Just Another South African Language
Straight to it then – I do not care for Afrikaans. Let me preface that by saying my closest friend is Afrikaans. Very Afrikaans. My family, too, speak the language. Fluently. Many of them speak it with the frequency of a first language. So do not mistake my not caring for Afrikaans the language as my not caring for Afrikaans-speaking people… two very different things.
Excuse the direct – bordering on rude – approach to writing this piece. I’ve spent the better part of six weeks trying to unpack how I really feel about the language. This self-inflicted anxiety was because, truth be told, I don’t feel anything for the language. It neither angers me nor inspires me. It neither alienates nor invites me. I’m numb to it.
Perhaps this indifference is the problem. I clearly remember reading a Beeld headline that claimed more than one million Afrikaans South Africans (or was that white South Africans?) emigrated post 1994. Don’t bank on my factual accuracy but I remember shrugging my shoulders thinking “as long as they’re happy”. Contrast that to hearing the cries of those who suggest stupid things like removing it from curriculums (or the extremists who call for it to be banned) altogether and thinking “that’d be dumb, and somewhat unnecessary”.
It’s someone’s language – possibly even yours – but it isn’t mine. Just like Xhosa isn’t my language, nor are isiZulu and tshiVenda and so forth. I just don’t think it’s anymore special than those languages. It isn’t anymore South African than any of those languages and, therefore, shouldn’t be placed on a higher pedestal. Any person who argues Afrikaans has greater heritage than any of the other languages is both ignorant and biased. It doesn’t. It may be better documented – for obvious historical reasons we needn’t explore here – but it has no greater legacy.
When this topic was announced, I was convinced I’d use the platform to express my annoyance at dual signage. I was also convinced I’d use the opportunity to discuss Stellenbosch University and chime in on their ongoing language debate. That’s sure to grate my buddy. Ooh, ooh, I also thought this would be a good time to go down the “name change” route, but there’ll be time for that later, I figure [hint, hint, ed].
Alas, I seemingly don’t care enough to even pucker up the energy to feel something for Afrikaans other than the usual: “if it’s your language, indulge. If it isn’t, ignore it”. Just, you know, don’t assume I speak it by speaking it to me and expecting a response. That’ll upset me.
I’m confident it’s special to someone. I’m confident it’s special to many. With the indifference of a weathered senior citizen sitting beneath a tree – or a young adult who’s convinced there are bigger problems in the world – that ‘someone’ isn’t me.
And you know what? That’s okay.
first you say you don’t care for the language then you say you are indifferent to it.
The two statements contradict each other.
I have similar feelings to Motheo, except for one thing; Afrikaans is a very South African language.
In fact probably more so than the other indigenous African languages. This language is relatively new, its was developed here and only here. Whereas the other languages share many traits with language further north in Africa.
Whether we speak it or not, whether we like it or not – its is South African.
Not neccesarily – saying you “do not care” for something is only now interpreted as “do not like”. It’s really an expression of lack of emotion both ways.
An interesting take on the subject – I think quite a few people would probably identify with the apathy you’ve expressed.
@cloudgazer : But it’s a deritive of Dutch so it’s not original at all. Not really all that South African.
@Motheo : I also found it difficult to write on this subject as i don’t really care either way. Afrikaans is….well afrikaans! So i totally understand where you are coming from. My story is somewhat different to the rest of the stories that have been showcased so far.
@ colleen, Rob pretty much summed up what I mean by “do not care for”. I lack emotion.
@ Cloudgazer, I do think of it as a South African language. I just don’t think its “any more” South African than the other languages we speak here. Like Carla says, Afrikaans is a Dutch derivative whilst our other languages are derived from other parts of Africa – they’re derivatives all alike.
@ Rob, sadly, I think apathy is a bit of a cop-out when it comes to serious matters… and I do think this Afrikaans discussion is a very serious matter.
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Now I really don’t understand. You cannot summon up a single emotion one way or the other about Afrikaans, it’s so far off your radar. But it’s a very serious matter?
You say: “don’t assume I speak it by speaking it to me and expecting a response. That’ll upset me.”
There is some degree of irritation to be sensed there.
@Chatsubo
@ Chatsubo
Point 1:
‘I’ cannot summon up emotion because ‘I’ do not care. However, Afrikaans in South Africa in general is a very emotive topic (this is clear as day). I do care about South Africa and South African issues. Therefore, by transitivity (you know, if A = B and B=C then A=C), I should care about the Afrikaans discussion. I still don’t, though. Which is both illogical and bothersome. It bugs me, I assure you. I’m working at it.
Point 2:
Regarding the “don’t assume I speak it by speaking it to me and expecting a response” statement does have a degree of irritation. I believe – and here comes my very serious bias – that people should speak in a base language UNTIL they are certain that their language corresponds with that of the person being spoken to. So start with English. Almost always I believe. (This statement here is sure to be viewed as ridiculous, but there you have it.)
I think Afrikaans people would be right ol’ annoyed if I addressed them in a South African language they didn’t understand. One would retort by saying “but what are the chances they would know language x…?” and therein lies my argument: just because the chance of me knowing Afrikaans is higher doesn’t make it okay for you, Afrikaans speaker, to assume I speak Afrikaans. I don’t do it. Nor should you. (As you can tell, there’s a whole blog post in this issue alone)
I assure you, I get equally annoyed when someone speaks isiZulu, Xhosa or tshiVenda to me without confirming whether or not I speak it. I think its an unfair thing to do. Rather confirm by asking as opposed to supposing. This is a personal quirk.
I hope this answers your questions…
I’m completely with you.
To me it’s always been a bit self-evident that it’s good manners not to speak Afrikaans to someone who isn’t. Much like any other language. Sadly not everyone sees it that way.
Good piece Motheo, honest as always.
I’m in agreement that you shouldn’t assume that someone can speak your language, it may come off as arrogant, but mostly just embarrasses me when I can’t speak that language.
I’ve encountered that a few times in South Africa – mainly at work which makes it even worse because you feel compelled to try and answer, and a few times in the US, living in Florida, Spanish is widely spoken and I’m no where near as learned as I am in Afrikaans yet.
Haha i’d pay good money to see you speak Spanish Alex.