What is Afrikaans?

Crow's nest intro to Afrikaans

Samuel Murray-Smit
Afrikaans Crow's Nest

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Currently about 10 million people world wide speak Afrikaans as a first language

What is Afrikaans? (very briefly)

Afrikaans is one of the youngest germanic languages. Other germanic languages include English, German, Dutch, and the Scandanavian languages. Afrikaans originated in South Africa about 200 years ago. It's a language very similar to Dutch, and contains many words, phrases and grammatical constructs of Dutch. Currently about 10 million people world wide speak Afrikaans as a first language. Most Afrikaans speakers live in Southern Africa, and most of them are white (including the so-called coloureds) or asian. Afrikaans has been one of South Africa's official languages for over 50 years. Afrikaans contains literature much the same as other Western cultures, and Afrikaans can handle both commerce and technology communication very well. Recently attitudes towards Afrikaans as an untouchable heritage has diminished, and the language is experiencing a cultural, literary and musical bloom.

Where did it come from?

Afrikaans "began" when Dutch settlers settled at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa over 300 years ago. At that time the official language of the Cape was a form of Dutch. Slaves from the East and traders from the rest of Europe settled in the small colony. Dutch and French farmers began moving inland. Still the official language was Dutch. This "Dutch" became mixed with sailor's language, slave language, inland tribe language, and other European languages.

As early as the late eighteenth century settlers were speaking a language very similar to Afrikaans and very unlike proper Dutch

Eventually a different language came into being. This new language was officially viewed as "slang Dutch", and even early in this century Afrikaans people referred to their language as "Cape Dutch". For much of the nineteenth century most of the non-English white population spoke Afrikaans, but they called it "Dutch". They wrote in Dutch and read in Dutch. But their spoken language was different from true Dutch.

Eventually only Dutchisms remained in the written language. A classic example is a journal entry by an inland settler who wrote "... as we say in good Dutch... " and then follows up with a perfectly non-Dutch but Dutch-looking sentence. When did Dutch became Afrikaans? Historic documents suggests that as early as the late eighteenth century settlers were speaking a language very similar to Afrikaans and very unlike proper Dutch.

Although Afrikaans was used in print such as newspapers and political and religious pamphlets as early as 1850, the real boost came in 1875 when a patriotic group of Afrikaans speakers from the Cape formed the Genootskap vir Regte Afrikaanders (Society for real Afrikaners), who published several Afrikaans books, including grammars, dictionaries, religious material and histories. They also published a journal called the Patriot.

After the Great South African war in 1899 - 1902, a second and a third language movement started in two different places in South Africa. Academic interest in Afrikaans increased. In 1925 Afrikaans was recognised by the government as a real langauge, instead of a slang version of Dutch. The form and shape of Afrikaans has remained much the same since 1925.

Where is it spoken?

Afrikaans is spoken mainly in South Africa. At the turn of the last century a group of Afrikaans speakers emmigrated to Argentina, and a small number of them still speak the language. Owing to political changes during the last 40 years many Afrikaans speakers also went to Australia and New Zealand.

Urban legend estimates over 100 000 Afrikaans speakers in London alone

Today pockets of Afrikaans speakers can be found in most of the world's larger cities, especially in Western Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Britian, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the USA and in Lowland countries such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Official numbers vary, but urban legend estimates over 100 000 Afrikaans speakers in London alone, and over 40 000 each in Toronto and Vancouver.

In Southern Africa most Afrikaans speakers live in South Africa and in Namibia. Swaziland, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe also sports Afrikaans communities, and the other Southern African states as far north as Malawi has mentionable Afrikaans pockets of speakers.

By whom is it spoken?

Afrikaans is mainly a white language (by "white" we include the so-called coloureds). It is also spoken by many South African Indians, and by a small number of black Africans. Afrikaans is not a class biased language. Upper class Afrikaans speakers may use a more polished Afrikaans, but the language is not restricted to a specific class.

Strict views by the academic community on Standard language has led to the fact that an educated person's Afrikaans and an uneducated person's Afrikaans differs not in the quality or form of the language itself, but rather in the amount of non-Afrikaansisms. Only recently has it been more acceptible to use non-Standard Afrikaans, and many culturally conscious people are capitalising on this new freedom.

Most Afrikaans speakers also speak English at either first or second language level. Many black Africans can speak second or third language level Afrikaans, and many can understand first of second language level Afrikaans. Sadly many white English speakers can speak only third or foreign language level Afrikaans, though most of them understand it at second or third language level. Far greater numbers of black people in South Africa can speak white languages than the number of white people who can speak or even understand black languages.

