Footsteps in the clay

Towards a new awareness for the Bildts language

Gerard Marcel de Jong December 2017, Pasaia San Juan/Donostia/St.-Anne

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Preface

In1984,mygrandfatherGerrytDirks–themanwhoembodieddeBildtsePostallhislife,

andgavehislifefortheBildtscause–hadthecamerasofDutchtelevisionshow‘Van

GewesttotGewest’asguestsinhisoffice,onthenewsfloorofthepaperInowrun.They

weredoinganitemaboutthefutureofandthreatstotheBildtslanguage–evenbackthen,

overthirtyyearsago.

Thepresenteraskshim:

‘Howmuchtimedoyougive'tBildtsbeforeit’sextinct?’

Hesmilesbriefly.

‘That’sagoodquestion…”

Mygrandfatherstrokeshisletteropener,looksup,pondersforabit,anddecides:

‘Igive'tBildtsaslongasIlive.’

SinceJanuary1st2018,themunicipality’tBildthasceasedtoexist.After513years,Bildts

autonomyhascometoanend,dissolvingintothenewWaadhoekemunicipality.Withthe

disappearanceofautonomy,thelanguageandculturewillcomeundermorepressuretoo.

Notthatthisisanythingnew:Bildtshasbeenunderpressuremywholelife.Throughthe

OareWurden/OtherWordsproject,I,aBilkert,wasallowedtostayintheSpanishBasque

CountrylastMayandJune.There,attheBayofBiscay,intheproximityofSanSebastián

(DonostiainBasque),Ihadthefreedomtoliveandworkin‘Hugoenea’,andIwitnessedhow

proudtheBasquesareoftheiridentity,languageandculture.Mystayturnedintoaquest

aboutidentity,theuniversalnatureof‘ownness’,theuniqueofminoritylanguages,and

whatonecandotoprotectandexpandasmalllanguageasBildts.

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1.Threatscomewithopportunities

TheBasqueWritersAssociationletsoutHugoeneathroughoutthewholeyeartowriters

whoworkinaminoritylanguage.‘Hugo’sHouse’isnamedafterVictorHugo,theFrench

writerwhowasinspiredbynatureinthissmallfisherman’svillage,theviewsacrossthesea,

andtheintrinsicallygoodpeopleoftheBasqueCountry.

Theapartmentislocatedatthephotogenicvillagesquare.Buoyanthouses,littlebars,

strikingfacesthatcolorthelocallife.Inthebeginning,thelookswereturnedinward,but

oncetheicebrokeandweopeneduptoeachother,aspecialbondcametolife–acultural

exchange,oneofgivingandreceivingstoriesaboutourownlanguagesandcultures.Icame

totheBasqueCountryreasonablyprepared:Ireadbooks,learnedabouttheirhistory,

languageandculture.Butit’sthepeoplewhomakealanguage,acultureandevenahistory,

whocarryitandpassiton.Ileftthebooksandsteppedintotheirworld.Anditwasamutual

adventure:theBasquepeoplewereeagertodiveinandlearnaboutBildts.Awholeslewof

Basques–bothyoungandold,fromthe‘commonman’totheculturalelite–knowsmore

aboutBildtsnowthanmanyaDutchman.

MystayintheBasqueCountrymademerealizewhytheBasquesaresoproudoftheir

idiosyncrasy,languageandculture.I’veseenhowtirelesslytheycarryitoutandcherishit,

evenwhenthereareobstaclesintheway.

Donibane,thevillagewhereIstayed,isasmall,tight-knitcommunitythatkeepsits

traditionsalive,andraisesafistinunisonwhencalledupon.AvillagewheretheIkurriña,the

Basqueflag,danglesfromthebalconies,andwheregraffitionthewalls(‘Etxerra!’:bring

themhome)begstheSpanishgovernmenttoallowthesonsanddaughtersoftheregion–

whowerearrestedeitherjustlyorunjustly,usuallyaccusedoftieswithETA–tobebrought

backtoGipúzcoa,themostBasqueprovince.Tobebroughthome.

Europeseemstobewhirlingintoaneraofpost-globalization.Brusselsflewtooclosetothe

sun;itwenttoofastformanypeople.‘Unitythroughdiversity’iswhatitshouldhavebeen,

butperhapsthedesireforunitypusheddiversitytotheemergencyexit.Post-globalization,

thestareisaimedmostlyinwardsagain.Grievously,thisseemstogohandinhandwith

(extreme)nationalism,xenophobia,andaseverelackofempathyandsolidarity.

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TheUnitedKingdomchoseBrexit,Italianregionswantmoreautonomy,andofcoursewe

nowseethefightfortheindependenceoftheCatalans:examplesthatareinthemselves

incomparable–theoriginsforeachdifferprofusely–buthaveincommontheadvocationof

(regional)identityandtheprotectionofculture.

