the South, and German in the East. Latin was used extensively, particularly in Catholic records.[1]

Belgium Languages.png

Dutch Records[edit | edit source]

German Records[edit | edit source]

  • It's easier than you think! You do not have to be fluent in French and German to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read German records.
German Genealogical Word List
German Handwriting
  • These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
  • Also online interactive slideshow lessons are available to help you learn to read these records:

This converter will show you how any phrase or name might look in German script:

  • Kurrentschrift Converter (enter German genealogical word, click on "convert", view your word in Kurrentschrift (Gothic handwriting)

French Records[edit | edit source]

You do not have to be fluent in French to use these records, as there is only a limited vocabulary used in them. By learning a few key phrases, you will be able to read them adequately. Here are some resources for learning to read French records.

French Genealogical Word List
French Handwriting.
  • There is a three-lesson course in reading French Records:
Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 1: The French Alphabet,
Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Key Words and Phrases
Reading French Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading French Records

Latin Records[edit | edit source]

Records of the Catholic church will usually be written in Latin:

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Belgium,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1987-1999.
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