Standaardtaal en Dialekt

In this paper I deal with the attitude toward dialect and standard language in primary education. I criticize the negative attitude toward dialect, and refer to the internationnally recognized right to use one's own language. I propose to base the discussion about language and education, which basically is a political discussion, on the notion 'mother tongue'. I contrast two definitions of mother tongue: on the one side mother tongue as the language of primary socialization, on the other side as the language of a nation. The shift from the one definition to the other determines language attitude in education. I glance at the ideological background of the idea of the superiority of the standard language (standard Dutch generally called 'General Civilized Dutch'). Finally I offer some suggestions on how to teach children the standard language, while avoiding to stimulate a negative attitude toward one's own mother tongue and that of others.