‘tBildtwasimposedacontraryfatebythepowersthatbe:mymunicipalityhasceasedto

existasperJanuary1st2018.After513yearsBildtsautonomyhascometoanend.Dictated

byTheHague,andembracedbytheprovinceandtheBildtscouncil,themunicipality

dissolvedintothenewWaadhoekemunicipality.Reasonsof‘efficiency’,‘battingpower’,

‘beingabletofacechallenges’havebeenoffered:claptrapdisguisedascommonsenseto

getridofsmallmunicipalities.

Now,theBasquesandtheBilkertsareincomparableinnearlyeveryway.TheBasqueshave

beenthroughanunimaginableamountofsuffering.Bloodwasshedandliveswerelostto

keepalivethepulseoftheirlanguageandculture.Bilkertshavehaditsomucheasier.We’ve

notlostlivesdefendingtherighttospeakourlanguage;we’venotbeentortured,arrested

andsilenced.TheBasqueshave.Andtheystillare,justliketheCatalans.I’vemetthem.I’ve

spokentothem.I’veseentheimpactofthisoppression.Youbarelyhearit,butit’sstill

happening,in2018.

WeBilkertscancountourselvesluckythatweneverhadtogothroughthatordeal.Butwe

dofightforthesamecause.Atadifferentscale,inadifferentcountry,underadifferent

politicalconstellation.Butourgoalisshared:thepreservationofBildtsandBasque.

AsaBilkert,entwinedwiththefateoftheBildtslanguage–theBildtslanguagehasshaped

myidentity,shapedwhoIam–I’vebeengrantedalookbehindthecurtainsofapeoplewho

dotheirutmosttopreservetheirlanguageandguardovertheirownculture.Nexttowriting

myBildtsnovella‘Blaufandagen,griisfanônrust’(Blueofdays,greyofunrest),akey

objectiveofmystaywastoresearchthequestion:whatisidentity?Howcanoneguardand

preserveaminoritylanguage?Canonefightforone’sownsmalllanguageandcultureand

alsokeepanopenmind–withoutitbecomingaquestofnationalism?Imyselfloatheflag-

wavingnationalism.Especiallywhenwhatitboilsdowntoisshuttingoutotherpeople.I’m

whollyindifferenttowardstheDutchflagandnationalanthem.

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Butaflag,I’velearnedintheBasqueCountry,canmeanthingsotherthannationalismor

‘pride’alone,aslongasthecontextisunderstood,and,especially,thedesirebehindit.

DespiteallthedifferencesbetweenBasquesandBilkerts,it’scrystalclearthat‘identity’and

minoritylanguagesshareauniversalcharacter.Attheheartareaspectswebothdealwith

andfightfor–becausethat’swhatwehavetodo.Half-jokinglyI’vebeenreferredtoasan

‘ambassadorofBildts’becauseofmyparticipationinthisproject.Butit’showIsincerelyfelt

it,whenIdisseminatedtheBildtslanguageandcultureintheBasqueCountry,knowinghow

manyBilkertstrustedmewiththattask.

I’vecometoembracethatrolebestoweduponme:todofortheBildtslanguagewhateverI

cando,inallmodesty.Withmynewspaper,withpoetry,withthisproject.Soonwith

literature,nowalreadywiththisessay.That’swhatthisisallinaidof:contributingtoa

futureforthelanguage.Therejectionoftheofficiallanguagestatusandtheredivisionof

municipalitiesareathreattoBildts,thatmuchisclear.Butthatthreatcomeswith

opportunities,andmaybeevenanewawareness:I'veseenthishappeningtoalotofBilkerts

overthepastyear.Andthereisfertilegroundforthisbeautiful,stubborn,rugged,raw,

romanticlanguage.Bildtsdeservesanewconsciousness,anewwaveofemancipation,a

statusinatimeaheadthat’sfullofchallenges.

Today,thereare6,000peoplewhospeakthisuniquelanguage.Deathistheultimatefateof

asmalllanguage,butIcan’tpredictwhenthelastBildtsspeakingpersonwilldie.Itbegins

andendswithus,thespeakers.Anditsfatedoesn’tmeanthatalanguageorculturecan’tbe

supportedbyagovernment,thatyoucan’tdoanythingaboutitbecause“itwilldisappear

anyway”.Therearealotofoptions–aslongasthere’stherealizationofhowspecialthe

Bildtslanguageis–firstandforemostbytheBilkertsthemselves.

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2.Bermeo

We’redrivingalongthepointy,rockycoastoftheBasqueCountry,fromDonostia(San

Sebastián,intheBasqueprovinceofGipúzcoa)toBermeo(intheBasqueViscaya).Thewind

andseahaveshapedthiscoastlineoverthousandsofyears.Theelementshavechosena

remarkable‘design’:therearenostraightlines.Notenmetresarealike.

