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Afrikaans language symposium discusses language and heritage

5 July 2016

Leaving behind a language that we can be proud of should be our aim explained Professor Wannie Carstens of the North-West University. Speaking to an audience of academics and media at the recent Afrikaans Language Heritage Symposium, held on Thursday 30 June, he explained the history of a uniquely African language. Since 1925, when it was officially recognized as a distinctive language, it has been considered either the language of oppression or expression.

Afrikaans' language estate

Afrikaans, he went on further, has been influenced by French, slaves in Africa, the Khoi, Danes and Germans. Today it remains a language that is changed by its multitudes of speakers.

He cautioned however that Afrikaans speakers need to document their language more exhaustively and embrace the regional differences in the language. "I am especially interested in what the Coloured community will leave behind for their heirs," he challenged.

Magdaleen Kruger, station manager of Afrikaans station Radio Sonder Grense, believes that the culture and heritage of Afrikaans is poorly represented, especially on radio. Listeners, she explained, were part of the problem. They demanded a purity of language that did not serve the medium well and restricted new voices. A more dynamic 'living' Afrikaans was especially affected. "The biggest challenge is the older listeners and language caretakers. People shouldn't be so critical (of the form of the language used on radio.) Radio is not there to teach children linguistics. It is there to share information, to empower and to entertain you."

Unfortunately, Kruger added, RSG finds it difficult to reflect the way Afrikaans is spoken, and lived, for many of its listeners. This is unfortunate she added because radio is the best platform to share and record the ‘sound’ of Afrikaans.

Speakers addressing vast range of topics

Dr Willa Boesak, chairman of the Western Cape Culture Commission, spoke about the Khoi-San's influence on Afrikaans language and culture. He acknowledged that Afrikaans, the language and culture, was owned by many different South African cultures. The misconception that it was a language of white people had left the language covered by a "Storm cloud".

For composer and musician Leslie Javan, Afrikaans was a rich language that lent itself to storytelling. "Musicians like Koos Kombuis, Jakobus Cloete and Anton Goosen are good in what they do, because they tell stories instead of just putting together some lyrics."

Afrikaans, Javan explained, was a descriptive and earthy language that allowed stories to be passed from one generation to the next in a colourful and attention grabbing way.

Referring to his own hit song Met Jou Aan My Sy (With you by my side), he said it showed how optimistic and progressive the language is. "The song's lyrics say despite the hardships of the nation, the narrator is positive, because he has a song in his heart. He has a song in his heart, because he is in love and he has his queen by his side."

Jacqueline Setai, senior executive producer for the VIA channel of Media24, spoke of the role of media in the conservation of the Afrikaans language. She mentioned that social media memes have proved to be an incredibly powerful tool for Afrikaans language warriors. "The meme plays a big role in the conservation of Afrikaans. It gives information without preaching to a person. It has great value."

Other speakers included Pieter du Toit of online news portal Netwerk24.

SouthAfrica.info reporter