How does it compare to English, Dutch, German, etc?

Since English has been much influenced by the Roman languages, the language may look radically different from Afrikaans. There are many similarities, however. The sentence construction is similar, and many of the Saxon words are very similar. To illustrate: "This long sentence is in Afrikaans." ... "Hierdie lang sin is in Afrikaans.", and "We sit at the table to eat." ... "Ons sit aan tafel om te eet." (long, lang, is, is, in, in, sit, sit, table, tafel, to, te, eat, eet).

The sentence construction of German is very similar to Afrikaans

Dutch sentence construction is not as similar to Afrikaans as its vocabulary. For many terminological and spelling related issues Afrikaans still looks to Dutch. An excellent page on the similarities and differences between Afrikaans and Dutch is 101 Faux Amis.

From own experience we can tell that Afrikaans and German words are different enough to be strangers to each other, and similar enough for speakers of the one to make learning the other easy. The sentence construction of German is very similar to Afrikaans, in particular regarding the so-called "flavouring particles" (words with no meaning but to increase the rhythm and mood of a sentence). When we were at college we wrote our German exams by translating the German sentences word for word directly into Afrikaans, so similar is the construction.

Regarding Scandanavian languages, to my great surprise I was able to read Morten Svendsen's article about Afrikaans with fair ease. Again, many words and base sentence constructions are vaguely similar, and once one learns how to cheat the Norwegian words into Afrikaans ones, each reading the other becomes more bearable.

Tell us a bit about the grammar.

Hmmm, let's see. Okay, here goes: Afrikaans has one definite article (die) and one indefinite article ('n) for all words, whether singular or plural, whether male or female or neuter. With a few exceptions plurals are formed by adding an "s" or an "e" to the end of a word. Diminutives are formed by adding "ie" or "kie" or "tjie" to the end of a word. The future tense is obtained by adding the word "sal" before a present tense verb, and the past tense is obtained by adding "het ge-" to the beginning of a present tense verb. Accusative and genetive forms are obtained not by changing the verb but by adding words to the sentence, much like in English, much unlike German. The noun has only one gender, namely neuter.

Non-academic Afrikaans people will tell you that there are three tenses in Afrikaans

Old forms, like genetives and accusatives, or old forms of plurals, are still encountered as exceptions in the language. Most multiword exceptions exist as fixed expressions. Examples are "kind <: kinders" (double plural by altering the noun), "dink < dog" (past tense by alterning the verb), "in die waarheid < in der waarheid" (old gender reference).

One final word about tenses. Non-academic Afrikaans people will tell you that there are three tenses in Afrikaans, namely a simple past, present and future tense. Academics will tell you there are as many as nine different tenses, and non-academic speakers use them every day without realising that they are using hybrid forms of tenses. For example, the narrative in Afrikaans is written in "present-in-the-past" tense, that looks deceptively like a present tense, but is actually a past tense.

Tell us a bit about the vocabulary.

Most Afrikaans words seem to come from the Dutch. Other words are international words (i.e. of Classical origin) and may seem borrowed from English. There are a few German and French words in the language, a few inland black African words, as well as quite a few Malay words (especially some most common words). Some words are typically Afrikaans. For new inventions old words are often borrowed and bent for the new purpose, and sometimes new words are formed.

Academics will tell you there are as many as 9 different tenses, and non-academic speakers use them every day without realising

Some examples of words in Afrikaans, and their origins: volstruis (from Middle Dutch, ostrich), bagasie (from French, luggage), kombuis (from sailor's argot, kitchen), spog (from Frisian, gloat), gesels (from Western Frankish, chat), luiters (from Low Saxon, unaware), baie (from Malay, many), jas (from German, coat), indaba (from Nguni, news), and gogga (from Nama, bug).

The Afrikaans spelling rules are set by the Language Commission of the Academy for Science and Art. The "AWS" (Afrikaans words list and spelling rules) is the definitive rules book for spelling in Standard Afrikaans (and much of non-Standard Afrikaans too). Although the AWS does not tell us how to speak, it does tell us how to spell. The "WAT" (Dictionary of the Afrikaans Language) attempts to collect all words ever used in Afrikaans, and every new volume is considered to be less than 6 months out of date at the time of printing. Words beginning with the letters O to Z still has to be published.

Is it a viable language internationally?

It depends on what you mean. Most Afrikaans speakers also understand English, so there is little point in thinking that Afrikaans will replace English in any international situation. Afrikaans can be used in Southern Africa and in Lowland cultures as a language of mediation, but only in Southern Africa can it be expected that not all participants can also speak English.

