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

Francois Pieterse fpieterse_at_plpafrica.co,za Afrikaanse Blyspel 9/27/2009
Hallo aan al die mense met positiewe kommentaar.Totsiens aan die wat negatief is Wanneer word mens aangeval op jou kultuur? Slegs wanneer lafaards bang is Ek wil die stelling maak dat ons deel van n super ras is en as die Ape tyd het moet hulle bietjie na feite gaan kyk Wat posetief het julle al ooit geskep anders as Chaos? Ek het jare gelede besef ons moet meer doen as wat ons praat Ek het jare gelede behoort aan n Afrikaanse kultuur organisasie en die Liedjiefees begin wat moontlik uitgekristaliseer het in ons Kunstefeeste Daar was maar min ondersteuning daarvoor want die Engelse liedjie het Koning gekraai Ek het nog steeds die droom om n Afrikaanse blyspel te skep wat met die grootste Engelse,Duitse en Italiaanse blyspele kan vergelyk Ons het reuse tree gegee met die Afrikaanse musiek huidiglik en dit het die Afrikaanssprekende Suid Afrikaner weer saam gesnoer-Ons het dit nodig in tye waar daar n totale aanslag teen ons is Ons het iets nodig om ons bymekaar te hou Ek wil vra of iemand dalk n eg Afrikaanse storie het wat oorvertel is of wat opgeteken is en wat ons met die hulp van ons grootste kunstenaars kan omskep in n GROOT BLYSPEL As iemand iets het wat baie Afrikaans is en baie spesiaal is met n mooi storie lyn en wat met musiek kan praat -laat my weet Afrikaanse Groete
Michel Boer nautic_michel_at_hotmail.com Engels praat 7/3/2009
Ek lag altyd als wit Suid-Afrikaners net Engels wil praat en geen Afrikaans, ha ha die man of vrou is nie welkom in Engeland nie hij het een visa nodig om binne te kom of deur te vlieg..en maar Engels praat.... Man praat lekker Afrikaans, Engels is die taal van die onderdrukking!!!!
Kagiso(peace) Keepile(i dug) kkkeepile_at_yahoo.co.uk general comment 6/5/2009
You all should preserve your haritage so long as oppression of other cultures is not propagated...Im a Motswana from Mafikeng(NW Province)(North West University(Mafikeng Campus)) and "ek" think Afrikaans is one of the most romantic "taal(s)" derived from the germanic taal ............. unity through diversity
Predikant predikant_at_mocospace.com Ko'buis 6/1/2009
Ek kan sien hoe ons blanke mense die kleuring taal oorgevat het, want som van die trek boere en anders het Hollands gepraat(kyk bietjie die Bybel en ander dokumenta in die 19de eeuw). Ek lees ook 'n artikel wat geskryf is deur 'n Hollander, wat aanwyssings maak oor die Malay woorde en word gebruik in Afrikaans. Die mensel van Arabiese,Indiese, Malay, Nama, en Hollands is 'n groot aanduiding van die vent se navorsing met verderer aanwysings na die gebou van Afrikanerdom. Het ons die taal bemors? Is die slawen taal(ko'buis) regtig naaste aan Zeeland, Nederlandse taal en as so, is die kleurling dan nie die opregte Afrikaner nie?
Mawpawpaw mawpawpaw_at_yahoo.co.uk Luier!! 5/28/2009
Ek sit en lag nou lekker vir die ernstige Dirk hierbo...wat praat van hoe hy 'n "luier" soek vir ons land. En dan die k-woord ook ingooi. Dirkie is jy eintlik Afrikaans seun? "Luier" is 'n "nappy"...so eintlik goed want soos jy die k-woord inspan het mens dalk 'n nappy nodig om dit op te vang!! Daar's 'n "luier', "leier" en "lyer"....kies tog die regte een in die regte plek voor jy in 'n polimiek betrokke raak oor jou taal skattie!
