The language of argumentation in Dutch.

• Author: van Eemeren, Frans H.
• Position: Report

In principle, all languages have their own ways of expressing the concepts that are pertinent to dealing with argumentation and discussion. Depending on the languages that are being compared there may be striking structural similarities but there can also be differences that point to diverging perspectives on argumentative discourse or certain aspects of it. Because I am a native speaker of Dutch who has become familiar with argumentative usage in English I have always been struck by some differences between the language of argumentation in Dutch (and other languages I know) and the language of argumentation in English that imply a difference in perception of argumentation that can have conceptual consequences pertinent to the theoretical treatment of argumentation. In this short essay I first go into Dutch usage and then point out some such differences between Dutch and English.

How do Dutch people let each other know that they disagree? What do they say when they want to resolve their difference of opinions by way of an argumentative discussion? In what way do they convey that they are convinced by each other's argumentation? How do they criticize each other's argumentative moves? Which words and expressions do they use in these endeavors? By answering these questions I shall provide a brief inventory of the language of argumentation in Dutch.

Like other languages, Dutch has a whole range of possibilities for expressing one's view of something, varying from 'mijn standpunt is' [it is my view that], 'volgens mij' [in my opinion], and 'ik vind dat' [I think that], to 'Dat klopt niet' [that is not correct]. Those who have doubts concerning someone else's standpoint, or even firmly disagree with it, do not need to be at a loss for words either. Their response can vary from 'Daar ben ik nog niet helemaal zeker van' [I am not yet entirely sure about that] to 'Dat ben ik totaal niet met je eens' [I do not agree with you on that at all], with a lot of other possibilities in between. People who prefer to express themselves in a somewhat formal way may say 'Dat waag ik toch wel ernstig te betwijfelen' [I venture to express my serious doubts about that]; people who profess to be relaxed might let us know that they 'er toch wel even een paar vraagtekens bij willen zetten' [would just like to add a few question marks to it]; whereas the response of no-nonsense people like you and me could be 'Wat is dat nou weer voor onzin?' [what kind of nonsense is that again?].

People who do not agree on something 'verschillen van mening' [have a difference of opinion], which can grow into a mutually recognized 'meningsverschil' [disagreement], and may become a 'controverse' [controversy] if the disagreement can not be...