Middle Dutch

Middle Dutch was the forerunner of the Dutch language, which was spoken about 1150-1500. For his part, it has evolved from the Old Dutch. It was an undisplaced variety of Franconian and belonged to the dialect continuum of the continental West Germanic languages.

  • 4.1 dialects
  • 4.2 dialect basics of literary language
  • 5.1 French Influence
  • 5.2 German influence

Name of the language

The spokesperson from the Dutch called their language usually dietsc or duutsc. This term lived centuries later on: nationalist groups in the 19th century and Nazi groups in the 1930s and 1940s used it again. See also Dutch ( name).

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Non- literary texts

The earliest Middle Dutch original documents date from the middle of the 13th century. There is a medium Dutch House Rules of the Ghent Leprosenhauses, which is however not dated. It is believed that this text is from before 1250, since the Latin original is from the year 1236. Security over the age is, however, in a deed from Boekhoute at Velzeke because the date 1249 appears in the text itself.

Literary texts

The Meuse, ie Limburg and the Lower Rhine, is the cradle of Middle Dutch literature. From the late 12th and early 13th century, the fragments of the Sente Servas, a legend about Saint Servatius, written by Heinrich von Veldeke come. Also from this period are the romances of chivalry Floyris end Blantseflur and Aiol. See also Blanziflor.

In the 13th century the Flame Jacob van Maerlant dominated the Middle Dutch literature. He created a versatile literary work. This also included a makeover of the Old French Roman de Renart novel to the animal epic Van den vos Reynaerde. See also Reineke Fuchs.

Already in the 13th century, the focus of Middle Dutch literature shifts to Brabant. In the 14th century, the mystic Jan van Ruusbroec exerts significant influence on literature. Later significant Middle Dutch drama arises: the Abele Spelen, the Elckerlijc (see everybody ) and Marieken van Nieumeghen.

Differences from the Old Dutch

The Middle Dutch differs from the Old Dutch, among others, by attenuating the side tone vowels, also called vowel reduction. For example, vogala to Vogele ( " birds " in modern Dutch: bird ). Although in Middle Dutch manuscripts and printed more books have been published as the Old Dutch and this sets the limit in time, the difference between the two languages ​​is thus defined linguistically especially.

No single language

The Middle Dutch was no standard language in the modern sense, but a series of closely related and probably mutually intelligible varieties. Closely related, they were also with the neighboring east Middle Low German varieties of the Hanseatic cities.

Dialects

Within the Middle Dutch can distinguish the following dialects:

  • Flemish ( divided into Western and Ostflämisch ), spoken in what is now West Flanders, East Flanders and Zeeland Flanders.
  • Brabants in the current provinces of North Brabant in the Netherlands and Flemish - Brabant, Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium.
  • Dutch, especially in the provinces of North and South Holland, and parts of the province of Utrecht.
  • Limburg in the present provinces of Limburg (Netherlands) and Limburg ( Belgium).

The Lower Saxon varieties spoken in the modern provinces of Gelderland, Overijssel and Drenthe and in parts of the province of Groningen have already been affected in the Middle Ages from the Middle Dutch.

Dialect basics of literary language

The literary Middle Dutch of the 13th century is predominantly characterized Flemish and Brabants, with Flemish influences are strongest. This had its origin in the strong influence of Flemish Jacob van Maerlant had on the literature of his time. See also Dutch literature, section Middle Ages. In the 14th century, the linguistic basis of the literary means by Dutch Brabant shifts. In the 15th century, reinforced the trend-setting role of Brabant. This shift of linguistic basis led to language mixing and the emergence of a language that was interregional usable. The invention of printing led to a further standardization, since the printer wanted to make their books to the widest possible circle of readers. The Language of Prints 1450-1540 ( incunabula and postincunabula ) is mainly Brabants Brabants - or Dutch.

Foreign influences on the Middle Dutch

French Influence

The Middle Dutch has taken many loanwords from French of that time. See also Old French language and French language resources. This had the following reasons:

  • There were intensive contacts between the nobility of the County of Flanders and the French nobility, and probably not on Middle Dutch, but in French.
  • The monastic order of the Cistercians and Premonstratensian founded in the Dutch language area, many monasteries. Since these orders were founded in France, she also contributed to the spread of French words.
  • The Dutch language area mostly belonged to the Burgundian Netherlands. The language of the Burgundian dynasty, the Brussels Court and the central government institutions was the French.
  • In the field of art, the Trouvères ( troubadours ) exerted a great influence, not only in the Dutch language area.

However, the French influence was not as great as on the Middle English vocabulary to the Middle Dutch vocabulary.

German influence

The German influence on the Middle Dutch vocabulary comes mainly from the Rhineland mysticism. The borrowed words, however, have now lost their religious and mystical significance. Examples: oorzaak "cause", "essence" Wezen, indruk " impression ", " tilt " neiging, werkelijk "real" (in each case in modern spelling ).

Blanchefleur Jedermann Brabantian dialect
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