I’ve been really surprised by the questions concerning Afrikaans after I posted the photo of the billboard with the Afrikaans message. I thought people knew that most South Africans speak 
both languages!
both languages! Time for a quick lesson on languages in South Africa!
Under the old government there were two official languages: English and Afrikaans. The different races were schooled separately and white children were required to learn both languages. (I actually don’t really know about the other races.)
At that stage there were four provinces: The Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal. The Cape Province and Natal were more English, and The Free State and Transvaal were more Afrikaans. In the former two provinces, schools were dual medium, that is, they had the two languages in one school, with separate classes. In the Transvaal and Orange Free State the schools were totally separate. I grew up in the Transvaal and went to English-medium schools. We were taught English (first language) and Afrikaans (second language).
In the New South Africa there are now 11 official languages!! That’s a lot really – I don’t even know all of them. In order to get a matric certificate a learner needs to have taken 2 languages. Many of the old ‘whites only’ schools now offer Zulu or another African language in addition to English and Afrikaans. Many schools that were formerly Afrikaans-only or English-only have become dual-medium.
I grew up in a smallish, largely Afrikaans town, and as a young child had many Afrikaans friends in our neighbourhood. As a result I was quite fluent in Afrikaans. When I was a teenager we moved house and thereafter only really had my school friends and I lost a lot of my ability in Afrikaans. Even now, I am rather rusty and have quite an English accent, so I don’t readily speak the language…
Although my husband’s father was Afrikaans and he went to mainly Afrikaans schools, he is for the most part English! (Our surname is Afrikaans, although an English version of it does exist!!)
In the New South Africa there are now 11 official languages!! That’s a lot really – I don’t even know all of them. In order to get a matric certificate a learner needs to have taken 2 languages. Many of the old ‘whites only’ schools now offer Zulu or another African language in addition to English and Afrikaans. Many schools that were formerly Afrikaans-only or English-only have become dual-medium.
I grew up in a smallish, largely Afrikaans town, and as a young child had many Afrikaans friends in our neighbourhood. As a result I was quite fluent in Afrikaans. When I was a teenager we moved house and thereafter only really had my school friends and I lost a lot of my ability in Afrikaans. Even now, I am rather rusty and have quite an English accent, so I don’t readily speak the language…
Although my husband’s father was Afrikaans and he went to mainly Afrikaans schools, he is for the most part English! (Our surname is Afrikaans, although an English version of it does exist!!)
I hope this has been informative!
(Friends of my daughters put up a post about languages in South Africa which is worth a read. Find it at Under African Skies.)
Oh that IS interesting! I knew you had both English and Afrikaans, but didn't know how it kind of falls out in real life. Kind of like Canada being dual-language.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture below of your little one and the Chinese food!
Julie
That's neat to know. I wish I knew two languages. In the States, especially in my day, languages weren't emphasized. I started to take French in high school & loved it, but they dropped the language in my junior year. The very little I remember did come in handy in Vietnam, though.
ReplyDeleteFelicity, this is so interesting. Thank you for sharing with us. I am enjoying your posts - A Glimpse into our World so much. I really like them.
ReplyDeleteI must read more about your life in South Africa. :)