The future of West-Flemish, grim or not ?

Question

I am talking about West-Flemish, which is spoken by about a million people still. We all know our language is in decline, beset by french in the west and dutch (common dutch or brabantic) in the east, and younger speakers often consider our language a patois they will no longer teach their children (I will if I ever have children, I will only converse with them in West-Flemish). Will West-Flemish at one point in the near future become a 'dead' language as French-Flemish, it's sister-language, or is there still hope ?

Answer 1

I am sorry to say that its future is rather grim.
Languages can only be considered living, when they are spoken everyday, when they get new words, when people play with them by creating new words, etc. If you take the example of breton, you see that there is a revival and that a lot of people try to breathe new life into it. But this will always be a bit like life support, necessary but artificial.
The problem with West-Flemish is that dutch is so much stronger. People hear it on the radio or TV. So it will "pollute" West-Flemish more and more, until it will completely merge.
It is nice that you will speak your language with your children, but consider also the influence of dutch around them. Just look at immigrants whose children forget more and more their parent's language. Your battle will be quite hard I think.
All this said, I still believe it is a shame when languages die. It is agony for the native spekers, it is as if you loose part of your identity. Everything should be done to save it, and that means literature, music, positive re-inforcement, classes in school, etc.

Answer 2

With a million speakers surely certement there is hope!

You're doing better than some languages in America and Australia that are down to only 10 or less fluent speakers!

You need to support the creation of modern songs and writings and other media in your language as well as preserve older works to maintain a language!

Look at examples like Lallans Scots over the other side of the Channel!

Answer 3

Flemish is a West Germanic, Low Franconian language heavily concerning Afrikaans and Dutch. no be counted if that's a dialect of Dutch or a separate language relies upon on your attitude. often in circumstances like those, the two speech varieties could be jointly intelligible, yet using fact they use diverse spelling platforms or are linked with diverse nationalities, they are considered diverse languages.

Answer 4

I guess if it is still spoken one million people why should it die? Have a look a Letzebuergesch it lives as does Raeto-Romanian in Switzerland - both languages with a lot less speakers.
As long as people speak it it will live.