Atcertainpointsthewaterstreamsjustaboutfarenoughinland,asifitwasnature’sdivine

plan,that,thousandsofyearslater,intheMiddleAges,smallvillagescouldarise,sheltered

fromthemightysea.Villageswherefishermencouldsafelycreateahavenandabasefrom

whichtosetoutontotheunpredictableGulfofBiscay,toreturnhomewithfish.Theperfect

home,madepossiblebynature.ItbroughttheBasqueswealth:theysailedthebiggestseas

aroundtheglobe,longbeforethegreatseafarersoftheRenaissance.FromBilbao,Donostia

andallthesmallplacesinbetween,theBasqueswerethefirsttoreachGreenlandand

Canada.Theywerethefirstwhalers,thefirstsavvyenoughtobuildshipsthatwouldbeable

tosurvivesuchjourneys,thefirstwhounderstoodthatyouneedtosaltyourfoodsoitlasts

longer.Acleverpeople,theBasques.

Buttheirlandtheydidnotcarveoutforthemselves.Theyhavenaturetothankforthat.

Theymakedowithwhathasbeengiventothem.TheBasquesareasmuchamountain

peopleastheyareacoastalpeople.Theyliveinbig,impressivecities,butjustaswellinhabit

manyruralvillageswith400orfewerpeoplelivingthere.They’reinventiveandencompass

thebestofbothextremes.

Throughtheages,thecapriciousseahasforceditselfthroughstoneandearth,whichhasled

toamosaiccoast:coves,protrusions,bays,‘pasajes’.Asmallbeachhere,amolochof

massivestonethere.TheversatilityoftheBasquelandscapeismirroredinthepeople:make

dowithwhatyou’regiven,beflexibleandabletochangegears,butdoitallinorderto

unite,tobecomeone.

It’sashinydayinMay.Nevertoohot,here,likeitcanbeintheinlandsofSpain,butsultry,

witharefreshingsaltyair.“Don’tyouthinkit’sbeautiful?,”I’maskedseveraltimeswhile

we’redrivingalongthecoast.I’mstrugglingforwords.

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“Yes,beautiful,”iswhatIkeepreplying.It’scracklingandsizzlinginthecar:we’relikekids

onaschooltrip,delirious,talkingaboutliteratureandlifeandlove.Partnersincrime.Each

withhisownEnglishaccent,withadifferentbackground,butwiththesameambition.

I’mfromreclaimed,flatpolder-soil.Nomountains,nocoves.Nature–moreorless–hadthe

sameinmindforFrieslandasfortheBasqueCountry.TheoldMiddelseedugdeepintothe

Frisianlandwiththecurveofabanana.Leeuwardenwasatsea.‘tBildtwasbutadream.But

theMiddelseeslowlysludgedup,andonFebruary22nd,1505,itwasdecidedthislandwould

bedammedandpolderedin–itwasdecidedtocreateit.In261daystheOudebildtdijkwas

raised,includingtwosluices,bysome700to1500men,mostlyfromtheSouthofHolland.

Theoriginofmybirthground,andthereforeofme,comesfroma15thcenturydrawing

table.TheMondriaan-esquestraightlineswereetchedintoparchmentwellbeforethey

becamereal.Thefertilesoilwasalogicaleffectoftheprocessofreclaiminglandfromthe

sea.Apeople,theBildtslanguage,aculture:thoseweren’tinvented.Theywereyettocome.

Evenonathought-up,stolenpieceofland,acommunitywithitsownlanguageorganically

arose.Araw,unruly,romanticlanguage;asoilinFrieslandalwaysmostwelcomingtoany

socialrevolution,anduntilwellintothelastcentury,alsoknownasthe‘Sodomand

Gomorrah’ofFriesland.

Inmanyrespects,thisistheexactoppositeofthehistoryoftheBasqueCountry.Andyet,

thisBilkertsitsinthecartogetherwithacoupleofyoungBasquewriters,drivingalongthe

coastfromDonostiatoBermeo,apicturesquefishermen’svillage.We'regoingthere

becauseit’sthehometownofayoungBasquewriter.

OnthewaywepassGernika(Guernica),theplacethatin1936,duringtheCivilWar,through

apactbetweenFrancoandHitler,wasruthlesslybombedintooblivionbytheLuftwaffe.

FromthemassgraveofGernika,generationsofBasquessprungandflourished,embracing

theirlanguageandcultureevenmore,becausethevulnerabilityofithadbeenlaidbare

throughouttheirhistory.Because,somanytimes,othershadtriedtodestroyit.

Eventheyoungwriterswithmeinthecarfeelitdeeplywithinthem.Itwasinheritedfrom

thegenerationsabovethem,butin2017theystillembraceitpassionately,eachintheirown

way.We‘stop’atGernikaandtalkaboutit,butwedon’tendthere.Wedriveon.

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Onthisday,weallaresteepedinfreedom,intheexcitementofbeingwithourequals–

whichisasortofhomecoming.Thatstrongfeelingthatwe’reallworkingonthesame

dream,andbeingabletosharethat.

