Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and also Argentina, where a group in Sarmiento speaks a Patagonian dialect. It evolved from the Dutch vernacular of South Holland (Hollandic dialect) spoken by the predominantly Dutch settlers and enslaved population of the Dutch Cape Colony, where in the 17th and 18th centuries it gradually developed characteristics that distinguish it from Dutch. Although Afrikaans has adopted words from other languages, including German, Malay, and Khoisan languages, an estimated 90 to 95% of its vocabulary is of Dutch origin. Differences between Afrikaans and Dutch often lie in the more analytic morphology and grammar of Afrikaans, and different spellings.
Afrikaans is established as an official language in South Africa
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and also Argentina, where a group in Sarmiento speaks a Patagonian dialect.
Historical Significance
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and also Argentina, where a group in Sarmiento speaks a Patagonian dialect.
Events Before
Charlie Munger is born
Charlie Munger, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1924-01-01.
Grossdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft and Völkische Block replace the banned NSDAP
Grossdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft and Völkische Block replace the banned NSDAP
German-Swiss poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (36) weds Swiss soprano and painter Ruth Wenger (26); divorce in 1927
German-Swiss poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (36) weds Swiss soprano and painter Ruth Wenger (26); divorce in 1927
1st Winter Olympic Games open in Chamonix, France
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games (French: Iers Jeux olympiques d'hiver) and commonly known as Chamonix 1924 (Arpitan: Chamôni 1924), were a winter multi-sport...
Vladimir Lenin is placed in a Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow
On Monday, 21 January 1924, at 18:50 EET, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the October Revolution and the first leader and founder of the Soviet Union, died in Gorki aged 53 after falling into a coma.
Events After
A major flood on the Rhine River strikes Cologne
Cologne is the fourth-most populous city of Germany and the largest city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and over 3.1 million...
American songwriter Irving Berlin (37) weds heiress and writer Ellin Mackay (23) in a simple civil ceremony in NYC, unti
American songwriter Irving Berlin (37) weds heiress and writer Ellin Mackay (23) in a simple civil ceremony in NYC, until her death in 1988
Abdulaziz Ibn Saud becomes King of Nejd and Hejaz, forerunner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Ibn Saud becomes King of Nejd and Hejaz, forerunner of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
American comedian George Burns (28) weds American comedienne Gracie Allen (31), until her death in 1964
American comedian George Burns (28) weds American comedienne Gracie Allen (31), until her death in 1964
John Logie Baird gives the first public demonstration of television in his laboratory in London
John Logie Baird gives the first public demonstration of television in his laboratory in London
More from the 1920s
Isaac Asimov is born
Isaac Asimov, American writer and biochemist, known for american writer and biochemist, was born on 1920-01-02.
Charlie Munger is born
Charlie Munger, American businessman, known for american businessman, was born on 1924-01-01.
Vernon L. Smith is born
Vernon L. Smith, American economist and nobel laureate, known for american economist and nobel laureate, was born on 1927-01-01.
Byelorussian Communist Organization is founded as a separate party
The Byelorussian Communist Organisation was a communist group in Belarus, led by Usievalad Ihnatoŭski.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on May 5, 1925?
- Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and also Argentina, where a group in Sarmiento speaks a Patagonian dialect. It evolved from the Dutch vernacular of South Holland (Hollandic dialect) spoken by the predominantly Dutch settlers and enslaved population of the Dutch Cape Colony, where in the 17th and 18th centuries it gradually developed characteristics that distinguish it from Dutch. Although Afrikaans has adopted words from other languages, including German, Malay, and Khoisan languages, an estimated 90 to 95% of its vocabulary is of Dutch origin.
- Why is Afrikaans is established as an official language in South Africa significant?
- Afrikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia, and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and also Argentina, where a group in Sarmiento speaks a Patagonian dialect.