Resumo

CARSTENS, WAM. A perspective on Afrikaans's historical heritage: The Afrikaans estate after 100 years. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2023, vol.63, n.3, pp.506-527. ISSN 2224-7912.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2023/v63n3a8.

In the context of reflecting on the upcoming 100-year celebration of Afrikaans as an official language in 2025, linguistic experts have been engaged in reassessments of any claim to a comprehensive description of Afrikaans's legacy. The hypothetical scenario of Afrikaans ceasing to exist prompts questions about the inheritance and heritage of this language and the evaluations of linguistic experts ' contributions across almost a century. The discussion delves into the concepts of "erfenis" (inheritance), "nalatenskap" (legacy), and "boedel" (estate) and how these terms may or may not be applicable to institutions, individuals, and, as in this case, also languages. In the case of a language like Afrikaans, its inheritance is a culmination of various factors, including history, culture, religion, legal context, economy, education, linguistics, anthropology, and politics. Perceptions about this inheritance had formed over time and were passed down from one generation to another. Afrikaans, as a language, has a complex heritage associated with both tangible and intangible aspects. On the one hand, there are identifiable events and milestones that contributed to its development, while on the other, there are perceptions, feelings, and judgements about the language based on experiences with the Afrikaans-speaking community. Unfortunately, negative judgements often overshadow the positive aspects due to historical associations with the white population and the heritage of apartheid. The present article highlights the importance of inclusivity in representing Afrikaans's history, as previous documentation has disproportionately focused on the contributions of white speakers, neglecting a significant part of its heritage. It emphasises the need to establish a more inclusive version of the history of Afrikaans. Considering the multifaceted nature of Afrikaans's heritage, it is associated with both concrete events (actions which happened) and abstract (what people think about these actions and events) perceptions. The past has bequeathed this legacy to future generations, and the present generation must deal with it. However, the current generation has the power to shape perceptions and attitudes by means of their actions, thereby fostering a more positive outlook of the language. The analogy of inheritance as a "human creation" passed down through generations is used to illustrate that the image of Afrikaans, like any heritage, can be adapted and improved over time. There isn't any particular sole Afrikaans heritage; on the contrary. it may be characterised as a dynamic entity which is constantly being realised in the South African community through its daily use and contributions. The article concludes by highlighting the fact that in the event of Afrikaans ceasing to exist altogether (not that that would easily happen), its legacy would still be evident in the collective memory of that which the language had come to symbolise for many people over an extended period of time. Parts of this legacy have been documented over the years, highlighting the manner in which the development of Afrikaans, including the contribution of its speakers in this regard, had shaped the perceptions people (even from other linguistic communities) had come to entertain about the language. It is to be hoped that said heritage will continue to evolve positively, just like a farm passed down through generations, with each new iteration striving to be a more reliable custodian than the previous one.

Palavras-chave : Afrikaans; Afrikaans package; Afrikaans estate; association; image; heritage; labelling; origin of Afrikaans; attitude; inclusive; legacy; study of perception; linguistic communities.

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