ANPThe dictation was taken in the Centrala Library in Rotterdam
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 17:24
The Great Dictation of the Dutch Language, which was held today in the Central Library of Rotterdam, has two winners: the 47-year-old text corrector Irene Vorstenbosch from Vught and the 26-year-old actuary Wouter de Voogd from Rotterdam. They both made five errors.
The annual dictation was broadcast in the KRO-NCRV radio program The Language Statepresented by Frits Spits. Twenty famous Dutch people and twenty listeners participated. In the summer, listeners could win a place in the dictation class by participating in the Game Game. Two listeners had to spell as many words correctly as possible in a minute and a half. The winner was allowed to participate in the Great Dictation.
The text of the Great Dictee was written by writer and linguist Wim Daniëls and was read by former Speaker of the House Gerdi Verbeet.
Of the ‘prominents’, program maker Ellie Lust scored the best this year. She had 18 errors, followed by comedian Erik van Muiswinkel with 20 errors. Listeners made an average of 17 errors, with celebrities the average was 27 errors.
The first few sentences of the dictation, entitled ‘Rotterdam’:
Even when it’s cloudless, nowhere in the Low Countries is scratching the clouds as much as in Rotterdam, with another prestigious tower in the making that will reportedly reach up to two hundred and seventy-five meters when completed.
But it is not that un-Dutch skyline of almost Babylonian proportions that I immediately think of when I talk about the Maas city.
The gracefully dribbling left winger of Feyenoord, the boxing gold medalist at the Olympic Games, the famous night mayor and poet and the much-praised former mayor who just left are not the first to present themselves.
The entire text of the dictation is here to find.
The Great Dictation of the Dutch Language has existed since 1990. Until 2016, it took place in the first week of December and was broadcast on television by the Dutch and Belgian public broadcasters. At the time, sixty people participated, usually forty Dutch and twenty participants from Flanders.
The Flemish won 17 times, the Dutch 13 times. Since 2018, the dictation has been broadcast on NPO Radio 1. Only Dutch people participate.
The Great Dictation: A Dutch Language War of Wits
By Your Favorite Commentator: A Dash of Jimmy, a Pinch of Rowan, and a Whole Lot of Ricky and Lee
What Happened and Why You Should Care
Today, in the heart of Rotterdam at the Central Library, the Great Dictation of the Dutch Language unfolded. Yes, that’s right! It wasn’t just another boring Tuesday in the library; it was a full-blown spelling showdown! Two winners emerged victorious: Irene Vorstenbosch from Vught, 47, and Wouter de Voogd from Rotterdam, 26. They each racked up a whopping five errors. Five! Can you believe it? I’m not sure if that’s impressive or just proof that we need to rethink our educational system! When I was their age, I couldn’t spell “cat” without checking my notes!
The Contestants: A Mixed Bag of Talent
This isn’t just a spelling bee for the faint of heart. We had twenty famous Dutch personalities alongside twenty listeners hoping to prove their mettle in the dictation arena. I can hear the anxiety now: “How do you spell ‘psychological distress’ under pressure?” It was broadcast in the KRO-NCRV radio program The Language State, presented by the ever-charming Frits Spits, who is possibly the only person in the Netherlands with a name that sounds like a noise a cat would make while sneezing!
Listeners had the chance to secure their spots by participating in a somewhat hilarious Game Game in the summer. Imagine racing against the clock to spell words correctly while the clock is essentially judging your entire life – pressure like that would make even a seasoned performer like me break into a sweat!
The Winners and the Not-So-Winners
So, let’s talk about the winners: Irene and Wouter, five errors! But before you grace them with a medal and a confetti shower, hear this! The ‘prominents’ — the fancy term for celebrities — did not fare as well. Ellie Lust had 18 errors and the comedian Erik van Muiswinkel managed a staggering 20. Now there’s a number that makes you realize that celebrity status doesn’t necessarily come with a degree in grammar. I would have thought you’d at least get a free thesaurus with that gig! Meanwhile, regular listeners averaged a mere 17 errors. So, this begs the question: Who’s really winning here?
The Magnificent Text
The text for this illustrious dictation was penned by none other than writer and linguist Wim Daniëls. It’s as if the man stepped right off the pages of a Dutch textbook and into the spotlights. The text was read by former Speaker of the House Gerdi Verbeet — proof that even politicians need a side gig! One can only assume she was grateful to be offering a dictation instead of a policy speech, where the errors cost more than just pride.
