Kaaps

Kaaps, also known as Kaapse Afrikaans or Cape Kaaps, is an Afrikaans-based language variety spoken in the Western Cape of South Africa, especially within Cape Coloured communities. It developed in the Cape Colony from the 17th century onward as a contact language among Dutch/Afrikaans settlers, the Cape Malay community, enslaved Africans, and Indigenous peoples. Over time, Kaaps diverged from standard Afrikaans, incorporating loanwords and grammatical features from Malay, Portuguese, Khoisan languages, Xhosa and English, resulting in a distinctive lexicon and syntax.

The classification of Kaaps is debated. Some linguists treat it as a separate language variety or creole, reflecting its mixed heritage, while others view it as a sociolect or dialect of Afrikaans tied to a particular community and culture. Its phonology and grammar are noted for flexibility, including frequent code-switching and a wide range of loanwords that reflect Cape Town’s multicultural history.

Kaaps is primarily a spoken vernacular, but it has a growing presence in written form through poetry, theatre, and literature, and it plays a significant role in contemporary Cape culture. In recent decades, Kaaps has gained visibility through music, spoken-word performances, and cultural events, contributing to broader discussions about language, identity, and representation in post-apartheid South Africa.