History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 293

language family. The existence of Flemish in the area is evidence by its use in place
names since the eighth century, in ninth-century commentaries and 13th century
administrative documents.
1.2.

Geographical and language background

Flemish is spoken in north-western France, in the area between Dunkerque,
Bourbourg, Saint-Omer and Bailleul. This area roughly covers the arrondissement of
Dunkerque (Nord-Pas-de-Calais Region). It is often referred to as "Flandre maritime"
(maritime Flanders) and people used to speak of "Flandre flamingante" (Flemish
Flanders) as opposed to "Flandre Lilloise" or "Flandre wallingante" (Walloon
Flanders). Outside this region, other varieties of the same language are spoken in
Belgium (in Flanders and Brussels, as well as a few Communes in Wallonia) and the
Netherlands, by 5.6 million and 12 million speakers, respectively. The language is also
used in some old Dutch colonies, including some Caribbean islands and Suriname.
The Dutch language is also the basis of Afrikaans, which is spoken in South Africa
and Namibia.
The region has a total population of 3,932,939, or 7.24% of the total population of
France, and 320 people live in maritime Flanders. The total population of the Nord
Département fell by approximately 5000 between March 1982 and January 1986.
Populatio