Origins And Development

Afrikaans - A West Germanic Language of South Africa

Origins and Development

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language that originated from 17th-century Dutch. It is descended from Netherlandic, the language spoken by the descendants of Dutch settlers in South Africa. Afrikaans developed as a distinct language over time, influenced by contact with other languages in the region.

Geographic Distribution

Afrikaans is primarily spoken in South Africa and Namibia. In 2013, it had an estimated 17 million speakers worldwide. While it is most prevalent in South Africa, Afrikaans is also spoken by communities in other African countries, Europe, and North America.

Relationship to Dutch

Afrikaans shares a close relationship with Dutch, its parent language. Over 90% of Afrikaans vocabulary is derived from Dutch. However, Afrikaans has also incorporated elements from other languages, such as English, Portuguese, and Khoisan languages. These influences have shaped Afrikaans into a unique language with its own distinct characteristics.