The Afrikaans language, one of the 11 official languages that is spoken in the republic of South Africa, is an African language and it should be accepted as such. There are (I think) three very good reasons why Afrikaans is not accepted as a true African language everywhere.
1. Historically, Afrikaans was very much associated with the oppressive apartheid regime of South Africa during the 20th century. The very word “apartheid” is in fact of Afrikaans origin. Thus Afrikaans is sometimes seen as an enemy of good relations. As something that hampers progress. It’s sad but true.
2. Some ignorant Afrikaans speaking individuals believe themselves that Afrikaans is not an African language. This is because they associate themselves culturally more with Europe than with Africa.
3. The majority of the words one finds in Afrikaans came into the language via Dutch, and ultimately German. There are also many words in Afrikaans of English and thus Latin origin. Also some Greek. Thus many words in the Afrikaans language, in fact most, is not of African origin.
But where else in the world is Afrikaans spoken other than in Africa? If Afrikaans is not an African language, what is it then? Is it a European? And if yes, where and when has Afrikaans ever enjoyed official status in a European country? Or is Afrikaans some kind of a nowhere language? A sea language maybe?
No, Afrikaans is an African language. It was first spoken by black slaves and natives of what is today South Africa. When the Dutch settled in the Cape during the 17th century, slaves and natives learned Dutch from them, but they could not master it. They eventually spoke a simple form of Dutch, and this was the basis for Afrikaans. Afrikaans has many many words that came into the language via African languages, as well as all the languages of the slaves. Where else in the world do you find Afrikaans other than in Africa? What else can Afrikaans then be? It can only be a language born in Africa, an African language thus!
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