The Dutch Language is Coronaproof Frieda Steurs Head

The Dutch Language is Coronaproof! Frieda Steurs Head of research/ Managing Director

THE LOCKDOWN As most European countries, Flanders and the Netherlands went into lockdown in the middle of March Telework or “telecommuting” became the new standard. Telewerken, thuiswerken, beeldbellen, videovergaderen, telcom, ….

TWO COUNTRIES, TWO SETS OF RULES o For me as head of the institute, living in Flanders, working in the Netherlands, some things were very confusing, such as the difference in rules between the two countries o One of the most striking differences is the use of the mouthmask (mondmasker, mondkapje) : almost obligatory everywhere in Flanders, almost nowhere in the Netherlands.

OUR OWN MASK

IT- INFRASTRUCTURE o Robust IT-infrastructure o Servers at the University of Leiden o Access for all colleagues from home o System administrators came to work in Leiden and made sure that everything was supported and facilitated for online work

MEETINGS

THE DUTCH LANGUAGE Ø A flexible instrument to describe the new reality Article by Vivien Waszink on the new corona-related words: Hoestdab en kuchschot: woorden volgen de realiteit. Terminologylist of more than 1000 terms related to Covid 19 is available on our website, linked to the Eurac terminologylist (http: //bistro. eurac. edu/) https: //ivdnt. org/nieuws/2643 -woordenschat-van-decoronacrisis

THE DUTCH LANGUAGE Article in La Libre Belgique (28 th of March 2020) Le néerlandais a déjà trouvé les mots pour dire la crise sanitaire Toute langue évolue avec son temps. Elle le suit fidèlement, s’y conforme, et le restitue avec le léger décalage qui caractérise les traductions. Mais le néerlandais, et sans doute davantage celui qu’on pratique en Flandre qu’aux Pays. Bas, semble parfois devancer son temps tant sa faculté d’adaptation paraît prodigieuse.

THE DUTCH LANGUAGE Coronahandjes (corona hands) “coronavirus” +“handjes”: The aversion one has to his of her own hands after being to the supermarket and touching the shopping cart. Les mots-valises qui utilisent le mot “corona” comme préfixe sont d’ailleurs légion. La presse flamande a parlé de “coronaakkoord” après que les différents gouvernements régionaux ont finalement accouché d’un plan national de confinement. Elle évoque à longueur de page la “coronacrisis” ou le “coronatoerisme”.

SOCIAL DISTANCING Anderhalvemetersamenleving : society of one and a half meter Afstand (distance) is very easy to use in compounding: Afstandschaamte : feeling of shame one has when one is not able to keep the expected distance Afstandsleren: offering teaching “on a distance” = e-learning Afstandsmaatschappij: society that is ruled by the distance rules Afstandsmeter: appliance that checks the distance people keep and makes a warning sound when people get too close

BALKON- (BALCONY) Balkonbezoek: visit to an older or vulnerable person, without entering the room but saying hello from outside while they are on the balcony Balkonbingo: bingo played from different balconies in the same street. Balkoningsdag: alternative name for “Koningsdag”, the birthday of the King (27 th of april), normally a very important public holiday with parties everywhere; now everybody celebrated on the balcony. Balkonnade: from “serenade” : a concert from a balcony, while other people in the street can listen.

CONTACTContactberoep: professions such as hairdresser, nurse, physiotherapist, … Contactbubbel: fixed group of people one is allowed to meet Contactluw: with a very low amount of contacts Contactonderzoek: research into the contacts of someone who has been infected with the virus Contactsport: sports where one has physical contact with other players Contactzorg: medical and general care where touching a patient is unavoidable (e. g. in a home of elderly people)

CORONACoronababy: baby whose mother has been infected Coronabeleid: measurements taken by the government Coronabeperking: limitations imposed such as social distancing, closing of restaurants, … Coronaboete: fine for violating the coronarules Coranabriefing: Meeting where the government expains the rules, measures and status of the corona pandemic Coronabus: bus that can host infected patients and bring them to other hospitals in regions where there are more beds available. Coronacoalitie: (Belgium) new (temporary) government Coronacorpulentie: overweight that is caused by limited bodymovement, excessive eating and spending too much time inside. Coronacrash: overall crash on the stockexchange

KOT (IN FLANDERS) In Flanders, “KOT” is the name for a typical studentroom. The word is even used in the Walloon part of the country. “Blijf in uw Kot”: slogan of our minister of healthcare #blijfinuw kot #stayathome

LOCKDOWNLockdownagressie: fysical of verbal agression caused by the lockdown. Lockdowncafé: imaginary pub, where one has a drink online Lockdownkilo: weight gained during lockdown because of excessive eating Lockdownmoeheid: tiredness and aversion of the lockdown and the related measures Lockdownfeestje: illegal party to escape the lockdown Lockdownreis: non-essential travelling during the pandemic Lockdownverveling: boredness by the lockdown, because one has to stay at home and there are no activities.

SKYPE- , ZOOMSkypediner: when people are skyping while they are eating in different places, during (self)isolation and quarantine Skyperitieven: through Skype drinking an aperitif with others (also e-peritieven) Skypeborrel: having a drink together while being online with others (friends or colleagues) Skypedaten: contacting potential partners through Skypedinner: having dinner together, but on a distance, through Skypevisite: through Skype visiting someone in a digital way. Zoomkater: having a hangover (=kater) after too many zoom meetings.

AND SOME MORE…. Zijlijnviroloog: someone who is not a professional virologist, but who likes to share his or her ideas about virusses and virusdiseases. Also called: salonviroloog; toogviroloog Wraakwinkelen: revenge shopping as a reaction after the shops have been closed for some time. Wc-papierschaamte: feeling of shame when buying an excessive amount of toiletpaper while everyone needs it. Ophokplicht: 1. Obligation to keep poultry inside during an epidemic of bird flu. 2. Obligation to stay at home, in order to isolate oneself e. g. when there is a possibility of an infection with the corona virus.

NEW CHALLENGES : DIGITAL DATA Online teaching is the new standard. Most universities and colleges in Flanders and the Netherlands organize part of most of their education online. “blended learning”: mixed approach Digital learning methods and tools are most welcome The Dutch Language Institute is active in a number of projects: - Woordcombinaties (wordpatterns, idioms and phraseology) - Nederlands als wetenschapstaal - van corpora naar terminologielijsten (Dutch as language for science) - Moeilijke woorden-app (app to train difficult words)

• WOORDCOMBINATIES

NEDERLANDS ALS WETENSCHAPSTAAL mathematics chemistry physics

LORENTZ WORKSHOP New challenges after publishing the white paper Implementing new workflows, using AI and big data

AI FOR INNOVATION: CASE NLP The ministeries of NL (OCW) and Flanders (EWI) Workshop on AI for Innovation (7 th of October 2020) Ø AI applied within research in particular on natural language processing; Ø Smart Industry (Digital Innovation Hubs to introduce AI to companies and public services); Ø AI & Legislation (Human-Centric AI); Ø Data Sharing (structures and solutions for data sharing); Ø The Dutch Language Institute will provide the input for the first action point.

Thank you for your attention I hope to see you all soon in real life! Take care and stay safe!