This is the question that DF Malherbe sought to answer in 1907 with his doctoral thesis at a German university; 32 years after the founding of the “Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners” (Society of True Afrikaners), which is commemorated today on Afrikaans “Taaldag” (Language Day).
It was but one of many small steps toward the official recognition of Afrikaans as a language – and everything that followed, for recognition is merely a milestone.
Why was Malherbe’s question so significant? Because for Afrikaners, language and identity are closely intertwined themes. As a language, Afrikaans formed part of Afrikaners’ awakening. It was central to the formation of the social construct that we call Afrikaners. If one prefers to use such lofty words.
Until around 1875, the word “Afrikaner” was predominantly used to refer to something that is indigenous to Africa. Afrikaner cattle, Afrikaner sheep and so forth. This is despite Hendrik Bibault’s exclamation in 1707, “Ic ben een Africaander,” as at the time, he was merely voicing his resistance to the Dutch authorities.
Later, the ancestors of modern-day Afrikaners scattered across South Africa referred to themselves as “Boers”, and others followed suit. This was mainly because farming was basically their only vocation. This was the case in the Cape Colony as well, not only in the Boer republics, as many people believe today.
A strong sense of shared identity did not exist, though. Colonials, Free Staters and Transvalers moved around freely and intermarried, but a national consciousness was still largely absent.
While the Boer republics regarded their language as Dutch, the British authorities at the Cape dismissively called the highly modified version of Dutch “Cape Dutch”.
The Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners proposed a new, comprehensive identity in 1875. A group called Afrikaners with Afrikaans as their language. Who exactly was included in this definition led to much debate.
One camp felt it fitting to include English-speakers who regarded South Africa as their only home. Another felt that it should include everyone who speaks Afrikaans, both white and coloured. Over time, the concept as we know it today crystallised.
In this way a new concept evolved: Afrikaners as a people with Afrikaans as their language. In other words: a social construct.
Back to Malherbe in 1907: Afrikaners were still dispersed across various colonies and a sense of shared destiny had yet to develop. Adopting the tongue, developing it and granting it status were means to that end.
That is why it was a significant question: Is Afrikaans a language or merely a dialect of Dutch?
Today, the diversity within Afrikaans is important. Every identity within the Afrikaans language deserves recognition. At the same time, facilitating collaboration within the broader language community is equally important, to ensure the language retains its function.
Nowadays, no-one wonders whether Afrikaans is a language or a dialect. However, its survival as a language – in academics, professions, government and politics – should not be taken for granted.
It lies in the mouths of those who speak it. So, let us employ the same sense of urgency as we continue to use it.
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