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9/10/1961 - First Impressions: The Importance of Afrikaans by James C. Brewer

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JCB I September Impressions The Importance Bay View Avenue Afrikaans Tamboer Kloof Cape Town South Africa Mr Richard Nolte Xnstltute Current 11orld Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Nolte I realized I Afrikaans records Vrginia important language understanding Republic South Africa Many people States assured I needn bother learning language afrlkaaners speak least English possible quite comfortably without knowing Afrikaans It spoken decidedly small portion worlds population Outside patrlots living Rhodesias East Afrlca I would Afrikaans speaking people outside Republic Learning language would courtesy Today however lngual South Africa heart country white South Africa Is rooted Afrikaans language It S dying language allve growing It language Coloured majority Europeans With incomvlete knowledge Afrikaans I solely nglsh Press which often dfferent Interpretation counterpart Afrlkaans Press The recent discussed books Die _Eers_te_Steen Adam Small G Kotze cannot judge myself I would dfficult courses South Afrlca leadln Universities Pretora larest University Africa south Sahara Stellenbosch Afrikaans growing vital lterature Recently I taken through publishing offices local plant stonale Bookhandel impressed quantity variet publishing This company Nasionale Pets affiliate publishes Town excellent daily newspaper kthree adult magazines circulation Cnalren reference books children books novels school texts music An encyclopedia especially about South Africa being prepared JCB Tafelberg Uitgewers affiliates stories about South African children purchased trans lation nglish American ublishers translated Afrikaans books novels P A renter The Black PIgrm Tafelbert Uitgewers added quaii Afrikaans child literature buyin wnnng American uropean children stories translating Afrikaans A history language fnshed Cape Town Afrikaans comedy Basie currently leading movie house In additon these original works excellent Afrikaans vroduction Antigone being presented I Arts Festival SteiI enbosch The greet arrival Cape Town large Nie Rook Nie No Smoking ustoms Shed Most signs languages often interchangeably Most public servants speak Afrikaans unless dealing someone speaks English More business world speak Afrikaans lingualism requisite employment fields This experience Cape Town Johannesburg Pretoria In outlying country language almost completely Afrikaans As language present Nationalist Party government increased usage party power grown Since arrival about months lansuage policy government controlled commercial radio stations changed Previously nglish broadcasts other Afrikaans Beginning first September separation languages ceased stations lingual The commer station lingual There television South Africa The Govern there least years because expense Many people however believe problem lingualism involved There Afrikaans films program pilots program schedule heavy British American films packaged programs The feeling Government backlog Afrikaans vrograms which South Africa afford televisiono The history language large extent Afrikaner Nationalism It romance Afrikaner development cultural consciousness identity His language means communication source spirit which united generally social religion politcs business education Beginnings nguage Its history began arrival first Dutch settlers Cape three hundred years The British control Cape about hundred fifty years beginning Century They policy English immigrants sought anglicize people possible In process contact people speaking other languages Dutch ancestors Dutch settlers developed beginning language their British arrived It course Dutch differ Holland This early Afrikaans tempt nglish being qcitchen Dutch S Even Cape Dutch after generations British language which privacy their homes being inferior They preferred Holland Dutch English public Thus group relatively young started movement early 1870s expand Afrikaans their effort appreciated English Cape Dutch They founded The Society True Afrikaners Die Genootskap Regis Afrikaners which motto write speak It sought raise Cape Dutch Afrikaners their lethargy about their mother tonsue encourage Afrikaans writing embers Society headed clergyman Dutch Reformed church hoped Afrikaans version Blb received support church Even Langenhoven primary leaders later Afrikaans movement author Die Stem Suid Afrika National Anthem thought would fitting translate Bible Afrikaans translation become reality until The Society published journal Die Afrikaan Patriot other materials people would become familiar language print prepare later acceptan early successful hopeso It interesting first published Afrikaans handbook Islam It printed Arabic characters Afrikaans language Holy Qur Koran since Moslem Cape Maays speak Afrikaans The first Afrikaans Roman letters published hundred years It L H Meurants Zamenspraak tusschen Klaas aarzegger_ Jan Tuyfelaar Dialogue NiCk Tut hteller C Ddhbter The language problem Airikaners durin eighteen seventies eighties persuading British trolled government accept High Dutch along English Dutch finally recognized least Cape century Then Anglo Boer War Afrikaner women children interned British camps where epidemics killed thousands After British Government returned policy strict anglicizaton The Afrikaners defeated mliarily defeated spiritually They Their families shattered Their homes stroyed Their government taken The British after trying their sonal ossessions their language The result British polic reater attachment Afrikaners Afrikaans It became their identity If Afrikaner It analogy between Afrikaners Confederacy Southerners feated Each their political independence because They share similar attitudes about white white relationships They developed strong historical consciousness about their particular achievements They tendency fight again somewhat suspicious outsiders The great differenc between groups course Afrikaner language unite Imagine differences might still exist Southerners Confederacy developed language their language helped unite ederal election feeling power language South Africa General J B M Hertzog became political leader language movement after Wao He ceased demand Afrikaans accepted equally English He battle survval Afrikaans vehicle people dstnctve culture sepavatenesso He expressed fellow Afrikaners about attempt government language Anyone lacking respect language which