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© 2022 University of South Africa
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All rights reserved
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Printed and published by:
The University of South Africa
Muckleneuk, Pretoria
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10034927
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AFK1505/1/2023
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MNB_style
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CONTENTS
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Page
MODULE OVERVIEW v
LEARNING UNIT 1:
THE BASICS
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LEARNING UNIT 2:
TIME TO COUNT
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LEARNING UNIT 3:
SHOPPING
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LEARNING UNIT 4:
OUT AND ABOUT
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LEARNING UNIT 5:
LET’S CHAT
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LEARNING UNIT 6:
ME AND MY SURROUNDINGS
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LEARNING UNIT 7:
BEING POLITE
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LEARNING UNIT 8:
NEGATIVE SENTENCES AND SAYING NO
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LEARNING UNIT 9:
POLITELY DISAGREEING, APOLOGISING AND OFFERING EXCUSES
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LEARNING UNIT 10: MAKING PLANS
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AFK1505/1/2023
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(iv)
Module overview
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
Module overview
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Orientation: Welcome to AFK1505
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately
20 minutes to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
0
DEAR STUDENT
Welcome to the module AFK1505 (Afrikaans for Beginners). We encourage you to read
this overview thoroughly. Refer to it as often as you need to since it will certainly make
studying this module a lot easier.
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WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE THIS MODULE?
AFK1505 provides you with the opportunity to learn one of the official languages of South
Africa and one of the youngest languages in the world. Learning a new language also
means learning about a new culture. AFK1505 will therefore not only provide you the
opportunity to learn how to communicate with Afrikaans friends or co-workers, but will
also give you a better understanding of the Afrikaans culture. Afrikaans has many faces.
The language is spoken by individuals from different backgrounds and ethnicities, and
the varieties of Afrikaans spoken across South Africa make it a fun and vibrant language.
We hope you enjoy this language journey.
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A different language is a different vision of life – Federico Fellini
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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS MODULE?
The purpose of this module is to equip qualifying students with general principles and rules
applicable to communicating in Afrikaans as a foreign language in a variety of settings.
Successful students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of basic written and
oral texts in Afrikaans; respond orally and in writing, using the correct basic vocabulary
and simple sentence constructions; and use vocabulary and basic grammatical structures
to converse both orally and in writing.
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(v)
AFK1505/1
WHAT ARE THE MODULE OUTCOMES?
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AFK1505 has two main outcomes:
Once you have completed this module, you should be able to
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(1)
(2)
demonstrate an understanding of basic written and oral texts in Afrikaans, and respond orally and in writing, using the correct basic vocabulary and simple sentence
constructions
use Afrikaans vocabulary and grammatical structures to communicate both orally
and in writing
WHAT ARE MY STUDY MATERIALS?
Your study materials consist of the content of each learning unit, your tutorial letter and
other sources on myUnisa.
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Each learning unit for AFK1505 covers a specific topic and includes information on grammar,
pronunciation and vocabulary. The tutorial letter provides you with general information
about the module and the University. myUnisa hosts the AFK1505 module site. You will find
a lot of additional information and resources on the module site. Information about the
assignments that you must complete for this module is also available on the module site.
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We also offer online classes in this module. These will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.
Information about the classes will be sent to you via the Announcements tool on the
module site.
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MODULE FRAMEWORK
AFK1505 is divided into ten learning units. Each learning unit covers a specific topic and
includes important information that you will need to learn Afrikaans.
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Learning units 1 to 4 contain basic information, while Learning units 5 to 10 are a bit more
advanced. The following table is a visual representation of the learning units in this module:
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Table 0.1
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Learning unit 1
The basics
Learning unit 2
Time to count
Learning unit 3
Shopping
Learning unit 4
Out and about
Learning unit 5
Let’s chat
Learning unit 6
Me and my surroundings
(vi)
Learning unit 7
Being polite
Learning unit 8
Negative sentences and saying no
Learning unit 9
Politely disagreeing, apologising
and offering excuses
Learning unit 10
Making plans
LEARNING APPROACH
The first step when you start with the module is to familiarise yourself with the module site
for AFK1505 on myUnisa. Make sure that you know where to find important information.
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Step two is to listen to as much of the language as possible. If you are lucky enough to
have a television, watch some Afrikaans programmes. If you do not have a television, look
for Afrikaans videos on the internet or listen to the audio recordings that are available
on the module site.
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Step three is to read your study material and attend any online classes or tutor opportunities offered to AFK1505 students.
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Step four is to speak and write Afrikaans as often as possible. Try to name the things around
you as you are moving through your house or place of work. Write down some words
you know or recognise while watching Afrikaans television shows. It is also important to
ask your lecturer if you are unsure about or you need assistance with academic matters.