Ithadbeenanoldwatchtower.Asquareposttolookoutfrom,builtonthehighestrockof

fishingvillageBermeo.'Picturesque'mightseemlikeahollowconceptbynow,buttrustme,

Bermeoispicturesque.Colourfullypaintedhousesalongtheseaside,theBasquecoastthat

disappearsintothemistwhileyoureyeslookforthehorizon,boatsbobbingintheharbour.

Thebuildinghadoperatedasaseasidewatchtowerforages–tobeabletoseestranded

whales,tocatchsmugglers,ortosigntootherwatchtowersthattheenemy–theSpaniards,

ortheGuardiaCivilonwater–wasonitsway.

Now,in2017,it’satinybutohsocozycafé,thereonthehighestrockwiththeprettiest

view.Ekaitzhadboughtitwithtwofriends.Thisway,hecanaffordtobeawriter,bysharing

barshiftswiththem.HesayshechosethispathtopursuehisdreamofbecomingaBasque

writer.It’swhatallwriterssaythere–withgreatcertainty,yetalsoakindofnonchalance,as

ifit’snobigdeal.ThenewestgenerationofBasquewriters–peopleintheirtwenties,early

thirties–doesn’tseemtoperceiveitasmakingachoicetobecomeawriter,butratherthe

otherwayaround:Basquewritingchosethem.

Themostimportantbuildingblockofidentityislanguage.Iwon’tshyawayfromthat

disposition.LiketroubadourJandeVriessings–‘Ikhew‘taltydweten,‘tisdetaal,dat

maakt‘tferskil’(I’vealwaysknown,it’sthelanguage,that’swhatmakesthedifference)–

everythingbeginsandendswiththelanguagewespeak,withwhichwerelatetotheother

person.Weconnectwitheachotherthroughlanguage.Therearenoothermeans.Identity

islanguage.

TheBasquesknowthis.Theyknowthisbecauseofthehardestlessontaught:suppression.

DuringtheFrancoregime,Basquesuntil1975weren’tallowedtospeakBasqueinpublic.I’ve

metmanyaBasquewhospokeemphaticallyabouttherepercussions.Ifanunawarefive

yearoldatschoolwouldsay‘eskerrikasko’–‘thankyou’inBasque–insteadoftheSpanish

‘gracias’,they’dbehitonthefingerswitharuler,bemadetostandinthecorner,punished.

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Achildwould‘knowbetter’nexttime,butadultscouldbearrestediftheyspokeBasquein

public,andtortured,iftheywereunlucky.Alotofpeoplewereunlucky.TheFrancoregime

sawlanguagediversityasaformofresistance,asundercuttingauthority.Itwascrudely

suppressed.

“For‘tBildts,itwouldbebestiftheFrisianswouldsaytomorrow:fromnowonBildtsis

forbidden.Thenyou’llseecounteraction.Thenyourlanguagewillflourish.”Atleasttwo

differentpeopletoldmethissamethingintheBasqueCountry.Oppression,acrackdown,

leadstoastrongcountermovement.TheBasquesthemselvesarethefirsttoadmitit’sthis

oppressionthatpartlyledtoBasquethriving.

Becausethat’swhatitdoes.AllchildrenintheBasqueCountryreceiveSpanishandBasque

education.YoucanfindeveryutteranceinBasque:literature,children’sbooks,film,the

media.Childrenhear‘elderly’speakBasqueintheirvillageoftown,likemumanddad,and

incorporatethat.Itdoesn’tstopwhentheyclosethefrontdoorbehindthemandstepinto

thewideworld.BecausethatworldisBasque,too,oratleastbilingual.School’sBasque.

Media.Museums.Placesigns.KidsarefedbothBasqueandSpanish,intrulyeverywalk

oflife.

Letmebecrystalclear:weasBilkertsshouldbegratefultonothavesuchaterrible,violent

historyastheBasques.Bilkertshaveneverbeensuppressed–notbytheDutch,notby

Frisians–forthelanguagewespeak.Towishforoppressionbecauseitwillleadtoa

meaningfulreactionwouldbesilly.

SothisisnotacomparisonbetweenBasquesandBilkerts.ButIhaveseenwhatwecanlearn

fromtheBasques.Itispreciselythiscontrastinwhichouropportunitieslie.TheBasques

havesetupeducationintheirownlanguage,inspiredbythethought:'Neveragain.We

won’tbesuppressed.Wespeakwhatwespeak,andwefeelthat’simportant.Let’spassthis

ontoanewgeneration'.

“ToteachBildtsinschoolsisamoralobligationtoourchildren,”saidteacherandactivistfor

BildtsineducationHenkKasin1979,myyearofbirth.Andwecan,withthegreatadvantage

thatwecanmakethishappenfromapeacefulstartingposition,aslongasthere’senough

supportforit;aslongasweBilkertsreallywantit.Bildtsshouldbecomeacourseinall

primaryschoolsonBildtssoil.