Rimpelkring picasso2511_at_gmail.com Ek lag my 'n boggel 5/26/2009
Afrikaans is 'n wonderlike ryk en eerbare taal. Amen. Almal is geregtig tot hul eie opinie, maar asseblief, leer net spel ... en dit selfs in jou eie taal. Ek is dalk Afrikaans, maar vet weet my Engels (tweede taal) is ver weg beter as jul eerste taal. So hiers vir julle 'n oplossing, heeltamal verniet. Pashas. Gaan na jou naaste kombikraal, klim in en vra dat hulle jou na die Orania Timbercity toe sal neem. Net daar kan hulle vir jou die nodige neurologiese hulp verleen... O, en sodra hul klaar is vra vir 'n botteltjie Woodoc, dit help vir die ... eish ... hoofpyne.
Kobus Anonymous General Comment 4/18/2009
Sotho, julle moere is so dom dat jy nie eers reg kan spel en skryf as jy ons probeer uithaal nie. Dis hoekom jy en jou hele lot nooit suksesvol sal kan wees nie. Regtig, kry 'n brein jou kaffer!
Liefie Dief iam2cute_really_at_ymail.com General Comment 3/30/2009
Afrikaans is n wonderlik taal. Nee, die wonderlikste taal...ek se vir jou. Afrikaans vir lewe!!!!!
SOTHO! lehloba_at_gmail.com FOK OF AFRIKANERS! 3/15/2009
Ek is swart en trots,nie gelukig enkel dag sal hierdie land wees bepaal deur die wit bastards weer.ons is nou die beveel en hou die wiks om te klop daardie wit bobbejans.lank lewe swart bemagtiging!
Jason Patrick Hanslo 2641838_at_uwc.ac.za Ko'buis is not a dialect 1/20/2009
If the whites of apartheid considered that K'obuis taal should have been promoted and not oppressed by having words like; gham,nai(no),awe(hi) afrikaans as it is spoken today would be far different to Dutch. When i lived in England i found that most of my white afrikaaner counterparts could easily understand and be understood by Dutch speakers...I couldnt make out and it took me awhile to understand, when askd to speak ko'buis both my white counterparts and the Dutch seemed confused...To all you ma se kinnes out there who love speaking ko'buis help me to stop sites from teaching foreigners the wrong afrikaans apartheid tried to force on us, to suppress our language(they soema call it a dialect)
Mari� marie_at_safaricargo.co.za Afrikaans in besigheid 12/27/2008
Sekere s� goed bly maar die beste in Afrikaans soos ... Die wa deur die drif dra ... Kyk bietjie na ons digters .. Hulle is fantasties .... Hoekom moet Englese mense lag as ons woorde verkeerd uitspeek.?? Ons "Afrikanes" lag dan nie vir hulle nie. Ek doen nie. Afrikaans is bo-baas
Jason Patrick Hanslo 2641838_at_uwc.ac.za Al my ma se kinnas 12/6/2008
Ek react opie knowledge dat al julle mense wat hie soe eligantly ko skryf oor'ie survival van Afrikaans, het een voet in'ie aa. Die Panavis wat os taal afgekyk't vir'a Afrikanerdom eyebline het die grootste mistake gemaak. Die perd't gedink hy kan ko'buis erase en a structured germanic construct(afrikaans)...But soewala kasaam Ko'buis stood the test of time...Not even district6 bulldozers could take our taal...Ko'buis is alive and kicking...Just check t.v. programmes like pasella= free(nt in any afrikaans dictionary)...So to all the ma se kinnes out there who know wot i say makes a sense, replace the apartheid afrikaans with its roots becos KO'BUIS lives on and will be spoken for the nxt 200yrs, when all the afrikaaners will be speakn english
Theo ctvniekerk_at_lantc.net General Comment 11/6/2008
jy wil jou taal red.dit is baasies ontmoontlik.Die blanke suid afrikaaners kan dan nie saamstaan nie,as jy n blanke man in S.A moet beskryf,kan jy maar se hy is n rugsteeker,feraaier,moffie,dronkaard wat loop en kwaad stook,moet nie praat van n Boer.julle sal van beleid moet verander sonder diskriminaasie ,ons is n land met verskeie naasies.Gaan dink daar oor.Seedert 1994 is daar nie meer n Blanke regeering nie in S.A ,Maar die slegte nuus is daar sal nie oitweer een wees nie,dit moet maar net aanvaar word. die mense moet nie na klyn partye kyk wat vir hulle niks beteeken .maak julle ooe oop kyk daar is n party wat sterk staan teen die huidige eene,Wil jy n verskil maak in die saamelewing ,soek jy na vryheid ,kos op jou taffel,misdaad vrye land,n werk,n toekoms vir jou kinders,kontak vir my vir advies.