Technologically and literarily Afrikaans is well capable of handling human communication. For most fields in science and culture Afrikaans has a large set of words which matches English, German or French sets. In the computer field, where things are progressing fastest, there seem to be a slight lack of Afrikaans terminology, but many universities in South Africa still teach Information Technological sciences entirely in Afrikaans. Medicine and commerce is also well handled in Afrikaans.

Can you teach me Afrikaans?

No. Any large bookshop will have resources to Afrikaans tutoring material. Many "Teach yourself Afrikaans" type of manuals exist, though not many on the Internet. Die Knoop and Lowlands-L have lists of a few resources for learning Afrikaans, but mostly you may have to look at books rather than web sites.

Visit an online bookseller like Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kalahari.net and do a search for "afrikaans" or "learn+afrikaans". Try Helena van Schalkwyk's Teach Yourself Afrikaans, or Bruce Donaldson's Colloquial Afrikaans.

We also got a mail from a company called Pill Languages who distributes Afrikaans courses. "We have a range of high-quality Afrikaans tape courses with accompanying handbooks. These can be shipped worldwide. Useful for all types of learners: tourists, academics and general enthusiasts..." they wrote. They can e-mailed them at pill@icon.co.za. If you've tried them, tell us about it!

We are not in the language training business, but we welcome any questions or comments regarding Afrikaans. You can send us e-mail at afrikaans@websurfer.co.za.

Editor's Note

A great site to learn Afrikaans is the one run by Jacques du Plessis. Feel free to check it out. Jaco

