maatskaplike

Maatskaplike is Afrikaans for 'social' or 'societal'. It is an adjective used to describe things connected with society, social relations, and communal life. It corresponds to the Dutch maatschappelijk and to the English terms social or societal. In formal Afrikaans, maatskaplike is common in academic, policy, and professional language.

Maatskaplike is frequently attached to nouns to form compound expressions. Examples include maatskaplike wetenskappe (the social sciences), maatskaplike beleid (social policy), maatskaplike werk (social work), maatskaplike probleme (societal problems), and maatskaplike verhoudings (social relations). The term often emphasizes non-biological, non-economic dimensions such as institutions, norms, governance, and welfare within a community. It can also denote ethical or civic considerations, as in maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid (social responsibility).

Origin and usage: The word stems from Dutch maatskapelijk/maatschappelijk, reflecting the shared heritage of Afrikaans and Dutch. In contemporary Afrikaans, spelling and usage are consistent with standard orthography, and maatskaplike is primarily used in written form and formal speech. It is distinct from merely personal or intimate attributes and is used to discuss broad social phenomena and policy areas.

In summary: Maatskaplike denotes the social dimension of life in Afrikaans-language discourse, particularly in academia, government, and social services. It helps distinguish societal issues and structures from purely individual or natural phenomena.