Afrikaans

A language of South Africa

ISO 639-3

Autonym

Afrikaans

Population

17,160,000 in South Africa, all users. L1 users: 6,860,000 (2013 UNSD), decreasing. L2 users: 10,300,000 (Webb 2002). Total users in all countries: 17,518,390 (as L1: 7,218,390; as L2: 10,300,000).

Location

Widespread, but fewer speakers in East Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Language Maps

Botswana

Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland

Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland: zoomed area

Namibia

Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1996, Constitution, Art 6(1)), has been designated, along with English, as an official language in all 9 provinces.

Classification

Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Dialects

Cape Afrikaans (West Cape Afrikaans), Orange River Afrikaans, East Cape Afrikaans. A variant of the Dutch [nld] spoken by the 17th century colonists, with some lexical and syntactic borrowings from Malay [zlm], Bantu languages, Khoisan languages, Portuguese [por], and other European languages.

Typology

SVO; prepositions; noun head final; definite and indefinite articles; passives; tense; 20 consonants, 16 vowels, 9 diphthongs; non-tonal; free stress.

Language Use

Some also use English [eng].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1933–2000.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Afrikaans

Writing

Braille script [Brai], used since 1953. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.

Other Comments

Muslim, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Botswana

Language nameAfrikaans

Population

8,080 (2015 UNSD).

Location

Central and Kgatleng districts: north of Limpopo river; Ghanzi and Kgalagadi districts: widespread; North West district along Namibian border; Southern district: small area southwest of Khakea; possibly Takatokwane area.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Spoken as L1 by Afrikaners (Ghanzi District) and by people of mixed racial background (Kweneng and Kgalagadi districts). Also use English [eng], Tswana [tsn]. Used as L2 by Kgalagadi [xkv].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 100% in Ghanzi district, 50% in Kgalagadi districts. Literacy rate in L2: 75% in Kweneng and Kgalagadi districts in Tswana [tsn], 50% in English [eng]; few use Tswana in Ghanzi District, most use English.

Other Comments

Christian.

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Malawi

Language nameAfrikaans

Location

Scattered.

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by people of Dutch descent from South Africa.

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Namibia

Language nameAfrikaans

Population

180,000 (2014 UNSD).

Location

Hardap and Khomas regions.

Status

3 (Wider communication). Recognized language (2009, National Curriculum, Basic Education, Sections 4.1, 5.1, 5.5), Most commonly used as educational medium.

Language Use

Used by 25% of the population in Windhoek in their homes (1995 census). Used as L2 by Hai||om [hgm], Khwedam [xuu], Northwestern !Kung [vaj].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Former official status. Not known in the north, in Owambo tribes, and Kavango and Caprivi regions.

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Swaziland

Language nameAfrikaans

Population

13,000 (2006 J. Leclerc).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Spoken by people of Dutch descent from South Africa.

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Zambia

Language nameAfrikaans

Population

41,000 (2006 J. Leclerc).

Status

5 (Dispersed).

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Ethnologue

Afrikaans

Primary tabs

A language of South Africa

Also spoken in:

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