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Intheoryitshouldalreadybethatway,butrealityprovestobeobstinate.Inprimaryschool

‘tFonnemintinSt.-Anna,forexample,kidsreceiveexcellentBildtseducation.Butthat’s

solelybecausethey’veaBildtsteacherwhoknowsthelanguageandisagoodeducator.

OtherschoolsintheBildtsareaaren’taslucky.There,childrendon’thaveBildtslessons,

becausethere’sno-onewhocanorwantstoteachit.It’stheAchillesheelofanextremely

smalllanguageasBildts:fewpeople,littleexpertise.It’scapricious.

Onthedoorofthewatchtowerthatnowfunctionsasacafé,they’vepaintedtheword‘hoi’,

asagreetingforme.They’dlookedupifitwascorrectBildt!Ekaitzhasmadepintxosthat

aredisplayedonthebar.Thewindthatblowsaroundtheplaceisgentlyapproving,with

somefiercegustsofoptimism.

Yosebastoppedshorthiscareerattheuniversity–tiredoftheivorytowersoftheacademic

world–andwentbacktoteachingatasecondaryschool,tofreemoretimeforwriting.

Ekaitzboughtthiscafétobeabletowriteinhissparetime.TheBenjaminofmycompany,

Beatriz,isarestlesssoul,who'slivedabroad(England,China,Italy,Indonesia)sinceshewas

17.Sherealizesthatday:“EachtimewhenIleave,itmakesthereturningmorespecial,

makesmemoreappreciativeofBasque”.AndItakeuponmyselftherunningofdeBildtse

Post,carryingthetorchofmygrandfather.There,inthecartoBermeo,IdaretosaythatI

takethattaskuponmyself,thatitismygoal,fightingfor‘tBildt.Forthefirsttimeit

convergesperfectlywithwhoIam.

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3.OurWords

GurehitzakGurehitzak,EsanberrizesanEzdaitezelaahaztuEzdaitezelagal,ElurgaineanTxorihankaarinekUtzitakoarrastosailederrabezalaxe

OurwordsOurwords,SayitagainandagainTheycan’tbeforgottenTheywon’tbelost,LikethegracefulTraces,thefootstepsThatslender-leggedbirdsLeavebehindinthesnow.

OnswordenOnswoorden,Sêg‘topnijenopnijKinnenietfergetenworreSillenietferlorengaan,AsdegrasjeuzeSporen,defoetstappenDie’tdunnefeugelpoatsysachterlateindesnee.

‘GureHitzak’,asongbyMikelLaboa,basedonthewordsofwriterBernardoAtxaga.(translations:GerardMarceldeJong)

“Basqueisabrokeninstrument.”ThesewerethewordsofwriterEiderRodriguezlastJunein

ErnstLluch,aculturalcenterinthecatacombsoftheAnoetastadium,hometoReal

Sociedad.Inlightofmystaythere,apublicdebatewasorganizedaboutliteratureand

minoritylanguages,withseveralprominentBasquewriters.

Abrokeninstrument,that’swhatBildtsfeelsliketooattimes.Atoolofwhichyou’renot

quitesurewhattheuseis,whatitdoes.There’snothingyoucan’texpressinBildts–it’smy

mothertongue,myentireemotionalrangeisembeddedinthatlanguage–butitsscopeisso

verytiny.ThisalreadygoesforBasquesandFrisianswhowriteintheirownlanguage,let

aloneBildts.

I’dtoldthepresenter,journalistIñigoAstiz,aboutmyhopesofbywritinganovella–‘Blau

fandagen,griisfanônrust’:‘Blueofdays,greyofunrest’–tostartaBildtsliterarytradition.

Ortopresentafirstbuildingblockontowhichotherscanbuildfurther.

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“Ihopeyouknowwhatyou’regettingyourselfinto,”hesaid.“Yourfirstbookcould

effectivelymurderthetraditionyouwanttostart.”Hewasobviouslyjoking,butitalsorang

true.Howdoyouwritealiteraryworkinyourownlanguagethatlacksaliterarytradition?

Canyouescapethespectrethatforeverhauntsanendangeredlanguage:thatwritingin

Bildtsis,insomeway,inherentlyabouttheexistenceordisappearanceofBildts?CanBildts

beanhonest,expressivewrittenlanguage,withoutitimplicitlyalwaysbeingaboutBildts

itself?Canlanguageexistoutsideitself?

Bigquestions.QuestionsIstrugglewith,butquestionsthat–andthisisreassuringforme–

arestillverymuchaliveintheBasqueCountry(and,closertohome,arealsorelevantfor

Frisianwriters).Theveryfactthatthesequestionsarebeingaskedisahealthysign.Asa

writeryouwanttogobeyondtheliteralityoflanguage.Youwanttotakeittoahigherlevel.

Beyondtheliteral,tothemetaphorical,theabstract,toameta-useofit.Notforalanguage

tobejustthat,butthatitcanbethat,too.

