The language question in Belgium is inescapable, with almost no aspect of civic life untouched. It animates debate in political spheres and shapes daily conversations more consciously perhaps than anywhere else in Europe. Heck, it's what keeps much of the media operating in Brussels.
Regardless of whether you are Belgian by birth or by adoption or just passing through, we all face the vernacular question – some more easily than others. In many cases – for Brussels in particular – English is the go-to mode of communication to avoid confusion. And it isn't just Brits being useless with foreign languages: more often it's those who weren't raised on Dickens and Marmite who turn to the tongue.
As a country, Belgium ranks 7th in the world for non-native English ability, an overall performance that disguises differences between Flanders and Wallonia – the latter being markedly less adept. But whilst in politics the central question of language often does more to accentuate division than help us see eye to eye, a shared second language can be instrumental in levelling the playing field.
Belgian philosopher (and long-standing contributor to The Brussels Times) Philippe Van Parijs has argued that English can serve as the EU's lingua franca precisely because of Brexit. Despite the fractious political wrangling in the wake of the divorce, with EU and UK interlocutors locking horns, Parijs posits that the language itself can now be claimed by everyone, a neutral medium to discuss more sensitive topics.
With Brits removed from the bloc's legislative spaces, representatives of all political shades can stake their claim to the language without accusations of favouring perspectives tied to the UK as a national entity. It certainly would save a lot of the back and forth between translators labouring to deliver a message without committing a diplomatic faux pas.
Such is the theory at least. In reality the balance of power is inevitably tipped by one's proficiency with the language and relying on English can't help but give native speakers the upper hand. This is true in any context; whilst the stakes are high in European institutions the street value of English has been highlighted in surveys which show that a third of people in Europe speak it – making English by far the continent's most salient language.
As such, Belgium's strong grasp puts it in a strong position to engage in international affairs and welcome nationals from around the world. Too often this topic is framed in zero-sum terms: Is Belgium good enough at English? vs. Is English erasing Belgium's identity? Whichever way you lean, the debate won't be settled in French or Dutch.
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