Taalpatriottisme van Becanus tot Grotius

Abstract

In this study the linguistic ideas of Goropius Becanus (1519-1573) and his followers Hendrik Laurensz Spieghel (1549-1612), Simon Stevin (1548-1620) and Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) are studied. Goropius Becanus has a poor reputation for his fantastic etymologies, which have been ridiculed by, for example, Leibniz. However, Becanus’ ideas about the position and value of his Dutch mother tongue have been influential for more than a century, as is demonstrated. He was not only held in high esteem in the Low Countries but also in Germany, where a similar linguistic patriotism flourished in the 17th century. Goropius Becanus and his supporters should be appreciated as linguistic patriots who fought for equal rights for their language.