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As part of your progress through this module you must complete the activities in each
learning unit as these activities will help you to pass the module. The activities in the
learning units do not count any marks – they are used for self-assessment purposes
only. However, they have been designed to help you to prepare for and complete your
assessments successfully. Only the official assessments in the module must be submitted
for marks.
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EXPLANATION OF ICONS
The following icons are used in AFK1505:
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Table 0.2
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ICON
EXPLANATION OF ICON
Vocabulary. This icon identifies the main vocabulary for a
particular learning unit.
Starter. This is an informal activity at the beginning of
every learning unit.
Activity. This icon indicates an activity that you must complete to test your knowledge of a certain subject.
Pronunciation. This icon indicates that an explanation of
a particular aspect of Afrikaans pronunciation follows.
Grammar. This icon indicates that a grammar concept is
discussed.
Culture check. This icon indicates that a cultural aspect
relating to language is discussed.
CONCLUSION
We hope that you will enjoy AFK1505 and learn a lot. We are excited to embark on this
journey with you.
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If you are ready to start with the module content, you can proceed to Learning unit 1,
which focuses on the basics in Afrikaans. Geniet dit!
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(viii)
Learning unit 1
The basics
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
1
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
The basics
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately four hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
4
OVERVIEW
This learning unit covers four key components that play a vital role in basic communication
in all languages, namely:
y relevant vocabulary
y pronunciation and spelling
y grammar
y listening
These four components inevitably work towards developing your speaking, listening,
reading and writing skills in Afrikaans. Regarding spelling, pronunciation and grammar,
this unit covers short and long vowels (i.e. a/aa, e/ee, o/oo and u/uu), the present tense
verb, personal pronouns and the two articles (i.e. ’n and die).
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y pronounce Afrikaans words properly
y greet and say goodbye in Afrikaans in both formal and informal contexts
y introduce yourself in Afrikaans
y explain the present tense in Afrikaans
y explain how to use personal pronouns (subject form) and articles in sentences
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AFK1505/1
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Figure 1.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 1
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 1_Starter, on the module site. This
quiz focuses on greetings and introductions. You do not need to read the rest of this
learning unit first to complete this quiz.
1.1
INTRODUCTION
In any language, one of the most basic forms of communication is to greet someone
you have just come into contact with or to say goodbye to someone who is leaving. In
addition to these forms, speakers normally introduce themselves formally or informally.
They also express their subjective opinions about things in different situations.
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Speaking and writing a language are different from listening to a language or reading in
a language. Reading and listening are so-called passive or receptive skills: the language is
produced by another speaker or is written by someone else; you do not need to produce
language yourself, but you read it or listen to it (receive the language) and make sense of
the meaning. Writing and speaking are active or productive skills: you have to produce
language yourself. When writing, you can access a dictionary or look something up,
rewrite a sentence or start from scratch; when you are speaking, you do not have such
luxuries. This is why speaking is often regarded as the most difficult skill to master when
learning a language.
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Note that these separate skills are seldom used in isolation. When you are busy with a
phone call, for instance, you have to speak, but you must also listen to the person on the
other side. During the phone call, you might also read something to the other person or
write down some information. Each learning unit in this module focuses on a separate
skill, but remember that all the other skills also come into play when one specific language skill is used.
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Before we continue, let’s look at the Afrikaans alphabet.
1.2
THE AFRIKAANS ALPHABET
When speaking a language, for example during a telephone conversation, we often need
to spell a name, an e-mail address or other words. It is thus important to be able to spell
in your new language. Fortunately Afrikaans and English share the same alphabet, but
the pronunciation of the letters differs. Listen to the correct Afrikaans pronunciation of
the letters of the alphabet in the following sound clip. Say each letter out loud after you
have heard how it is pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/19e2eVmNHMwuwNhtld37MronXR-_tkMYv/view?usp
=sharing]
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Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
ACTIVITY 1.1
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Please complete the following tasks by recording yourself on the relevant Flip group:
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
1.1.1
Verbally spell your name and surname in Afrikaans.
1.1.2
Pronounce the following abbreviations in Afrikaans:
y SAUK
y WNNR
y MIF
y MVSA
y UPE
y CMR
y BTW
y ZAR
VOCABULARY
Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table and watch the video to learn
how these words are pronounced before you continue with the learning unit:
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AFK1505/1
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VnKZPvGau5mJFISTuORTMo8BzkyIR9m2/view?usp
=sharing]
Table 1.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 1
Afrikaans
English
jy (informal); u (formal)
you
jou
your
ek (eerste persoon)
I (first person)
hy, sy (derde persoon)
he, she (third person)
my
my
ons
us, we
hulle
they
’n
a
die
the
jouself voorstel
to introduce yourself to someone
goeiemôre, môre, dag
good morning, morning
goeiemiddag
good afternoon
hallo
hello
Hoe gaan dit?
