deBuren

Apart from Brussels, there is only one other bilingual area in the Low Countries: Friesland. In collaboration with the Fryske Akademy, deBuren has organised an evening dedicated to the Frisian language.

Friesland has around 600,000 inhabitants. They all speak Dutch but more than 55 % consider Frisian to be their first language. It is spoken by about 400,000 people and this has remained consistent for 25 years. Frisian also plays a large part in cultural life and ranges from an annual output of about 100 Frisian works of literature to Frisian rap and even fado singers. Nevertheless, according to some there is cause for concern. Are they right or is this a case of misplaced pessimism?

Prof.Durk Gorter (professor of the Frisian language and literature), Albertina Soepboer (bilingual writer/poet), and Koen Eekma (director of the afuk Frisian language centre) will discuss the state of the Frisian language and multilingualism in a European context. The moderator is Luc Devoldere (director of Ons Erfdeel). The programme will include Frisian poetry readings by Albertina Soepboer and the legendary Frisian poet/performer Tsjêbbe Hettinga.