Thevulnerabilityofasmalllanguagealwaysseemstolookoveryourshoulder,alwayslets

youknowit’sthere.I’mhighlyawareofthiswhenIwriteBildtsprose.It’sapitfalldifficultto

escape–thatwhenIwriteinBildts,alotofthetimesitturnsoutI’malsowritingaboutthe

vulnerabilityofthelanguage.It’sverydifficultnottogiveintothat.ButIdobelieveitcan

bedone.

TheBasquewriterandbestsellingauthorBernardoAtxaga–hisstorycollectionObabakoak

(aboutafictitiousBasquevillagecalledObaba)soldtensofthousands,andwastranslated

intomorethan20languages–cameupwithastrikingmetaphorforsmalllanguages.“The

vulnerabilityofaminoritylanguageislikefootstepsofaslender-leggedbirdinthesnow.”

Thosetinysticksinfresh-fallensnow.Thebird,usingallhismight,toleaveafootprint.Butit

onlytakesaminuteanditstracesareerasedbynewersnowflakes.Thesnowcoverisvirgin

whiteagain,asifthebirdneverwalkedthere.

Everyonewhospeaksorwritesinaminoritylanguagewillsurelyrecognizethatfeelingof

goingagainstthegrain.Weleaveourfootprintsbehind,buthavetokeepwalkingoverthe

samepackofsnowtokeepthemvisible.Andsome,likeme,arecrazyenoughtokeepdoing

it.Becausewedon’tknowhownotto.

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TheBasquewriterRamonSaizarbitoriaseesitdifferently.Accordingtohim,thesmallsizeof

alanguageisablessing,notacurse.Itssmallscaleisliberating,becausethelanguageextorts

itselffromthemarketlawsof‘majorityliterature’.Minoritylanguagewritersshouldn’tbe

afraidofthatghost–thatghostoftheimpendingdisappearanceofourlanguage,always

lurkingaroundthecorner.Instead,openthedoorforthepossibilities,theprospectsit

brings.Writeinyourownlanguage.Readittoyourchildren.Speakit.Thinkanddreamit.

No-onecanstopyoufromdoingit.Butuseit.Ourlanguageisouridentity.Sodon’tlet

thoughtsofpragmatismorinferioritydivertusfromthat.Ifyouwanttobecomerich,Bildts

probablyisn’tthelanguageyoushouldwritein.ButforaBilkertit’snotaboutbecoming

rich,it’saboutspeakingandwritinginhisorherlanguage.Therichesarealreadypresent:

it’sourownlanguage.Whatremainsisafreedomthatresemblesanarchy.Embracethat.

4.Notthebiggest?Thencertainlythesmallest!

“Ifyoucan’tbethebiggest,perhapsyoushouldaimtobethesmallest.That’squite

somethinginitself,”saidBildtshistorianAldertCuperusverysuccinctlyin‘MyBildt,youare

akingdom’,arecentdocumentaryabouthetBildt,madebyAlbertJensmaandbroadcaston

nationaltelevision.Jensmaapproachedmelastspring:hewantedtomakeafilmabouthet

BildtandtheBilkerts,thatspecialenclaveontheWaddencoastthatceasestoexistthis

year.IimmediatelytoldhimI’dtryandhelphimout,notleastbecausehehadaveryloving

approachtothesubject.

ThefactthatBildtsissoverysmall,thatitjustnearlyhas6,000speakers,isagreatpartof

whyit’ssoattractivetopeoplefromoutsidehetBildt.Ittriggerstheimaginationinaway

thatBilkertsthemselvesunderestimate.InBasqueCountry,peoplefellofftheirseatsonce

theyheardthatonly6,000dailyspeakthelanguage,andyetthatit’susedinanewspaper,in

books,andthatthereareorganisationsforpreservingthelanguage.

Jensmaisn’ttheonlyonewhohighlightedBildtsinthislastyearbeforetheredivisionof

municipalities.NeverbeforehastherebeenmoreattentionfromthemediaforBildtsasin

thisyear,2017.

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ThatthemunicipalityhetBildtwouldceasetoexistwasalreadydeterminedin2014.InApril

2016thedefinitedecisionwasmadebythecouncil.(Anaside:theBasquesthoughtthiswas

obscene.‘HowcanyourownBildtscouncildecidetodiscontinuehetBildt?!”I’vehadgreat

difficultytryingtoexplainingthistothem.Ididn’tsucceed.AndintheendIdidn’tevenwant

totryanymore.Rationally,itcanbedrylyexplained;emotionallyitisallsortsofwrong).

TheonethingthathurtBilkertsthemost,thetroublethepoliticiansinflictedupontheir

selves,wasthatthereneverwasareferendum.Thereignneverdaredto.Theparticipation

evenings–heldinallsevenBildtvillages–sufficedforthem,to‘gaugetheatmosphere’.And

thelawwasontheirside,eventhoughalloftheseseveneveningswerealike:angerabout

thediscontinuingofthemunicipality,andthefactthepeopleweren’taskedabouttheir

opiniononit.Becauseofthis,asnewspaperdeBildtsePost,wedecidedtopollitourselves.

