Many slang words originate from Afrikaans, European and African languages. Some state that instead of Afrikaners, which refers to an ethnic group, the terms Afrikaanses or Afrikaanssprekendes (lit. In interaction at the workplace, English is used in 40% of all communication, whereas Afrikaans (28%) still dominates oral communication especially in Gauteng, the Free State, the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. Sitemap. • kae? • Yebo (isiZulu) Taxi Sign Language. The Afrikaans ... SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German. Sign Language and the The Afrikaans language contains influences and roots from English, Khoi, Xhosa, Asian Malay, Malagasy, San, Portuguese and French; although many of these words do sound extremely different. The Afrikaanse Taalmuseum (language museum) in Paarl, set on the banks of the Berg River, and roughly 50 kilometres north east of Cape Town, is at once associated with the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum, and a dedication to the Afrikaans language. Content Disclaimer: The information used on ExpatCapeTown.com is obtained from sources that we consider to be reliable; however, no representation is made as to, and no responsibility or liability is accepted for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. • Ee (Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana) The language is also widely spoken in Namibia and, to a lesser degree, in Zimbabwe, Botswana and other surrounding countries. The dialect in the north-east was a form of Afrikaans and the written standard was developed from this. • totsiens (Afrikaans), How are you? These words are commonly spoken and understood in South Africa and like everywhere in the world it is a sign of respect to know some basic greetings. We will explain which are the home languages and which slang words you simply need to know, how to signal a taxi with sign language and Miriam Makeba will tell you in an amazing video clip what the click sounds mean. You may not copy, redistribute, sell or make the data available to a third party for any commercial or public purpose without having received prior written agreement by ExpatCapeTown.com. We have some. Afrikaans has a fascinating history of its own, and a heritage and culture that are deeply entwined in its character. English is the medium of teaching at 80% of all schools, while Afrikaans is medium of instruction at 16% of all schools. Read more about the South African school system here. South Africa is a multilingual society. Although the eleven languages might be the official languages, many more languages can be heard and are used in the big South African cities. Which are the official languages of South Africa? SA-Venues.com © 1999-2020. An additional African language is now taught at primary school level to improve the education standards and outcome in South Africa. The information used on ExpatCapeTown.com is obtained from sources that we consider to be reliable; however, no representation is made as to, and no responsibility or liability is accepted for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. • hallo (Afrikaans), Good Bye The 11 official languages are: English, Afrikaans, IsiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, siSwati, Sepedi or Sesotho sa Leboa, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sesotho and Setswana. Read more about the different ethnic groups of South Africa here. Read more about the languages in South Africa here. And in shops or on the streets not only the parking guards for example will come from African countries and speak better French or Portuguese than any of the official South African languages. Many South African races use Afrikaans as their second or third language. • Enkosi (isiXhosa) You will encounter many people who also speak other languages like French, German or Portuguese as there are many immigrants, foreigners and expats living in many parts of the country. • Afrikaans: in all provinces a predominant language as it is taught in most schools, however the language is less commonly used in KwaZuluNatal and the Eastern Cape. Afrikaans Cuisine of South Africa : The Afrikaans culture in South Africa is an extremely diverse one, with plenty of influences (cultural, religious and culinary) from all over the world. Contact her directly through The African Show Development on Facebook. Afrikaans is considered to be a language containing “regular” grammar. Listen to fabulous, …that Sign Language is the 12th unofficial language of South Africa. • sala sentle (Setswana) The majority of South Africans can speak and understand English, so tourists will be able to communicate with locals relatively easily. Historically, the main nationalities that contributed to South African society were Indonesians, Madagascans, Khoi, the Dutch settlers and West Africans. Information contained herein is subject to change at any time without notice. More than half a million South African use the South African Sign Language SASL. (o phela jwang) The 11 official languages are: English, Afrikaans, IsiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, siSwati, Sepedi or Sesotho sa Leboa, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Sesotho and Setswana. These are the first languages which usually are taught at school. These are the first languages which usually are taught at school. (isiXhosa, isiZulu) In South Africa eleven languages of South Africa are recognised as official languages. Cape Town: Zebra Press, Richman, Tim (2013) Ja Well No Fine. • Ja (Afrikaans), Thank you Information and Data Usage Notice: All data and content on ExpatCapeTown website is for your information and personal use only. (Sepedi, Setswana) In interaction at the workplace, English is used in 40% of all communication, whereas Afrikaans (28%) still dominates oral communication especially in Gauteng, the Free State, the Western Cape and the Northern Cape. Mother tongue of 22.7% of the South African people. • Dankie (Afrikaans). South African Languages – A Quick Guide (including how to say ‘hello’), Visit Khomani Cultural Landscape 9th of South Africa’s World Heritage Sites, Travelling to South Africa? Subscribe for the latest special offers and travel inspiration. “Afrikaans” is a Dutch word that means “African”. • Setswana: is spoken in the North West region bordering Botswana. A language that borrows from both English and Afrikaans is now only officially spoken as a second language. 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