Last 25 Visitor Comments

Name Email Subject Date

LEONIE anonymouse General Comment 5/14/2008
DIS LEKA OM MEER OOR AFRIKAANS TE HOOR EN HET DIE WEP PAGE GENIET.EKS TROTS OP AFRIKAANS EN EKS NIE BLANK MAAR N KLEERLING EN EKS TROTS
Danie vloggemd_at_paradise.net.nz Afrikaans? - Engels? 4/26/2008
My hand is in warm water My pen is in my hand Goeie voorbeelde van sinne wat amper dieselfde beteken in die twee tale en presies dieselfde geskryf word
Braam gert_at_introdata.co.za Afrikaans op die net 3/27/2008
Soos baie van die kommentaar wat ek gelees het, is ek ook baie trots op afrikaans. Ek het veral Willem se bydrae geniet oor "Hoor wat s� Sir Conan Doyle van die boere" Ek stel voor mense gaan loer ook by www.bcnet.co.za - Oulike afrikaanse inhoud.
Cobus Rademeyer cobusmunster_at_mweb.co.za afrikaans in Argentinia 3/19/2008
Ek wil graag in aanraking kom met Afrikaans sprekende Argentiniers. Kan iemand help asseblief ?
andre andres_at_gmail.com VIVA 12/23/2007
Viva blacks allways like to refer to whites as rascists,,but why does it sound if though you are a black rascist? It is nice to get a country for Mahallah and then to fuck it up.Wake up ,some time soon you will see the cookie crumble,look around everything that was built up by the so called boers knowledge is crumbling cause you blackies can't hold it together.
aleta aletarose_at_adelphia.net Dimitri Delport 10/17/2007
I'm looking for Dimitri -- he is a good friend and I've lost touch as I have been back east for months. I'm back in LA and am hopeful someone will tell him I'm trying to contact him. Thank you!
savevioxx contraindications celebrex vioxx lawyer 385722459_at_msn.com savevioxx contraindications celebrex vioxx lawyer 10/11/2007
Nice page! I really like it! When is the next update? 8872382
Chris cvandyk_at_tiscali.co.uk Afrikaans behoort aan almal 9/29/2007
Afrikaans is almal se taal wat dit praat. Afrikaans was eerste gepraat deur die bruin mense van suid-afrika, nie die nederlanders (boere) nie.So Afrikaans is 'n unieke taal en die jongste taal in die wereld.
Ondeja Anonymous General Comment 9/13/2007
Afrikaans behoort an almal, niemand is in besit of hierdie lewende taal. Die oorsprong van hierdie taal is Suid Afrika maar op hierdie oomblik het Suid afrika nie al die regte op afrikaans nie.Afrikaans behoort aan almal wat afrikaan as hulle moeder taal beskou. Kan iemand my vertel an watter volk afrikaans behoort? Ek sal baie bly wees om van julle geleerdes te hoor. Die afrikaans gogga{(xoxab)original spelling}
Charl Knoesen Anonymous Trots Afrikaans 9/10/2007
Afrikaans is die beste taal en ek sal dit praat met groot trots tot die dag wat ek dood gaan.
fienie fwuestenenk_at_yahoo.com Afrikaans 9/4/2007
Afrikaans is 'n WONDERLIKE, LIEFLIKE, FANTASTIESE, ONGELOOFLIKE (nie genoeg byvoeglike naamwoorde) TAAL. Dit is 'n voorreg om ook Afrikaans te kan praat, skryf en lees. Die mooiste verhale is in Afrikaans. Die pittigste s�goed is in Afrikaans. Ek is met 'n Nederlander getroud, en kan hulle ook baie goed verstaan, maar my eie TAAL en LAND is die heel beste in die hele grote W�reld. Dan praat ons nie eers van ons musiek nie. Van Afrikaanse Rock tot Gospel is daar nie mense wat by ons kan kers vashou nie. Baie dankie vir 'n wonderlike webwerf waar ons in heerlike Afrikaans met mekaar dinge kan deel. "Doe so voort" Groete
Liz Anonymous Afrikaans 9/1/2007
Afrikaans is 'n wonderlike taal! Dis soveel makliker om aan te leer as Engels en daar is die oulikste Afrikaanse woorde. Wat 'n pragtige taal!!
Ben van der Merwe bvamdermerwe_at_mfc.co.za Besoek 8/29/2007
Ek het die web blad geniet en sal weer em weer daarna terug kom, Afrikaan is my taal soos my eie en ek sal beklei vir wat myne is en iemand will dit wegneem. Geniet die taal en laat dit groei.
Jason Patrick Hanslo 2641838_at_uwc.ac.za Afrikaans is Slave language 8/10/2007
When I was on school, most of the coloured teachers who taught me Afrikaans tried to limit the amount of Cape/Kombuis afrikaans words I know and still use today. The language the teachers tried to teach me where forms similar to that of English, e.g. telephone(Telefoon) instead of suppressing our cloured Kombuis Taal the teachers(who were educated by the Boers)should have promoted our language instead of trying to erase it. Come to Cape town and hear my language still spoken in the streets, you'll be amazed to find that it sounds different to that insult called Afrikaans. The boers needed culture. Remeber they were misfits similar to the Australians and needed culture to support their Apartheid views. Tell them to honour us for our language and tear down that monstrosity called the Taal Monument at Paarl.