How are you?
Dit gaan goed.
I am well.
Lekker dag!
Have a nice day!
nag
good night
goeienaand
good evening
totsiens, tot weersiens
goodbye, see you soon
mooi bly
keep well
vaarwel
farewell
aangename kennis, bly te pleased to meet you
kenne
(baie) dankie
thank you (very much)
meneer
Mister, Sir (male form of address)
mevrou
Mistress, Madam (female form of
address)
mejuffrou
Miss (unmarried female)
moedertaal
mother tongue
matrieksertifikaat
Matric certificate
Registreer, geregistreer
register, registered
welkom
welcome
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1.3
GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS
The practice of greeting or introducing yourself to others is normal in society. The unspoken rule in most cultures is that the person who enters the company last should greet
first. It is the same in Afrikaans.
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The time of the day (as in most languages) determines which form of greeting you would
use. One would say goeiemôre in the morning, goeiemiddag in the afternoon and goeienaand in the evening. Interestingly, these expressions can also be used without the prefix
goeie-. You may therefore just use the greetings môre, middag or dag, or naand at the
appropriate time. Other acceptable greeting forms have been borrowed from English
and transformed into Afrikaans; they include hallo (hello) and haai (hi), which can be
used at any time of the day. These words are normally used to start a conversation and
are followed by a similar reply.
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A typical conversation then follows. In some cases, especially when strangers meet, one
of the speakers would introduce himself or herself by saying something like My naam
is Theo. The other speaker would reply by saying, Bly te kenne or Aangename kennis and
giving his or her name. After the introductions have been made, the conversation may
follow. After the conversation has been concluded, the speakers normally take leave of
each other by saying: totsiens, tot weersiens, mooi bly or vaarwel. Other alternatives are
covered later in this learning unit (see sections 1.6 and 1.7).
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1.3.1
Formal and informal greetings and introductions
As you have already gathered by listening to the audios, Afrikaans also has two forms of
speech, namely formal speech and informal speech. How they differ is discussed in the
grammar section (section 1.5) of this learning unit. However, to oversimplify things, the
use of u indicates formal speech, while jy indicates informal speech. We also use titles
or designations in formal speech, such as meneer, mevrou, mejuffrou and many others.
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ACTIVITY 1.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Please watch the following two video. They include the most basic forms of greeting and
introductions in Afrikaans:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/19iSYCdZnBM6BlDTk xL5flRBnQm4HXdCR/
view?usp=sharing]
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AFK1505/1
GRAMMAR
In this section we deal with the present tense verb, the use of personal pronouns and
articles in Afrikaans. Some written and spoken examples are included.
Morphology: The present tense verb
The present tense verb in Afrikaans has a single form that is used with all subjects (doers).
English has some irregular forms in the present tense (e.g. I am, you are, he is) and usually
adds an -s to the verb when combined with certain subjects (the child walks, my mother
talks, the class starts). Afrikaans present tense forms are regular, which means the same
form of the verb is used with every subject:
To sleep
To eat
To read
Ek slaap.
Wie eet?
Vusi lees.
(I’m sleeping.)
(Who is eating?)
(Vusi is reading.)
Die kind slaap.
My pa eet.
Die klas lees.
(The child is sleeping.)
(My dad is eating.)
(The class is reading.)
Baie mense slaap.
Die groep eet.
Hulle lees.
(Many people
sleeping.)
are (The group is eating.)
(They are reading.)
Almal slaap.
Al die seuns eet.
(Everyone is sleeping.)
(All the boys are eating.) (We are reading.)
Sy slaap.
Hy eet.
Jy lees.
(She is sleeping.)
(He is eating.)
(You are reading.)
Ons lees.
Morphology: Personal pronouns (subject form)
Personal pronouns are words that can be used instead of the subjects (doers) in a sentence. In other words, they replace the names of people, places or things, for example
‘John kicks the ball’ can change to ‘He kicks the ball’ (John skop die bal x Hy skop die bal).
Look at the following list of personal pronouns:
I
ek
you (singular)
jy/u
he
hy
she
sy
we
ons
you (plural)
julle
they
hulle
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y Afrikaans distinguishes between the use of you (singular), for which jy or u (depending
on the speech context) is used, and the plural you, for which julle is used, for example:
You greet someone.
Jy groet iemand.
Singular you
You greet someone.
Julle groet iemand.
Plural you
y In Afrikaans, as in most European languages except English, there are two ways of
addressing other people: by using jy or u. The address form u is very formal and not
that common in Afrikaans. In a formal setting, any person that you do not address by
his or her first name would be addressed using meneer, mevrou or their official title. In
English, any person can be addressed using the pronoun you; consequently, learners
of Afrikaans with a knowledge of English tend to address anyone in Afrikaans as jy.
