It feels freeing to switch from the dull Dutch to the lively Limburgish with my friends.
It's similar to going from a kaleidoscope of noises to black and white.
However, there are moments when the world beyond our linguistic bubble is monochrome.
They mistakenly label us as "Scandinavian" after hearing our melodic tones, which is harmless until it leads to stereotypes.
Assumptions that turn into offensive jokes, frequently directed at my IQ.
It's like they expect thick accents to be paired with thick skulls.
They have no idea that under this dialect is a bachelor's degree, just waiting to be revealed when I speak to them in their "perfect" Dutch.
Their mouths fall open and stillness descends upon the room louder than any stereotype they could think of.
It's a reminder that judging a book by its linguistic cover is a recipe for misunderstanding, and sometimes, a crash course in respect.
As long as it's harmless, I think it's ok and not a problem but in most cases, stereotypes bring negative output and it is sometimes enough to make one's life measable.
#crossculture
I heard that in other places as well. People choose which is the most correct form of the language and criticize others who don't use the same terms or accents.
#crossculture