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The term Walloons (French: Wallons, Walloon: Walons) refers, in daily speech, to French-speaking Belgians from Wallonia. The name is derived from walhaz which was a name given by the ancient Germanic Tribes to non-Germanic people. Besides the Walloon - the , Wallis, and Wallachia are also derived from this word. A more modern meaning attributed to Wallonia is the land of the valleys (French pays des vallées), which has been used by the ministry of tourism in touristic road signs. The part of Wallonia south and east of the Meuse is indeed remarkably hilly. Currently, they are one of the two major groups in Belgium, the other being the Dutch-speaking Flemish. Many non-French-speaking observers use the term 'Walloons' for all Belgian French-speakers as a convenient shorthand. During the first century of its existence and further, French was practically the sole official language of Belgium. Before the crisis of mining industries the Walloons in southern Belgium were dominant. From the second part of the 20th century and up to now, the Flemish have been politically and economically dominant over the Walloons. Walloon language could be considered as an element of Walloon identity. However, not all the French-speaking population of Wallonia can be culturally considered as Walloons, since a small portion in the west (around Tournai and Mons) and extreme south (around Arlon) belong to other French dialects (namely Picard, Champenois and Lorrain), instead of Walloon. However, Walloon and other dialects are mostly spoken by elderly people nowadays, and all of them can speak French as well or better. Younger Walloon people can usually only understand a little bit of their ancestors' dialect. The heartland of Walloon culture is really the Meuse Valley, between Dinant, Namur (the regional capital), Huy and Liège. Note that when referring to inhabitants of Wallonia with the meaning of citizen of Wallonia, the word Wallonian is more commonly used. There is the German-speaking community of Belgium around Eupen, in the east of the region, next to Germany. In this very small community (about 60,000 inhabitants), although institutionally part of Wallonia, many fiercely reject being considered as Walloon. These German-speakers, including Karl-Heinz Lambertz, the leader of their community executive, ask for separation from Wallonia and recognition as a separate region. The area was ceded by Germany to Belgium after the First World War, although German-speaking Walloons now feel closer to Luxembourg than Germany or even Belgium.
Famous Walloons See also | ||||||||
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