ondeja mbwenge_at_gmail.com Swaart en praat afrikaans 8/8/2007
Baie dankie vir al die kommentare.Mense vergeet dat n klompie swaart mense goeie afrikaans praat.Ek woon sedert 1989 hier in VSA en probeer om skoon afrikaans te praat en om te skruif. Onder alle omstandighede is ek baie poegaai om van paar parmantige boere te hoor dat hulle die enigste persone is wat beter afrikaans kan praat en skryf.Afrikaans is n lewende taal en in moeder taal van kleurlinge,basters,namas,damara en ook owambos in Namibia. Dit n werklikheid wat n klompie so genoemde boere nie weet nie. Laat ons afrikaan praat en laat ons mekaar groet in balingskap. Groetnis
Jaco Strauss feedback_at_strauss.za.com grappig taaltje 7/30/2007
Seker 'n bietjie soos ons Hollands bietjie soos 'n snaakse Afrikaans sien ;-)
John Anonymous grappig taaltje 7/30/2007
Ik kom uit Nederland en vind Afrikaans een grappig soort Nederlands..
Jellytots chantel.jooste_at_gmail.com Afrikaans is tops 6/26/2007
Ek dink afrikaans is tops en dis cool om te weet baie mense reg om die wereld praat nog afrikaans ,dis my taal en eks trots om n suid-afrikaner te wees
Poppy Anonymous Japie speak utter bull crap! 6/21/2007
I'd like to comment on Japie Greyling's comment. "The African worldview, on the contrary, emphasized subsistence farming, living for today, group mentality and absolute rule-through-force; keeping its people under-developed and imprisoned in the stone age." This is absolute horse sh*t. Perhaps you forget that Africans were oppressed by your fore-fathers contrary to your above statement? The Western/European (white) has oppressed all other races on earth and has used the blood and tears of other races to further their developments. Sad to say that such oppression is present even today as evidenced by Western/European (WHITE) sending drugs/technology of inferior quality to African, thereby using Africans as guinea pigs. You are an obvious racist based on your ignorant rants? Such narrow mindedness is bewilding in this day and age. You perhaps would prefer us to go back to the days when blacks have to call you bass and cower before you? Dream on!
Heinrich Anonymous Stil bek - Heel bek 6/16/2007
Nou toe ek het nou die web blad vir die eerste keer gevind ek is baie bly om te weet dat daar nog so baie mense is wat trots SUID AFRIKAANS is, dis net jammer dat hier en daar nou n poeppol is wat altyd iets te se het oor ons taal en dink ons is aan die verloor kant maar al wat ek te se het vir sulke armlastige doose is ONTHOU 'n STILBEK is 'n HEELBEK!!!!
Ashley a_nortj_at_yahoo.co.uk Afrikaans 6/4/2007
Ek is Suid Afrikaans, nie blank nie; kleurling. Ek is trots om Afrikaans te kan praat, dit is dus my moedertaal en sal dit veruil vir niks. Ek woon uidiglik in die Verenigende Koningkryk maar daar is net nie n plek beter as SA nie. Ek wens net ons kan n beter pres. en kabinet min. h�. En fokof "black empowerment" en gee werk aan die wat die kwalifikasies het. Dis juis hoekom ek hier is.
Changegirl adelep_at_telkomsa.net Afrikaans leef 5/11/2007
De Afrikaanche taal bent leuk! Ek het in Holland gebly vir 'n geruime tyd, teruggekom, en vind dit steeds pragtig hier. Moenie bekommerd wees oor die taal se toekoms nie - as ons dit PRAAT en LEEF sal dit dit NOOIT uitfasseer nie..geen politiek, mens, kultuur of druk kan iets onderdruk met soveel krag, passie en uniekheid soos Afrikaans nie. Stop panicking and start living it! Dis so maklik: pas aan, maak die keuse en maak seker jou huishouding behou die kultuur.
klepper a_at_msn.com jo 5/10/2007
zuid afrikaans is die beste taaltje van die aardbol
Adriaan none_at_none.com Reply 4/26/2007
I really don't see why you refer to the Coloureds as "so-called" coloureds. As a coloured person myself, I take deep offense in your attitude toward our race. We are slowly getting sick of people who are marginalizing us as a culture and race. Please. Get a grip of reality. Refer to us as "coloureds" and South Africa has over-come one obstacle.
Visitor Anonymous General Comment 3/16/2007
South Africa is and will be the best place...forever, but with the anc and black empowerment....its like the sun...unbearable to look at!
Pieter Anonymous VIVA 3/4/2007
Viva hoor gou hier ... nee man kom nader ... n-o-g nader ... so ja! FOK JOU EN DIE HELE ANC.
gert tryingtohard_at_hotmail.com comment 2/23/2007
afrikaans is tops!!!!
Renier reniervdm_at_hotmail.com TROTS !!! 2/9/2007
Dit voel baie lekker om te sien hoeveel mense nog omgee vir ons taal! Ek is trots om 'n Afrikaner te wees en wens daar was meer web sites soos die!