I lacking respect wthout respect there fendly cooperation between people South Africa newcome Thus after Afrikaans language associations formed The S A Akademie Taal Lettere Kuns S A Academy Language Literature Art formed direction language spelling Afrikaans developed rapidly became language Afrikaner Dutch Reformed Church language political party which gained control government language which Afrikaner children educated The Afrikaner struggle century language himself accepted He prove language which represents equals Englishman English In process JCB withdraw group consciousness security personal meaning He became suspicious outer contacts might weaken destroy group His solidarity Was strengthened close relationship between churches volitical aff11ation schools where Christian National Education associated Afrikaans businesses social They played important advance Afrikaner culture Jew member religion citizen State seems Afrikaner He Jew culture which includes particular religious orientation based authority Holy Book historical traditlon language related lgion historical heritage dream independent politi state which would oppression school system which children learn language beliefs traditions peolle Hebrew important Jew Afrikaans Afrikaner Just Israel dream Jews calls spiritual a11esiance Republic South Africa dream Afrikaner calls spiritual allegiance polit Just Jews gained strength their cultural solidarity their separateness Afrikaner believes gained strength cultural bonds which unite people And language I believe under standing something importance Afrikaans Afrikaner possible better understand British feels intensity necessity havn8 independent republic strongly believes separate group development Africans Coloureds desired separate language medium schools language General Hertzog fifty years roecause honor maintain language because rights maintained language respected nation respected demand language schools because value proper education children In language because essential national existence Today Republic Afrikaner achieved national existence His language accepted equally English In strivin helped separate peovle country racial roups Africans Coloureds Indians Europeans language groups He considered himself meaning locating Africans separate group areas where tribe expected language develop along lines culture This carrying belief gained experience through cultural solidarity pride respect The present government sought provide separate language schools every child should educated cultural environment language Thus Africans divided three tribal languages college Europeans separated major languages English Af rikaans there schools colleges 1anguage This separation created major problem Coloured people They considered generally extension European community until recently They present sticky problem since their culture language start primarily Afrikaans Some Coloureds themselves Coloured Afrikaners Nationalists talked vaguely about Coloured community interest indcating since exists Coloureds should separated assist development their people This distinction appreciated Capetonians White Coloured special consideration coming election campaign I expected racial problem However I surprised South Africans white races defined basis language speak lations South Africa distinguis between White White relations White Non White relations There enough division between white language groups bridge exceptins This dichotomy between nglisb speakng Afrikaans speaking South Africans seems developed great extent Afrikaner language recognition He found It necessary language societies other groups which would language Thus Johannesburg example Eglish speking Afrikaans speaklng businessmen their Chamber Commerce The language groups their social cultural educational civic clubs which parallel There separate scouting organizations separate national councils women separ music societies separate institutes study relations separate academies literature language Bi lingualism obviously presents problems There constant concern language groups perhaps their language being mpared restricted association other An English Academy formed recently English clear There there Afrikaan Aademy Sud Afrikaanse Akademe eenskap Kuns I visited Johannesburg Pretoria weeks I English Afrikaans speakin people there deterioration English occurred primarily Afrikaans communities where people lttle contact English In areas educated Afrikaners usually languages while educated English lttle Afrikaans It hoped present educational system produce lngual generation Single Children I mentioned separated schools which primarily language although other language taugh subject schools rugersdorp localities where there enough students separate schools where languages This schooling generally argued handicap child comes neither language inclined without knowing which which Te pattern separate schools established perhaps English speaking parents wanting their children attend school which predominantly Afrikaans speaking students private English sveaking schools On other government belief children receive education unless taught their language helped separate children In Orange Free State Transvaal parents choice which language medium scIool their children It determined language speak To outsider seems development lingualism hampered instead aided children attending separate language schools I noticed Transvaal Women Agricultural Union their Congress passed motion calling Afrikaans schools devote spoken English second language It stated those cildren finished school working where brought contact ublic sufficiently lingual The WAU suggested greater contact between Afrikaans children their English speaking contemporaries languages alternate weeks school English speaking school children associates speak Afrikaans about American child would speak French after formal schooling There singular interest learning second language Teachers separated their respective language seaking teachers associations Howevert executives groups together regularly They jointly encourage parents language groups children svend visiting homes where other language soken Language Church South African uropeans separated Afrikaans nglish seaking churches The Dutch Reformed Church imporant advancement Afrikaner It leadershi language movement Afrikane political arties Do first Nationalist Party Prime Dutch Reformed Domnee It reported Dutch Reformed clergy members Broederbond ultra seCret brotherhood wh_ch supposedly furtherance Afrikanerdom Thus Afrikaners