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English in Belgium

Question

Why isn't English being made an official language in Belgium along with Dutch and French?

It would be a step closer towards integrating into an international world and more opportunities would open up, even in the employment sector.

anon

What sort of a dumb question is this?

Oct 24, 2018 16:23
J

1. For the same reason as Urdu isn't being made an official language in the UK.
2. Have you ever tried speaking French at commune offices in Flanders?
3. Because you could learn German instead. That is an official language.

Oct 24, 2018 16:23
CM

Because there would be no point.

Oct 24, 2018 20:22
Mark L-W

HShah , your arrogance is appalling.
Why should a country with no history of a language and three national languages adopt another to be convenient for you ?
Englsh may be widely spoken in various forms but that is not a good reason, in the EU Commission English is used, but after Brexit it will not, it has to utilise one of the national languages of members, after the UK leaves there is no country that has English as their official language.

Oct 24, 2018 20:41
ann

English is an official language of Malta and Ireland and will continue to be used in the Commission after Brexit. Absolutely no reason why it should become an official language of Belgium though.

Oct 24, 2018 22:14
Mark L-W

`The Official language of Ireland is Irish Gaelic and that of Malta is Maltese.

Oct 25, 2018 00:02
ann

Just as Belgium has three official languages, Ireland and Malta have two, English being one of them. Brexit will have no impact on what language Irish or Maltese people choose to speak.

Oct 25, 2018 07:16
RPPKN

It sounds like a silly question, but in fact the idea of making English an official language of Brussels has been seriously raised from time to time by local politicians and business people. See, for example, here: https://welovebrussels.org/2016/12/english-become-official-language-brus...

However no-one has to my knowledge suggested this for entire Belgium.

Regarding the use of English at the European Institutions, there will be absolutely no change in this, even after Brexit. Due to the enlargements of 1995 and especially 2014, English is so deeply ingrained as the main working language of most of the institutions, that it would be impossible to change it. Pretty much the only exception is the Court of Justice which remains very French-speaking. And as Ann said, English will still be one of the official languages of two EU Member States, so there is nothing to prevent it being used in the European institutions.

Oct 25, 2018 08:04
eyebicycle@gmail.com

English as an official language of Belgium is inevitable . Following the lead of the Belgian Red Devils (football team that only uses English)...English will unify this country one day, no more infighting between Wallonia and Flanders. Half of Belgium already speaks English. What percent of Belgium speaks German ? It's a VERY small percent. thank you

Oct 25, 2018 13:30
Georgiana

I don't understand why you would assume Belgium might adopt English as an official language. Its the same logic as saying Britain should adopt Spanish or Chinese as an official language. Why would it? Belgium is not Britain.

Oct 27, 2018 19:00