Branny brannykay_at_yahoo.com Van Afrika af 2/8/2007
Afrikaans is 'n lekker taal, in dit wil altyd net so te wees. Suid Afrika rocks, is maar net die misdaad maak ons naar. Hou op om te complain, Ons moenie huil nie as Suid Afrika struikel nie, maar ons moet saam kom en onse land en haar tale te bou. "One thing that is destroying people is bitterness and judgement. Be quick to help and slow to judge. South Africans, home and away, must start to think in terms of humanity and not colour, then you will see even those who emigrated will come back home and start to build this nation of ours." - Ntlhane Kekana. You musn't give on your language like many who gave up on South Africa, if they belittle you and your language, wees sterk and wys julle dat jy is van Afrika af. Ek is trots van Afrikaans en almal moet 'n punte maak dat hierdie sal nooit verdwyn nie.
Willem willemoos_at_optusnet.com.au The Bhurer (Boers) 2/1/2007
Elke maal as ek die web-blad besoek laat dit die nostalgie in my opwel. Selfs al die anti-boer kommentaar laat my bors uitswel van trots. Hoor wat s� Sir Conan Doyle (Skrywer van die " Sherlock Holmes" reeks) oor die Boere min of meer in die era van die Anglo-boere Oorlog: "Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern boer � the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles. "Look at the map of South Africa, and there, in the very centre of the British possessions, like the stone in a peach, lies the great stretch of the two republics, a mighty domain for so small a people. How came they there? Who are these Teutonic folk who have burrowed so deeply into Africa? It is a twice-told tale, and yet it must be told once again if this story is to have even the most superficial of introductions. No one can know or appreciate the boer who does not know his past, for he is what his past has made him." en dit afkomstig van 'n Engelsman!!
VIVA ANC Anonymous General Comment 1/12/2007
This site is very amusing. The orther day i met some friends and we had such a ball - reading the crap comimg from this site. In our company we had a chap that imitates the way you Boers speak english very well. The evening was very amusing...but on the other side it is quite clear that you are on the losing end - thank god - VIVA ANC, VIVA Black power.
Dimitri Delport drumfreaks_at_gmail.com Afrikaans is n Befokte taal 1/4/2007
Ek,n Boer en jou ou Moer. Ons bly en doen besigheid in California. Hier is heelwat Afrikaners hier en ek praat elke dag Afrikaans. Die doose wat dink ons Taal gaan verdwyn moet n lolliepop gaan suig en dan in sy gat opdruk. Groete Dimitri Delport.
Shirley Swanepoel Ackner ackners_at_aol.com Afrikaans 1/3/2007
Ek woon al 16 jaar hier in Amerika en kan testify dat dit n wonderlike land is behalwe dat hulle nie Afrikaans kan praat nie, vleis braai soos n Afrikaner en laat aand gesels en grappe maak nie. Ek MIS my taal en was n A student in Afrikaans/Nederlands op Stellenbosch. Nou het ek my woordeboek watnt ek vergeet al meer soos die jare aanloop. My grootste regret is dat ek nie my Amerikaanse seun Afrikaans geleer het nie. Hy is ook jammer. Hy is mal oor Suid-Afrika. Ons sal almal more teruggaan as dinge beter sou wees. My groete aan almal wat lief is vir Afrikaans! By the way, die meeste Amerikaners is mal oor Afrikaans sprekende Suid-Afrikaners veral oor ons aksent. Groete, Shirley
riaan Anonymous the english kan gann kak 12/20/2006
EK is 'n Suid Afrikaaner wat vir die ladte vyf en 'n half jaar in Nieu Seeland bly en al wat hulle kan se van Afrikaans is dat dit 'n kak tall is en dat 'n mense wat van Suid Afrika af kom moet die tall wergeet en meer engels pratt. Dalk dink ek dat die Kiwis moet Afrikaans leer en dan kan hulle sien watse mooi tall dit is. ek is 'n nog steets 'n Boer en sall latiet enn bly "ek bly 'n bok". AFRIKAANS RULES
Thinus thinus_jansevanrensburg_at_yahoo.com Ongelooflik 12/18/2006
Hi Almal, dit is ongelooflik lekker om n afrikaans sprekende te wees. Ek reis redelik baie in die buiteland en vind dit baie handig om so nou en dan n bietjie te "skinner" in my taal. Engels sprekende mense het nie daai vooreg nie. Verder studeer ek tans Duits end Nederlands en vind dit nogals maklik. Ek is met n Hollandse meisie getroud en staan die kans om Nederlanse burgerskap te kry indien ek n naturalisasie kusus slaag. Dit maak ongelooflik baie toekoms deure oop. Ek is tans in Turkye vir besigheid en is baie alleen. Ek geniet dit om na RSG of Radio tuks oor die Internet te luister. Ek is volg ook verskeie Tv programme oor die Internet - KUDU KLUB. Die van julle wat nie weet nie kyk dit uit. Ek het selfs die Rugby toetse teen Engeland lewendig deur KUDU TV gevolg. Dis glad nie duur nie +/- R70 per maand. Sterkte vir almal wat in die buiteland bly. Ek het groot begrip. Hou net die taal lewendig! Groete Thinus
