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Question
#51285. gmackematix
asks:
Given that the French hardly use the letter W except in borrowed words, why does the name of French-speaking part of Belgium begin with W?
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TabbyTom
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The word Wallo(o)n is Germanic in origin and means stranger or foreigner. It was a word originally applied by the Germanic-speaking Flemings and Franks to the Romance-speaking people of what is now called Wallonia.
The word is cognate with the English words Wales and Welsh: the natives of the British Isles were foreigners to the invading Anglo-Saxons, just as the Spanish in Spain are “foreigners” to the modern British tourist.
It’s interesting that the Walloons call themselves by this name: after all, the Welsh haven’t adopted the word “Welsh” into their own language.
Sep 27 04, 7:41 PM
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Baloo55th
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In fact, the Walloon language isn't French as such but is a close relation. Just as Scots is to English. If you're not sure what I mean, get hold of a copy of the Sunday Post which is largely in a fairly mild form of Scots, or look at some poetry of the time of Robert Nicoll or Robert Burns. But just as the Welsh all can speak English and some can speak Welsh, the Walloons can all speak French and most do. There is the obligatory movement to restore the Walloon language  http://www.wallonie.com/wallang/ Apart from which, the Norman version of French used W as a letter - that's why we have warden (from Norman French) and guardian (fron Parisian French).
Sep 28 04, 4:53 PM
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