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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 ==
{| style="float:right; margin-right:30px"
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| style="padding-right:0px" |
||[[File:Belgium Languages.png|300px]]
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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.


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>
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.  
== 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]


[[File:Belgium Languages.png|700px]]
===Online Classes===
::{{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}}.


==Dutch Records==
== German ==
*[[Dutch Genealogical Word List]]
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:
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/93 Reading Dutch Handwritten Records]
*[[German Word List|German Genealogical Word List]]
*[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]  
*[[Germany Handwriting]]
*[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]
*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/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==


*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.
These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
:::[[German Word List|German Genealogical Word List]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/german-paleography-seminar-introduction German Paleography Seminar] - 10 lessons
:::[[Germany Handwriting|German Handwriting]]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-1 Old German Script Part 1]
*These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-2 Old German Script Part 2]
:*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/375 Old German Script Part 1]
*[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/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)


== French Records==
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.
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}}


*For more instruction on using these records, see:
== French ==
** [[France Church Records|France Church 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.  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 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''']]


== References  ==
== Latin ==
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]]

Latest revision as of 12:17, 20 March 2024


Belgium Wiki Topics
Flag of Belgium
Belgium Beginning Research
Record Types
Belgium Background
Belgium Genealogical Word Lists
Local Research Resources

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

Belgium Languages.png

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 church records always used Latin. Other churches used the local language. 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.

Dutch

Classes in the FamilySearch Learning Center

Online Classes

Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 1: The Dutch Alphabet.
Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 2: Dutch Words and Dates.
Reading Dutch Handwritten Records Lesson 3: Reading Dutch Records.

German

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:

These video webinars will teach you to read German handwriting:

The 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

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 and French Handwriting. For additional help see France Church Records and France Civil Registration.

Latin

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

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