afrikáans

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, developed during the Dutch colonization of the Cape in the 17th century. While sharing a significant amount of vocabulary and grammatical structure with Dutch, Afrikaans has evolved independently and is not mutually intelligible with modern Dutch.

The language originated from the various dialects of Dutch spoken by immigrants, Khoikhoi, and enslaved people who lived in the Cape Colony. Over time, these influences blended, simplifying Dutch grammar and incorporating words from Malay, Portuguese, French, and indigenous African languages. Afrikaans was first recognized as a distinct language in the early 20th century.

Afrikaans is one of the official languages of South Africa and is also an official language in Namibia. It is spoken by a diverse population, including Afrikaners, Coloured people, and some black South Africans. The language has a rich literary tradition, with significant contributions to poetry, prose, and drama. It is used in education, media, and government, although its role has evolved over time.