Word migration from Dutch to Basque

Abstract

This paper addresses the migration of words of Dutch origin to Basque, either directly or via relay languages like French and Spanish. The identification of more than 80 Dutch loans in Basque demonstrates that direct or indirect social and commercial contacts between the Low Countries and the Basque Country have existed for more than a thousand years. Further study of this phenomenon is proposed to identify with greater precision the nature and temporal distribution of these contacts.