Njama Anonymous Trots op niks 10/29/2008
Foolish pride will bring you no happiness. Ek is baie jammer om dit se;Die trotse boere is nou in ballingskap. Toe ek in n ou dorpie in Texas rondloop het ek op n ou boer af ge kom. Dit is groot jammer. Hierdie ou boer het my geroep en om help gepleit. Eh het hom gehelp en hom vertel dat hy 10 mal better in Suid Afrika sal leef.Waar kan sulke boere om help vra om terug te gaan SA toe? wat
Michel Boer nautic_michel_at_hotmail.com Afrikaanse taal 10/11/2008
Afrikaans moet bly, het is een pragtige taal, ek is van Holland en woon nu een jaar in ZA, ek is wit en my vrou is bruin ons praat Afrikaans/Hollands ons kinders zal maar beide talen moet leer. Ek lees die Burger om my Afrikaans te verbeter, hou die taal skoon! Geen Engels!
MUGU mugu_at_hotmail.com I DEY HERE KEEP OOFFFFF 9/24/2008
I DEY HERE KEEP OOFFFFF
Philip philkrug_at_telkomsa.net Afrikaans 9/16/2008
Ek lees hier baie mooi dinge oor ons Afrikaanse taal,maar ook van lelike gedagtes wat nie hier hoort nie. Kom ons hou ons by die taal en al sy vertakkinge. As oud-Afrikaanse onderwyser is dit nog steeds my taak om die taal te bevorder: die geskrewe en die gesproke taal. Julle sal dus verlief moet neem as ek taal- en spelfoute aandui in die menings op hierdie blad. Dankie . Philip
Hilda Anonymous Afrikaans 8/1/2008
Hoekom praat sommige van julle so lelik? Nee wat,hou julle taal skoon.
Dirk louwdirk_at_hotmail.com stop julle kak 7/29/2008
Suid - Afrika kort nou n sterk luier en nie sulke bobbejane wat ons nou in die parlement het nie.Kan ons almal nou ons kak stop met mekaar. Wie gee om of jy nou n kaffir of n wit bliksem is.Kry al die vrot appels uit die land en probeer soek vir n luier.kom ons hoop hy's wit, want sover het die swart bliksems net moord, verkragting en geweld veroorsaak...o ja, en ook HIV.die land was n sterk land en nou word hy n "developing country" genoem. Wat de donner het gebeur?. Ons het n miljoen tree agter toe geloop.
Ondeja-die leeu ondeja_at_!geen epos Die Boer 5/23/2008
Wat is n boer? n Boer is nie n suid afrikaner nie .n Kleurlin, n owambo en n engelsman kan n boer wees. Afrikaans is nie n boere taal nie maar n lewende taal wat n oorsprong in suider afrika het, en dus beteken dat dit n taal van suider afrika is. Verder as jy afrikaans will skryf moenie moet net nie vrot afrikaans skryf nie. Woorde soos "mix" en "cool" moet met regte afrikaans woorde vervang word. Laat ons in God se naam nie polietiek hier skryf nie .Hierdie plek is vir die lewende taal afrikaans, die erwe van ons vaders. Baie dankie se die leeu Ondeja
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!
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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!!

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