During this period of time, which lasted roughly from the end of the Frankish Empire until 1600, Limburg’s linguistic position continued to be quite different from that of the majority of the Low Countries. From early on in the Middle Ages, a linguistic division could already be seen in the Low Countries, given that the western Low Countries (including Flanders, Holland and Brabant) had clear linguistic differences from the Meuse-Rhine region located to the east. At that time, Limburgish followed its own linguistic development, which was much more oriented towards the eastern Rhine region. The major linguistic divide in the Low Countries was between the west and the east. To the west were Flanders, Zeeland and Holland, with West Brabant and Utrecht acting as buffer zones. To the east were East Brabant, Limburg and the adjacent Rhine region.

Moreover, research has shown that between 1288 and 1400, following the Limburgish War of Succession, from which Brabant emerged victorious, the influence of Brabantian on Limburgish as a written language nevertheless remained minimal. For example, the counts of Loon in West Limburg clearly took their lead from cultural centres in German countries. In addition, various smaller Limburgish cities were in all likelihood also regarded as cultural centres; their use of Limburgish must have been seen as quite prestigious in the rest of Limburg.

Nevertheless, during the High Middle Ages, developments began in Flanders, Brabant and Holland to write some words not in accordance with the pronunciation of a single dialect, but to use an orthography that could be read throughout the whole linguistic region. Flanders also slowly started to produce its own literature, written in a Flemish that eventually would become the basis for the Dutch written language centuries later. Brabantian would evolve more along the lines of the language used in the western Low Countries and would – after Flemish – have the largest impact on the later written language of the Dutch. A major factor in the increasing unity between Flanders, Holland and Brabant was the use by civil servants of a common written language, devoid of local characteristics, that gained ground rapidly under the pioneering influence of Flemish.

Limburgish, however, had a separate linguistic development. From early on, the language was not involved in the attempt to establish a common written language for Flanders, Brabant and Holland. The Limburgish tradition, in particular its written tradition, was clearly focused towards the east, on the languages of the German Empire. The fact that Limburg had been part of the heartland of Carolingian Europe several centuries before played a significant role in ensuring that – in cultural terms – the region faced towards Aachen, with its back to the north and west. Flanders, Brabant and Holland were subject to different influences than was Limburg. As a result, these regions were not affected by the Limburgish language and culture, and in turn, Limburgish language and culture were not related to the language and culture of Flanders, Brabant and Holland.

As with the Franks, Latin would remain the preferred written language in Limburg for centuries, overshadowing the usage of the local vernacular. The transition from Latin to the local vernacular mostly occurred in an indirect fashion in many of the Low Countries, following a shorter or longer transition period through French. Official documents often consisted of deeds covering land ownership by larger land owners or church institutions and some of these were recorded in the vernacular.
The local vernacular was also used in the courts, although little written evidence exists of this until the 12th century. If events were recorded, then this was most often done in Latin.

A standard language was still absent in the Low Countries during the Middle Ages. In spite of attempts to create a common written standard in Flanders, Holland and Brabant, each region – and often each town or city – had its own local dialect. Throughout Limburg, a particular kind of Middle Limburgish, which varied from region to region, was used as an official language by civil servants in the preparation of various documents, such as deeds of assignment, covenants or gifts, wills, as well as government documents in general.

Limburg occupied a special place in comparison with the rest of the Low Countries. Documents were still prepared in Latin in Limburg until the middle of the 14th century, long after the practice had ceased elsewhere in the Low Countries. Little written evidence remains from this time up until 1300. The ‘Corpus Gysseling’ – a register containing all texts produced in the Low Countries during this era – contains a total of seven Limburgish texts that originated from the Meuse-Rhine region. This does not mean that more texts were not written, but it is unclear why so few written documents from this time have been discovered.
In addition, from the 13th century onwards, the local vernacular began to be used more and more as a language of government in Limburg. This is evidenced by the substantial property registers of Aldenbiesen from 1280 onwards, as well as by documents written in the local vernacular of Tongeren from 1277. An official document from Sittard, which dates back to 1243, shows that Limburgish was already used as an administrative language at the time. In Maastricht, charters were also written in the local language. The Book of Statutes of Maastricht, from 1380, as well as several other official Maastricht documents, indicate that Limburgish was also used as an administrative language in the 14th century. The archives of the old municipality of Heerlen also contain documents that refer to the use of Limburgish as a language of government in the 15th and 16th centuries.

A gradual transition was nevertheless taking place. The centuries-old political and religious situation in the Meuse-Rhine region began to change rapidly towards the end of the 16th century and at the beginning of the 17th century, as the old Lower Rhine centres of power, which had set the political agenda in the region for centuries, were replaced by others who had entered the region.
This resulted in the further fragmentation of Limburg, which also had an impact upon the Limburgish language. For example, the Middle Limburgish written tradition in Sittard was already being replaced by the use of High German from 1555 onwards. From the north, the Dutch Republic tried to extend its influence in Limburg through its Reformed and Calvinistic beliefs. To the west, with Brussels as their capital, the Habsburgs were the main rivals of the Dutch. The Dutch language was increasingly put forward as the dominant language, replacing Limburgish. This political development ensured that the centuries old tradition of using Limburgish in government and the courts came to a halt. However, some Limburgish literature would continue to be written, even into the present day.

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http://www.ned.univie.ac.at/publicaties/taalgeschiedenis/en/anltexte.htm (28-5-2008).