Current distribution

Afrikaans is the third largest language in South Africa and is spoken there by around 14% of the population as a mother tongue. In Namibia, it is a recognized national language and is used by a significant proportion of the population, although it does not have the status of an official language there. The remaining distribution in southern Africa is rather low. Outside Africa, small Afrikaans-speaking communities can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, mainly consisting of expatriates.

History of origin

Afrikaans is a Germanic language that developed in the 17th century as a dialect of Dutch spoken by the settlers of the Dutch East India Company. These settlers came mainly from the Netherlands, Germany and France. Their languages mixed with those of the indigenous Khoi, San and later imported slaves from Southeast Asia and Madagascar.

Officially, Afrikaans was recognized as an independent language in the early 20th century, distinguishable from Dutch by its own grammar and vocabulary. The language was also a tool of politics; during apartheid, it was declared the official language of South Africa alongside English, which led to considerable tension and protests, particularly during the Soweto Uprising in 1976.

The development of Afrikaans has always been influenced by cultural and social dynamics. Today, the language is a symbol of cultural identity, but also an expression of South Africa's political and social history. In the modern world, Afrikaans is taught in schools and is present in the media, literature and music scene.