Because of the turbulent history of both
the Netherlands and
Belgium and the
Dutch language, mostly because of the frequent change of economical and military power within the Low Countries, the names that other peoples have chosen to use to refer to it vary more than for most other languages. The modern Dutch name for the language is ''Nederlands''.
In general, the names for the Dutch language can be arranged in seven groups according to their origin.
'Note:' Some languages use multiple forms.
Dutch
'From
Proto-Germanic ''
★ þiudiskaz'', "folk":'
The
English word "Dutch" is derived from the Old Germanic word "''þeod''" meaning "''people, race or nation''" which itself derives from
Proto Germanic "''
★ theudo''". Originally this word was used to indicate all continental Germanic people who spoke a
West Germanic language, but was later restricted to the
Dutch language and the
Dutch people.
Etymology
The word 'Dutch' comes from the
proto-Germanic word ''
★ þeudisko-z'', and became ''Duutsc'' in
Middle Dutch, which later gave the two early modern Dutch forms, ''Duits'' in the north and ''Diets'' in the south.
[1] ''
Duits'' has taken on the meaning of "German" and ''
Diets'' meaning "Dutch" (along with "Nederlands") but no longer in general use (see the
Diets article), dropped for its Nazi-era overtones.
German ''
Deutsch'' meaning "German" has the same origin.
[2][3]
The English word ''
Dutch'' has also changed with time. It was only around
1550, with growing cultural and economic contacts and the rise of an independent country, that the modern meaning arose, i.e., 'designating the people of the Netherlands or their language'. Prior to this, the meaning was more general and could refer to any Germanic-speaking area or the languages there (including the current
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland as well as the Netherlands). For example:
★
William Caxton (c. 1422–91) wrote in his ''Prologue'' to his Aeneids in
1490 that an old English text was more akin to ''Dutche'' than English. In his notes, Professor W.F. Bolton makes clear that this word means ''German'' in general rather than ''Dutch''.
★ In four books containing the Chronography and History of the whole world'', Vol. II (London, 1677: 154) contains "…the Dutch call Leibnitz," adding that ''Dutch'' is spoken in the parts of Hungary adjoining to Germany.
Language of Holland
'From Dutch ''Hollands'':'
During the
Dutch golden age in which the Netherlands became a
world power and established their
empire, the province of
Holland was the richest and most influential. Also, foreign visitors often only stayed in the province of Holland. Hence the
language of the Dutch is often named after this
province.
Netherlandic
'From or cognate with "Netherlands" (Dutch ''Nederlands'' referring to ''Nederland'' or ''(de) Nederlanden''):'
Language of the Low Countries
In Dutch "''Nederland''" means "
the Netherlands"; however, "''Nederlands''" (Dutch) does not mean "''language of the Netherlands''", but rather "language of the
Low Countries" since "Low Countries" translates as "''Nederland'''en'''" in Dutch.
Many languages have a word for the Dutch language derived from this word (''such as
French''), or have a cognate (''such as
Frisian'').
'From "Low Countries" (literal translations of Dutch ''Nederlands''):'
Some
languages have literally
translated "Language of the Low Countries", as in the
English word "''Nether-land-ic''" meaning "''Low Countries''".
Flemish
'From "
Flemish" (Dutch ''Vlaams'') or from the region this refers to: "
Flanders" (Dutch ''Vlaanderen'') '
Before the
northern
provinces of the low countries became the most influential, the
economical heart of the
region, and arguable of
Western Europe, was situated in Flanders. Some languages refer to the Dutch language with a word derived from the region of
Flanders.
Batavian
'From "
Batavian":'
★ Latin: ''Lingua Batava''' |
When the
Romans first explored the lands of
Northern Europe regions were usually named after the dominant tribes living there. The area which are now
the Netherlands was inhabited by the
Batavians. The Batavians are gone but their name remained in the Latin word.
References
1. Oxford English Dictionary: MDu. dutsch, duutsch, duutsc, ‘Hollandish, or, in a wider sense, Netherlandish, and even German’ (Verdam), in early mod. Du. duytsch, now duitsch, ‘German’, = Ger. deutsch, MHG. diutsch, ‘German’, OHG. diutisc, popular, vulgar.
OHG. diutisc, OS. thiudisc, OE. þéodisc, Goth.
★ þiudisks: OTeut.
★ þeudisko-z, meant ‘popular, national’, f. OTeut.
★ þeudâ-, Goth. þiuda, ON. þjóð, OS. thioda, thiod, OE. þéod (ME. THEDE), OHG. diota, diot, people, nation. In Germany, the adj. was used (in the 9th c.) as a rendering of L. vulgaris, to distinguish the ‘vulgar tongue’ from the Latin of the church and the learned; hence it gradually came to be the current denomination of the vernacular, applicable alike to any particular dialect, and generically to German as a whole.
2. American Heritage Dictionary: Pennsylvania Dutch: Dutch.
3. American Heritage Dictionary: Pennsylvania Dutch.
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