Belgian literature

Because Belgium is a multilingual country,[note 1] Belgian literature is divided into two main linguistic branches following the two most prominently spoken languages in the country - Dutch and French. [note 2] German is the third language in Belgium and is spoken by a small community of about 70,000 German-speakers of the German-speaking Community of Belgium bordering on Germany.

Some literature also exists in the regional languages of Belgium, with authors in the Walloon language being particularly of note (see: Manifesto for Walloon culture, although this document does not mainly concern itself with the Walloon language).[1]

Contents

Belgian literature in Dutch

see :

Belgian literature in French

see :

Belgian literature in Walloon

Literature in Walloon has been printed since the 16th century or at least since the beginning of the 17th century.[2] Its golden age was in the 19th century: 'That period saw an efflorescence of Walloon literature, plays and poems primarily,and the founding of many theaters and periodicals.' [3] Yves Quairiaux counted 4800 plays for 1860–1914, published or not.[4] In this period plays were almost the only popular show in Wallonia. But this theater remains popular in present-day Wallonia: Theatre is still flourishing with over 200 non-professional companies playing in the cities and villages of Wallonia for an audience of over 200,000 each year.[5] Jacques Ancion wanted to develop a regular adult audience.[6] This regional literature most commonly deals with local folklore and ancient traditions, the most prominent Walloon author being Arthur Masson.[7][8]

Further related entries

Notes and references

  • notes:
  1. ^ French, Dutch and German are legally the three official languages in Belgium see: FR EU-Belgium [1]
  2. ^ And therefore usually - and inappropriately - discussed under the literature of these countries: France and The Netherlands
  • references:
  1. ^ ’’Walloon dialect has carried neither official status as a language in administrative, ecclesiastical, or political affairs, nor sufficient weight to act as a popular and influential vehicle for the expression of Walloon cultural identity. This latter task has fallend instead in the last thirty years to politically conscious writers in French who published for instance a Manifesto for Walloon culture...’’Philip Mosley, Belgian Cinema and Cultural Identity, Suny Press, New-York, 2001,p. 19 ISBN 0791447472
  2. ^ In his Anthologie de la littérature wallonne, Mardaga, Liège, 1978, ISBN 2-8021-0024-6 Maurice Piron is speaking (p. 5) about four dialogues printed between 1631 and 1636
  3. ^ 'Switching Languages', Translingual Writers Reflect on Their Craft, Edited by Steven G. Kellman Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2003, p. 153. ISBN 978-0-8032-2747-7
  4. ^ Yves Quairiaux, L'image du Flamand en Wallonie, Essai d'analyse sociale et politique (1830-1914), Labor, Bruwxelles, 2006, p. 126. ISBN 2-8040-2174-2
  5. ^ The Walloon language page
  6. ^ Joan Gross, Speaking in Other Voices: An Ethnography of Walloon Puppet Theaters. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: John Benjamins Press, 2001, ISBN 978-158811054
  7. ^ FR Biography of Arthur Masson
  8. ^ FR The Arthur Masson's Museum - Bibliography
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