A. Grove anitateacher_at_webmail.co.za Idiom 11/17/2006
Hank, the idiom you are looking for is "so mal soos 'n haas".
Hank hvandeweg_at_iafrica.com Afrikaans Idioms 11/15/2006
I am trying to establish if there is an Afrikaans idiom similar to "As mad as a snake !" Can you help Hank
Ruan Holtzhausen ruansaved_at_hotmail.com Ek is mal oor Suid Afrika 11/12/2006
Ons het onlangs geskuif na die UAE en ek moet se dat ek is besig om vinnig te verlang na Suid Afrika. Ek probeer hard maar my Afrikaans is nie so goed nie. Ek is 16 en was van graad een in n engelse skool. Ek praat elke dag engels met my vriende en as ek by die huis kom, dan praat ek Afrikaans met my familie. Dit is werklik lekker om in Afrikaans te praat. Ek is nou in n internationale skool en ek het vriende van reg oor die wereld. Nie een van die tale is so wonderlik soos Afrikaans nie. Ek praat dikwels met my vriende in Afrikaans want ek is trots op my moedertaal! AFRIKAANS ROCKS!
Liesbet Monteiro Anonymous Ek verlang na afrikaans 11/10/2006
Ek was op skool, in Grootfontein, van 1968-1973. 33 jare dat ek nie kontakt het met afrikkanse taal of mense het nie.Op di� oomblik is ek in Europa en ek moet s�: "Ek verlang na afrikaans" boerewors, biltong, mieliepap...Ek dink dikwils in afrikaans om die taal nie te vergeet nie en praat ook baie keer met myself.Na 33 kan julle hieriut vind dat ek nog die taal in my boesem dra.Iemand s� die taal gaan sterf. NOOIT NIE.Laat ons lietjies still sing:daar kom die alibama... My Sarie Marie is so ver van my hart...Daardoer in die boe veld daar wil ek bly...la-la-la
Pasquelene temp_at_piggspeak.com viva a la afrikaans 11/9/2006
Afrikaans is die beste taal ooit al is ek nie 'n boer nie
joey anonymous Trotse Afrikaner 11/1/2006
aan almal wat iets het teen die boere volk - ek is trots om Afrikaans te wees en 'n BOER!!!
Dani�l danielventer_at_mweb.co.za Afr/Ndls 11/1/2006
Linda, soos Jaco s�, die klank is anders (soms baie anders!). Ek vind egter dat die Nederlander net stadig moet praat, dan het ek bitter min verstaanprobleme. Self praat ek my (gebroke) weergawe van Ndls om meer verstaanbaar te wees, en word dan gevra of ek 'n Vlaming is (want jy is so maklik om te verstaan!). Ek beskou dit as 'n groot kompliment. Maar oor die algemeen s� die Nederlanders ons Afr's is nie te onverstaanbaar nie. Net een groot jammerte: die Nederlanders in SA praat byna almal uitsluitlik Engels - en dit terwyl hulle Afr kan verstaan as hulle wil, en hulself verstaanbaar in Afr/Ndls kan uitspreek (as hulle net wil). Sal dit wees dat die gemiddelde Nederlander nie veel taaltrots het nie (helaas soos baie Afrikaners)?
Jaco Strauss feedback_at_strauss.za.com Afrikaans klink wel anders 10/28/2006
Linda, alhoewel Afrikaans wel heelwat anders as Nederlands klink behoort jy die gesprole woord tog redelik maklik te kan verstaan. Afrikaans word meer voor in die mond gepraat en Hollands meer na agter...
linda Anonymous General Comment 10/15/2006
ik kom uit Nederland, en had geen idee dat het Afrikaans zo op Nederlands lijkt! Ik ben benieuwd hoe het Afrikaans klinkt, en of ik het dan nog steeds makkelijk begrijp. Lijkt de uitspraak op Nederlands? Of zijn er hele andere klanken?
Malinda malindashan_at_absamail.co.za Algemeen 10/7/2006
Heel toevallig op die site afgekom. Het alle artikels gelees. Ek kan maar net my kop skud vir veral 2. 1, Viva ANC, tipies net soos hulle is, arogant, soek skoor en dink hulle kan alles se, because they a God's Gift to the people. 2 Citizen of the world, you desereved the comments received. You sound like an American. Hulle praat altyd groot en meantime back at then ranch in Texas kruip hulle weg, anonymous. Ek hoef nie veel meer te se. Ordentlike mense maak nie so. Op 'n ander noot. Ons is ook besig om te emigreer. Bly om te sien NZ. Van 5 kinders moet ek drie agter laat en moet vlug om 'n beter toekoms te gaan maak vir die 2 jongste seuns. Amper 21 en 22(tweeling). Op 'n ouderdom van oorm vyftig moet ek weer 'n nuwe toekoms maak, maar dit is mos bewys ons boere kan dit doen. Ons het nog altyd, dit is hoekom daar so baie is wat ons beny en snedig is. HA HA HA!!! Ek sal die nuwe land wat my inmeen dien met alles wat ek het en is ondersteun, dit is SA loss. Ons verkry dit op my man se Grade en skiills. Hy het ook 'n "raw deal" gekry. Ons sal nie gaan huil nie. Sal net SA mis en die kinders wat ek moet agter laat. Altyd Afrikaans ( jy kan my land uitjaag maar nie my taal wegneem)
