South African English – Versatile And Unique
Of the two European languages which were brought to South Africa during the early days of colonization, English is undoubtedly the most widespread. Because of the prevalence of this language, English is the main language used in government and business. Though English is not the first language of many individuals, it is usually spoken and understood by a large portion of the population. Many television programs which are broadcast nationally are in English and you will almost always find English speakers in most parts of the country.
The Widely Used Languages In South Africa
Of all the official languages in the country, English and Afrikaans are the most widely used since they cross the various cultural barriers more easily than most other native languages. Each province uses English, Afrikaans and the most predominant African language in their province for official documents. Because the English spoken in South Africa is derived from the British Settlers who immigrated to the country en mass in the 1820s, schools teach the language based on the British grammatical system. However, as a spoken language, English has taken on several peculiarities as it has become mixed with a variety of accents and words taken from other languages. Several expressions that are specific to South Africa have emerged and are used across the country. ‘Howzit?’ is a common greeting – a contraction of the words “How goes it?” A common reply would be ‘lekker’, which is Afrikaans slang for ‘great’. This is just one example of how the language has not only taken on several twists in South Africa, but how it has been influenced by the widespread use of words from other languages.
Planning Trips In South Africa?
If you are planning a trip to the country soon but are unsure of which languages to familiarize yourself with, English would be a safe bet. Even if they cannot read or write it, most South African’s can usually speak and understand the language. What’s more, it is spoken in several other countries across the world which makes it a convenient language to know. So come to South Africa and find out more about the country’s unique brand of English first hand.
The English Language In South Africa
The English language first came to the southern tip of Africa 1795 when the British occupied the Cape of Good Hope in order to protect their trade with India and the Orient. They left in 1803 as part of the terms of the Treaty of Amiens, but in January 1806 they returned for good, after what was a brief interlude when the Batavian Republic (a French aligned administration) held the Cape. At the time of the Second Occupation, the British had no real policy on the matter of exploring and developing the hinterland and for many years Cape Town remained the “Tavern of the Seas”, merely a port of call between Europe and the East. The people who had the adventurous spirit were the Trek Boers, born of Africa of Dutch descent and even before British annexation they had fanned out to establish farms and settlements in the Overberg to the east of Cape Town and as far afield as Graaff-Reinet and Uitenhage. By 1837 these Trek Boers could no longer stomach British rule and hitched their ox wagons leaving the Cape Colony for good on what is now known as the Great Trek.
The end of the Napoleonic Wars came when the Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th June 1815. Although it was widely celebrated, its aftermath brought about an economic recession in Britain which in turn created unemployment and political turmoil. The British government of the day looked to emigration from Britain, to her colonies, as a way to alleviate unemployment. The Colony of the Cape of Good Hope was seen as a suitable destination for those wishing to start a new life as the climate was not too dissimilar to that of the British Isles. And so it was that in 1820 the first settlers arrived in Algoa Bay to farm what is now called the Eastern Cape. The land was not unoccupied as the pastoral Xhosa tribe (Nguni speaking) were already well established and for many years to come there would be outbreaks of war between the British and Xhosa (the Border Wars) over the right to land.
Which English Is Used In South Africa?
The English language has both virtues and vices and I feel fervently that the virtues in the 21st century far outweigh the vices. The case of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) may be illuminating for us. The country had strong anti-English sentiments and on gaining its independence from Britain in 1922 (as the Irish Free State) sought Gaelic (Irish) as being the official language to set it apart from its former masters. However, commercial interests and cultural ties (including family) between Ireland, Britain and the United States meant that Gaelic really was a non-starter. Although taught in schools, its relevance to modern everyday life in Ireland is no longer evident. Despite this, it is still a rich source of inspiration for music, poetry and artistic thought and enriches English by association.