72%oftheBilkertswereagainst.Ourresearchquicklycameunderfirefromthesame

politiciansafterpublishingtheresults.Ofcourse.Itdidn’tfittheiragenda,theirchosen

‘pathforward’.

ThefactthatBildtshasreceivedsomuchmediaattentionthisyear,isnotthanksto,but

ratherdespitetheBildtspoliticians.It’stheBilkertsthemselveswho,louderasever,beatthe

drum.ThepetitiontogetBildtsrecognizedundertheEuropeanTreatyofMinority

Languages,signedbyhundredsofBilkertsinmereweeks.Themultitudeoftelevisioncrews

thatcametovisit,thewrittenarticles,theweekRadio1broadcastedfromhetBildtevery

dayforaweek.Myjourney,asaBilkertinaFrisianprogram,totheBasqueCountry.(Andon

theeveningofthedayIheardIhadbeenchosentogoabroad,Imetaradiodocumentary

makerfortheVPRO.SheheardabouthetBildt,theBildtslanguage,deBildtsePost,theend

ofthemunicipalityanddecided:Ihavetodosomethingwiththis.She’sbeenfollowingme

allyearandwenttoDonostiatoseeme,allforaradiodocumentaryof45minutes,which

willbebroadcastinJanuary2018).

Idon’tbelieveshe’sdoingthatbecauseofme,perse,butit’syetanotherexampleof

someonefromoutsideofhetBildtwhohearsaboutusandourlanguage,andisintrigued.

Becauseit’sdifferentevenfromFrisian,becausethemunicipalityaftersomanyyearswill

disappear,becausewayupthereintheNorthpeoplearetryingtopreservethislanguage,

dayindayout.Beatingthedrumandaskingforattentionisn’treallyour‘modusoperandi’.

14

ButevenBilkertsmustrealizethatwedon’thavetoscreamandshouttotellourstory.If

there’sonethingI’veexperiencedthisyear,isthatallittakesisanengagedlistener,and

interestispiqued–withFrisians,‘Hollanders’orBasques.Wehavenotrealizedthisenough,

atleastuntilrecently–realisedhowspecialourlanguageis.Thefactthatourstoryreally

doestravelbeyondthebordersofmunicipalities,provincesandevenourcountry,reflects

welluponusBilkerts.

Bildtsisbeingtakenseriously.It’snolongerthelaughingstockofDutchlanguage,likeitused

tobe.Mygrandfather,GerrytDirksdeJong,wasinvitedtotheDutchmediacapital

Hilversum,intheEighties,asdirectorof‘StichtingOnsBildt’.Atthepopularradioshow

‘SpijkersmetKoppen’hewasallowedtosaysomethingaboutBildts.He’dpreparedhimself

thoroughly,andwasreadyashe’deverbe.HewassoproudthathewouldgettotellDutch

peopleabouthissmalllanguage,onnationalradio!

Itwasashambles.Humiliatedanddisgusted,hereturnedtohetBildt.Ithadbeenthesingle

mostshamefulexperienceofhislife.Insteadofinterestorcuriosity,thetalkdidn’tgo

beyond‘canyouspeaknormally?’,‘whatastrangelittlelanguage’andsoon.Hewasbeing

ridiculed,fortheaudienceandlistenerstolaughat.ThattheyhadabusedhisbelovedBildts

languageforthesakeofhumourhithimhard.

I’verememberedthisalltoowell.Itoohaveseencameracrewscominghere,fromthe

West,onlytoshootadegrading,stereotypicalitem.ButIdaretoclaimthattimeshavereally

changedwhenitcomestothat.Theideaofa‘small’,regionalidentityisincreasinglygaining

traction.WritingprojectOareWurden/OtherWordsisinitselfanexampleofthis:bringing

attentiontominoritylanguagesinEurope.Toputthehiddenrichesoflanguagewehave

hereinEuropeinthespotlight;toshowthatdiversitybinds.I’veexperienceditfirsthand.

TheBasquesareequallyinterestedinBildts–nomatterhowmuchitdiffersfromBasque–

becausetherearesomanysimilaritiesbetweenthetwo.Webothfightforthesamecause–

forourlanguage.Thatmakesusintowhoweare.

I’mnot'proud'ofBildts.Itwasmerelypassedontome.Iamproudhoweverofhowthe

Bilkerts–atlonglast–havemanifestedthemselves,toldourstory,stuckupforthe

language,youngandoldalike,withlimitedmeansandarelativelysmallgroupofpeople.

15

Tome,thatprovesthatanewawarenessonBildtsiscomingintoexistence,atthiscrucial

pointinourhistory.Thatwenotonlyaren’tashamedofBildts,butarestartingtoactively

propagateit.Thatdidn’thappentwentyyearsago,notinthisway.Perhapstheredivisionof

municipalitieshasbeenthecatalyst:theperceptionofthelanguagehasgrownup,along

withanewawarenessofitsbeautyandtheimportanceofcarryingiton.