Veda Anonymous VIVA! Afrikaans 9/30/2006
Haai daar! Ek is trots op my taal! Hoekom is almal so negatief oor afrikaans? Hoor altyd mense sleg praat van ons taal. Pik op 'n ander taal vir 'n slag asb!!!!!!!! Ek moet eintlik een ding se: Daar is nie meer baie mense wat vlot afrikaans praat nie, almal MIX afr en engels. Wel ek bly in Durban, miskien in Jhb praat hulle nog ordentlike afr maar selfs al die programme op TV is so. Hulle kan nie een sin se sonder om 'n engelse woord in te las nie. As ek nog een maal moet hoor "Dis great" dan kraam ek 'n otter. Ek probeer deesdae baie hard om nie my taal te MIX! nie. Maar Afrikaans ek is nogsteeds baie lief vir jou!!!!
Len lenvdm_at_azat.org Afrikaans 9/28/2006
Diegene wat dink of wens dat afrikaans sal verdwyn, of besig is om uit te sterf, moet maar rustig verder droom. Die 2001-nasionale sensus dui aan dat afrikaans die derdegrootste huistaal in Suid-Afrika is (net Zoeloe en Xhosa word deur meer mense tuis gepraat, terwyl engels sesde is met slegs 8.2%). 13.3% van die van die bevolking het aangedui dis hul huistaal, wat byna 6 miljoen mense verteenwoordig (die bevolking was toe sowat 44.8 miljoen). Voeg daarby die afrikaanssprekendes in die res van Suider Afrika, en die res van die wereld, asook die miljoene meer wat dit verstaan, al kan hulle dit nie vlot praat nie, en jy het te doen met 'n bielie van 'n taal, wat beslis nie sommerso gaan omval en verdwyn nie. en om die sout in die wonde te vryf, dui musiek- en boekwinkels aan dat afrikaanse luister- en leesstof die grootste groei van alle tale toon. Nee wat, ek is glad nie besorg oor die toekoms van afrikaans nie. Dit is in goeie hande en monde en harte en denke.
Visitor Anonymous General Comment 9/19/2006
afrikaans is cool
Willem Oosthuizen willemoos_at_optusnet.com.au Afrikaner Geskiedenis 9/19/2006
Soos baie "Boere" in die buiteland, het ek hier in Sydney 'n erge behoefte om my eie identiteit in 'n Engels sprekende wereld. Ek het nog nooit van te vore soveel nagelees oor my eie geskiedenis soos juis nou nie. Dit is egter baie moeilik om enige ""Boere-geskiedenis" te vind voor 1652. maar ek het 'n paar interessante feite raak gelees. Eestens, Afrikaans is van die taal groep bekend as Nederdiets (Lower Germanic) en meer spesifiek "Lower Frankonian" soos ook Nederlands en Vlaams. Etnies is meeste boere van "frisian" herkoms vanuit Noord Holland (West Frisia). Die induvidualisme van die boer, wat die oorsaak is dat ons so verdeelt is, kan terug gespoor word na die "Frisians" wat 'n groot kopseer vir die Romeinse ryk was, wat ook verantwoordelik was vir die eerste vroe vorm van Demokrasie, lank voor die Franse revolusie en Napoleon, waar die gewone burgers se wense vervat is in plaaslike wette. en sover ek kan agterkom was Willem III van Oranje, nie "Frisian" of "Frankonian" nie, maar Anglo-saxies, en is hy ook later gekroon as koning van Engeland as "William III". Verder vermoed ek, maar is nog nie seker nie, dat ons oorsprong verder terug gaan na die vroe germaniese volk van nordiese oorsprong, wat vanaf 1750 BC begin migreer het na die noordsee kuslyn van Suid Europa, waar hulle van min of meer 700 BC al bekend gestaan het as "Frisians". Frisian is 'n lewendige taal wat steeds in friesland ('n noordelike provinsie van nederland) gepraat word asook in gedeeltes van Duitsland. Ook is ek nog nie seker nie, maar dit blyk ook dat die boere (frisians) nie deel is van Hitler se "super ras" die Arians nie, wat meer verwys na 'n Christen (rooms katolieke) "Frankonian" ras. Per slot, die boere (as Frisians) is geskiedkundig nie onderdrukkers nie, maar is erg gesteld op self beskiking. Die "Boere volk" se tradisionele industrie is boerdery, tot so ver terug as 400 AD of self vroer, aangesien die "Frisian" ook bekend gestaan het as 'n boere volk. En die eerste "'n boer maak 'n plan" kan gesien word in die dykwee wat die vroe "frisians" gebou het om te keer dat hul lande vespoel word deur hooggety. Die Boer sal weer selfbeskiking he, en indien dit nie op politieke vlak geskied nie, is ek seker die boer sal weer ekonomies 'n mag wees waarmee rekenskap gehou moet word. Tot dan is dit egter 'n stryd tot oorlewing in 'n eg tradisionele Afrika-een-party-staat, met die ANC aan bewind.
Chick peskypelham_at_hotmail.co.uk Please Help 9/18/2006
Can anyone offer a few phrases in afrikaans, three of my best m8z r from south africa and all speak it, I would love to be able to try! Thank u!!

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