tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post115124061503359564..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: This Be The VerseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-37319804487336330432007-04-20T12:55:00.000+01:002007-04-20T12:55:00.000+01:00Although I have a few historical issues with "Anon...Although I have a few historical issues with "Anonymnous"'s notes on Brabant, s/he is absolutely right to say that there is no such country as "Holland", never was, never has been, and never will be. <BR/>It does not sound "funny" when people say that Brtabant is part of Southern Holland, instead I vcenture to say that it is very offensive indeed (as the sample given re., Scotland and Northern England proves).<BR/><BR/>The Netherlands, governed from The Hague, occupy the northern part of my Duchy of Brabant since 1648. It is an understatement to comment that it was "unfortunate" that the Prince of Orange's Dutch troops were stationed (and occupied a stronghold) below the rivers Rhine & Meuse when the rest of us gained independence in 1830 (and many years later this included Antwerp, but not Maastricht!.<BR/><BR/>As our Dukes would have shouted: "Weredi!"<BR/><BR/>BraboAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1151402917402794542006-06-27T11:08:00.000+01:002006-06-27T11:08:00.000+01:00I would like to say something about the name Braba...I would like to say something about the name Brabant.<BR/><BR/>Brabant is an old duchy which was part of the Habsburg empire in the 16th century. Brabant was one of the 17 provinces in an area that nowadays cover the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Norhern-France and which in the 16th centrury was ruled by the (Spanish) Habsburgs. In the second half of 16th centrury a revolt took place in the 17 provinces. The northern (seven) Low Countries succeeded in breaking away from the Spanish Habsburg empire and became the Netherlands (or Holland named after the most powerful province). The bulk of the southern Netherlands became the Spanish Netherlands (in the 18th century the Austrian Netherlands and in the 19th centry Belgium).<BR/>The province of Brabant was divided in the independence struggle between the northern (independent) Netherlands and the Southern Netherlands. That is why Brabant is nowadays divided between the Netherlands and Belgium. The Netherlands' part is consists of the province Norhern Brabant and the Belgian part consists of the provinces Antwerp and Brabant. Southern Holland is not the same as the Southern Netherlands, because Holland is only a part of the Netherlands. Southern Holland is in a fact a province on its own. It sounds very funny to a Dutchman that Brabant is a part of Southern Holland, bit like that Scotland is part of Norhern England.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1151254525621933832006-06-25T17:55:00.000+01:002006-06-25T17:55:00.000+01:00Thanks Konrad. In connection with the whole subjec...Thanks Konrad. In connection with the whole subject of when extreme language is acceptable <A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1805512,00.html" REL="nofollow">today's Observer leader</A> offers wise advice.<BR/><BR/><I>Last week, Jonathan Ross, the BBC's highest-paid presenter, asked David Cameron, leader of Her Majesty's opposition, in a television interview whether or not he had ever 'wanked over' Margaret Thatcher. It was not a question to which a meaningful answer could be expected. Thus is public life coarsened by degree.<BR/><BR/>On the same night, Davina McCall, interviewing an evictee from the Big Brother house, admonished the contestant for the foulness of her mouth. The Channel 4 presenter then finished the chat with a knowing look at the camera and a choice 'fuck' of her own. Some swearwords, and some swearers, it seems, are more equal than others. What is clear is that foul language is everywhere. But should it be as commonplace as it seems to be on television? The answer, we'd suggest, is no. The swearword is part of our linguistic arsenal, an ancient instrument of self-expression. If it did not exist, we would have to invent it for those moments when shock is the effect we want to achieve. Sometimes, verbal transgression is the better part of debating valour. But not often.<BR/><BR/>The problem comes with overuse. Words are a commodity, cheapened when supply runs unchecked. For an expletive to have dramatic effect, it must come in the context of otherwise sober discourse. If every broadcast is peppered with expletives, our language is impoverished. Mr Ross crossed a line in his interview with Mr Cameron last week. Some may have been offended, others amused. But we can say with certainty that it is a stunt that works only once. It definitely won't be funny the next time.</I><BR/><BR/>All of which is a million miles from Thomas Crequillon, but I guess, if anything, that is what makes <I>An Overgrown Path</I> so fascinating.Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1151250666580540442006-06-25T16:51:00.000+01:002006-06-25T16:51:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Konrad von Swalwagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10555220408386604184noreply@blogger.com