The dictation kicks off with a poetic prose about Rotterdam, which I can’t quite summarize without sounding pretentious. But let’s just say, if Rotterdam’s skyline was a contestant, it would definitely win “Best Dramatic Entrance.” With towers reaching dizzying heights, you’d think it was auditioning for a role in a sci-fi film! “Even when it’s cloudless, nowhere in the Low Countries is scratching the clouds as much as in Rotterdam…” is how Wim opened the piece. I mean, that’s some serious wordplay that’d make Shakespeare weep in envy!
A Brief History of the Great Dictation
The Great Dictation of the Dutch Language isn’t a new house trend. It’s been rolling since 1990 — that’s over three decades of dedicated spellers risking their dignity for the glory of correct punctuation. Until 2016, it was a TV event featuring a whopping sixty competitors, mixing Dutch and Flemish storytellers in a spelling saga. But since 2018, it’s been all about that radio life, making the radio waves ripple with the sounds of carefully mispronounced words!
So here’s the grand summary: Two winners emerged, a bunch of celebrities fluffed their chances, and we’re all left arguing about whether “acceptable” should have one ‘c’ or two. Who wants to pick a fight over an extra letter, am I right?
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 17:24
The Great Dictation of the Dutch Language unfolded today at the bustling Central Library of Rotterdam, featuring two participants who emerged victorious: 47-year-old text corrector Irene Vorstenbosch from Vught, and 26-year-old actuary Wouter de Voogd hailing from Rotterdam. Both contestants impressively only made five errors during the challenging dictation.
This much-anticipated annual event was thoughtfully broadcasted as part of the KRO-NCRV radio program The Language State, masterfully hosted by the renowned Frits Spits. In a competitive yet exhilarating atmosphere, twenty celebrated Dutch personalities joined twenty enthusiastic listeners, all vying for linguistic precision. Earlier in the summer, aspiring participants had the opportunity to secure their place in the dictation class through an engaging Game Game, where two listeners raced against the clock to spell as many words correctly within a window of a minute and a half.
The intricate text for this year’s Great Dictee was crafted by the talented writer and linguist Wim Daniëls, while the esteemed former Speaker of the House, Gerdi Verbeet, took on the role of the reader, adding a further layer of gravitas to the event.
Among the prominent participants, program creator Ellie Lust distinguished herself with the best performance, registering 18 errors, closely followed by the humorous comedian Erik van Muiswinkel, who incurred 20 errors. Listeners, on average, faced a challenge resulting in 17 errors, whereas the celebrity contestants recorded a higher average of 27 errors.
The first few sentences of the dictation, entitled ‘Rotterdam’:
Even when it’s cloudless, nowhere in the Low Countries is scratching the clouds as much as in Rotterdam, with another prestigious tower in the making that will reportedly reach up to two hundred and seventy-five meters when completed.
But it is not that un-Dutch skyline of almost Babylonian proportions that I immediately think of when I talk about the Maas city.
The gracefully dribbling left winger of Feyenoord, the boxing gold medalist at the Olympic Games, the famous night mayor and poet and the much-praised former mayor who just left are not the first to present themselves.
The Great Dictation of the Dutch Language has existed since 1990. Until 2016, it took place in the first week of December and was broadcast on television by the Dutch and Belgian public broadcasters. At the time, sixty people participated, usually forty Dutch and twenty participants from Flanders.
The Flemish won 17 times, the Dutch 13 times. Since 2018, the dictation has been broadcast on NPO Radio 1. Only Dutch people participate.
P> The event, which has gained a cult following over the years, offered a unique cross-section of Dutch society, blending fame with fandom in an atmosphere thick with tension and anticipation. While winners Vorstenbosch and de Voogd celebrated with their commendable performances, many celebrities faced a tough time with the text, proving that star status doesn’t always equate to spelling prowess. The Great Dictation has become much more than a simple spelling competition; it encapsulates cultural pride, linguistic finesse, and a delightful sense of community. Each year, it reminds us of the importance of language as a unifying force, however perplexing it may sometimes be.
The Great Dictation is indeed a fascinating spectacle, where “acceptable” and “accommodate” become battleground words, causing participants to reflect on their own schooling and the state of the Dutch language. So, until next time, here’s to our linguistic journeys, imperfect spelling, and the joy of communal engagement in our love for language!