I’mverycurioushowthingswillbethisyear,whenthemediacircushaslefttownanddied

down;ifwecanholdontothis,oncewe’remerelytheeasternpartofthenewmunicipality

Waadhoeke–‘Waddenhoek’inBildts.Afterlastyear,morethanever,Ibelievewecan.That

wecanbuildonfromthis–perhapsjustlikeCuperussaid,asthesmallest–culturally,

societallyandliterarily.

Lastingfootstepsinfreshsnow.Footstepsthatwillnolongerbesnowedunder.

5.Footstepsintheclay

TheofficiallanguagestatusforBildtswasrejectedlastyear.That’sdisappointing,andfeels

likeadepreciation,moresobecausethecriteriaaresoblackandwhite.Thepoliticalreigns.

InRonaldPlasterk,theBilkertsmetawhollyunwillingSecretaryofState,whohadthefinal

say.Whilethescientificresearchhasn’tcomeclosetoreachingaconclusion,Bildtsisseenas

oneofthemostinterestinglinguisticcases.Language,mixedlanguageordialect?Tobe

continued.

Ittakesnothingawayfromthefactthatforthe6,000peoplewhospeakBildts,itisjusta

language.‘Just’asin:itiswhatwespeak,it’swhatweusetocommunicatewitheachother.

ForBildts,itisoftheessencetofindallies.Andthey’reoutthere,morethanever.Thenew

municipalityWaadhoekecancountonaprovincethatsolidlybacksmultilingualism.The

officialstatusmayhavebeenrejected,buttheprovinceofFryslânmorethaneverguards

thepreservationofBildts.Thisresponsibilityhasbeencementedintheirlanguagepolicy

recently,andsignedbyallconcernedmayors.Themessageoftheprovince–withdeputy

SietskePoepjesleadingtheway–is:protecttherichnessofyourmultilingualism.We’vegot

fundsreservedforit,butifyouneglectit,you’llhearfromus.

16

TheprovinceofFryslânhasbecomeanally.Howverydifferentitwas40yearsago,whenfor

thefirsttimeBilkertsreallystoodupfortheirlanguage,againsttheimminentthreatof

FrisianeducationonhetBildt.ItwasthetriggerforthefirstBildtsmovement,themovement

mygrandfatherandmanyotherswerepartof.

ThewaveofthesecondBildtsmovementcurrentlyrollsontoglobalshores.Ageneration

youngerthanthefirstgroupoffighters.Inadifferentworld,amidadifferentmedia

landscape,throughdifferenttimes.Withagreaterreach,throughsocialmediaforexample,

the‘story’ofBildt(s)resonatesmorethanever.Thetorchhasbeenpassedonandnowlies

inyoungerhands.Foratinylanguageas‘tBildts,it'salreadyquitesomethingthatwecan

soundlytellthenextgenerationthatBildts,indeed,willstickaroundforawhile.Ihopemy

generationcanmakesurewepassonthetorchaswell.Enoughpeoplearedoingeverything

withintheirability,ofthatI’msure,despitetheannullingofthemunicipality.

“You’renotgrowingintooneofthosefanaticslikegranddad,areyou?”myMumsometimes

jokes.I’mafraidit’stoolate,mim…I’mmerelyaBilkertwithwritingaspirationswhowentto

theBasqueCountry.AlongthewayIgothandedsomebaggage,andwasencouragedasifI

wereanambassadorwhocouldpresentBildtsonaninternationalstage.Andthat’sbeen

supportedmorethanIevercould’vedreamed.WeBilkertshaveallies.InFryslân,inthe

BasqueCountry.Everywherewherepeoplespeakaminoritylanguage.Becauseweallfight

thesamefight.

I’dwishI’dlookedacrossthebordersooner.BecauseI’veseenthesamestrugglethere,and

foundenthusiasticallies.AndI’vereturnedtoaBildtthatishotasfire,foritsownlanguage

andculture.Inthisyear,theyearinwhichhetBildtisannulledbyamajorityofourown

council,that’sablessing.

ThefutureoftheBildtslanguageandculturedoesnotdependononeofthosefifteen

councilmembers.It’sinourownhands.Thefootstepsweleavebehindinthesnowcanmost

certainlybelasting,aslongaswekeeponleavingthem.Intheendit’sjustamatterof

walking,walking,walking.PressingthosefeetforcefullyintotheBildtsclay.

17

~

‘Howlongdoyougive‘tBildtsbeforeit’sextinct?’thereporteraskedmygranddadin1984.

Hisresponse:

‘Igive‘tBildtsaslongasIlive.’

Mygrandfatherdiedin2000.TheBildtslanguagesurvivedhispredictioneasily.Ifonewere

toaskmethatquestiontoday,infullconvictionI’danswerittheverysameway.

~