members three major Dutch Reformed Churches Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk largest Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk Gereformeerde Kerk commonly known Dopper Church smallest On other Church Province Anglican would expect largest English speaking members among Europeans although Afrikaans speaking Coloured members There little practical official contact between Afrikaans Dutch Reformed Church English Church Province ecclesiastical organizations The communication between clerical leaders these hlths prised They buitelander little under standing other Anglican clergymen noted their vocal condem nation apartheid The predikants Dutch Reformed churches generally exceptions active passive spiritual support government policy The English Church Anglican church considered active particiant Council Churches accepted statements South African Church delegates Council The Transvaal Synod N G Church Hervormde Church which members Council withdrawn Many members these church bodies consider Council exactly communism They considered statements representatives Council which Johannesburg December proof The Cape N G Synod Dutch Reformed Church group which still belongs World Council Churches after October election It expected rebuke delegates Johannesburg Conference withdraw World Counci1 The English Afrikaans churches movia8 further apart Yet sympathy understanding developing among English clergy laymen Afrikaans Dutch T thedelegateswere thoderat0r Dr Ao vandererw Secretary Rev A W Landman It predicted elected their positions The Moderator expected Rev J D Vorster brother newly appointed Mnster Justceo Both brothers interned during World War their Nazi British activities Reformed Dominees attacked their moderate views World Council members their church division party ation Political party affiliations along language lines extent Nationalist partys completely Afrkaans Afrikaners members United Party quite important havin recently joined their alliance National Union Party There Afrikaners Progressives Liberal Party But Nationalists remaned lngual While there undoubtedly English speaking supporters Nationalist Party policy I spoken English speaking South African reute affiliated ublicly Party The attitude English speakin Europeans recently reflected rumoured Prime Minis considering possibility appointing nglish speaking uropean cabinet All cabinet officers present Afrikaners The reaction almost overwhelming Any inglish speaking South African accepting invitation would traitor whole English community The United Party practically lingual It languages equally meetings public private The Nationalist Party speaking Afrikaners Afrikaans One earlest political cries Africa Afrikaner It tried nationalism intrinsic Afrikaner relgion However Reublic realty government trying unify white population under banner The Prime Minister address Transvaal National Party Congress would welcome support uropean language groups He would consider anyone trator among Afrikaners sought support another party should nglish speaking person considered supporting Natonalst Party He spoke language groups their dfferences It interesting happen inviolate upholder Afrikaner rghts nglish speakng Europeans party number At least would Nats would Afrikaans their meetings David Maras political cartoonist Ca Tme illustrates following cartoon serxous COnsequence rooted Afrikaner hearts They cannot think English infiltrating wthout believing inwardly least domination Well YOU there nothing prevent English joining Nationalist Party infiltrated Dr Verwoerd party platform South Africa Wh Nan He Le clear When I Nation South Africa I white people South Africa Dr Donges Cape Leader Naonals Par7 Cape Naionalis language division Souh African politics becoming imporano The choice between subordinate white mnort7 multi racial state preservation smaller white South Africa The Nationalist Party achieved final although South Africa Republic The fight changed character struggle people nation struggle which fight consolidation white nation Republic A approach spirit strategy weapons necessary Old quarrels bured opponents become allies concluded The Nationalist stand Man Party rallying Europeans against rising peril Black Nationalism Afrikaners asked drown their nglish domination larger Black domination Muiti 1inguals_m zhajps gn_e_ _angage The English I heard expressed belief Government eventually country completely Afrkaans speakingo This would course slmplif7 administration However while Afrikaans undoubtedly usage prestige Government needs language With which communicate world seems practical English continue spoken Ths number Afrikaners greatest protectors English language necessity Interestingly enough SABRA members active apartheid apologists tackln these white language problems their Congress Bloemfontein month I heard Xhosa African dialects language future Certainly mportant place there reasons Enslsh continue spoken least second language event eventual government another African groups There sXteen dfferent native languages country Native African leadership mostly educated English American Universities nglsh probably lansuase East African countries emerging It nterestng however recently prominent Dutch Reformed predkant thought children should learn Native African language addition Afrikaans English A seres Dr A Co ordan Xhosa Weekend Supplement Cape Times received showng rownE awareness possible future necessity lnualsmo Another possibility probable language become combination English Afrikaans erhaps German There influx German immigrants since Nationalists power I parties Afrikaner homes where three languages sentence course conversation where language predominated ThiS course language groups abhor emergence language combination Saxon Norman might possib1ity factor could groups together I expect Afrikaners English forget their differences Consider differences still exist between Prench nlish Canada after almost century offcial lngualism Perhaps comments columnist recently C_aDe Times South Africa might follow example Switzerland The Canadian newspaper quotes A lingual nation difficult types state achieve preserve floun dered Only Switzerland conscious success fostering strict equality cultures maing every citizen aware inheri three cultures It believed South Africans their country became Republic could dvision between hewolanguage culturegroupsbehealed NowhaheRepublic interesting white people willcooperate another And mportant those nglish Afrikaans origin third culture Received New York September