This is regarded as disrespectful or even rude by some Afrikaans speakers. In contexts
such as the following, u should be used:
o
ddressing a stranger in a formal business or academic setting, for example at
A
a lecture or conference:
− W
eet u miskien hoe laat die klas begin? (Do you perhaps know when the class
is starting?)
− P
rofessor, ek het u lesing baie interessant gevind. (Professor, I found your lecture
interesting.)
o
o
Addressing a librarian or administration officer:
−
ôre meneer, kan u my asseblief help om hierdie boek te vind? (Morning Sir, could
M
you please help me find this book?)
−
Dankie vir u hulp met my registrasie. (Thank you for your help with my registration.)
In formal correspondence (letters or e-mails):
− D
ankie vir u goeie leiding, professor. (Thank you for your excellent guidance,
Professor.)
− B
aie dankie vir u aandag aan hierdie saak. (Thank you very much for your help
in this regard.)
y However, in spoken language, it is not uncommon to combine address forms such as
meneer or mevrou with jy or jou:
o
Meneer, jy het die verkeerde werkstuk voltooi. (Sir, you completed the wrong
assignment.)
o Mevrou, kan ek jou gou iets vra? (Madam, may I ask you something quickly?)
y To express respect between children and adults, Afrikaans has a typical way of repeat-
ing the form of address instead of using either u (which would be regarded as cold,
distant or formal) or jy (which would be regarded as disrespectful). Children often
address their parents, older relatives or teachers in the following way:
y Mamma, kan ek vir mamma iets vra? (Mom, may I ask Mom something?)
y Juffrou, kan ek juffrou help om juffrou se tasse motor toe te dra? (Madam, may I carry
Madam’s luggage to the car?)
y Similar structures are formed with the address forms oom (uncle) and tannie (aunt/
auntie), which are used by Afrikaans-speaking children to address any adult in their community, not only relatives who are their uncles and aunts:
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AFK1505/1
o
Oom, kan oom my dalk sê hoe laat dit is, asseblief? (Uncle, can Uncle please tell
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me the time?)
oDankie tannie, tannie se kos was baie lekker. (Thank you, Aunty, Aunty’s food is
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delicious.)
y Until recently, Afrikaans-speaking adults would often address any other Afrikaans-
speaking adult more than ten years their senior as oom and tannie, even in formal
situations such as in shops or banks. In some rural areas, this custom is still prevalent;
however, in urbanised settings, the use is decreasing and some people take offence
when being addressed as oom or tannie by people they do not know. Nowadays its
use is more confined to close social relationships, for example to the friends of one’s
parents or the parents of one’s friends.
y There is an impersonal pronoun in English as well as in Afrikaans, which can also act
as the subject of a sentence. The word it in English is represented by dit in Afrikaans:
o Dit reën. (It rains.)
o Dit verander. (It changes.)
ACTIVITY 1.3
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Listen to the following sound clip. Then complete the sentences by filling in the missing
personal pronouns. Use the pronouns in the recording that also appear in the list below.
Complete this activity either on paper or online. The online version is available at:
Quiz: LE 1_1.3.
jy, ek, hy, haar, dit, ons, hulle, julle, sy, hom
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQ2rDo6-kGvkyummhLMzmZH6SjvpTwKw/
view?usp=sharing]
Sipho kyk op sy horlosie. Hy loop vinniger. ... is op pad universiteit toe. ... klas
begin nege-uur. Hy is amper daar. Uit die hoek van sy oog sien hy vir Susan.
Susan wag maar altyd vir ... Vandag lyk sy egter boos na al die gewag. Sy beheer
... woede goed. Hulle groet mekaar.
Susan sug en sê: “... het nogal lank vir jou gewag!”
“Jammer dat ... so lank gewag het. ... gaan betyds wees,” sê Sipho.
“... gaan ’n tragedie wees as ons laat is,” sê Susan.
... drafstap klas toe. Die lesing begin. Hulle praat onderlangs met mekaar.
Die dosent sê: “... twee moet nou stilbly!”
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Syntax: The articles
Just like English, Afrikaans has a single definite article (bepaalde lidwoord) and a single
indefinite article (onbepaalde lidwoord).
The indefinite article (’n) is used when you do not refer to something or someone specific,
for example ’n Student skryf eksamen (A student writes exams). The indefinite article is
only used in a singular form.
The definite article (die) refers to something or someone specific, for example Die student
skryf eksamen (The student writes exams). The definite article can be used in both singular
and plural forms.
y Definite article
Definite article (the)
Bepaalde lidwoord (die)
the book
die boek
the assignments
die opdragte
the university
die universiteit
the thought
die gedagte
y Indefinite article
Indefinite article
Onbepaalde lidwoord
an egg
’n eier
a career
’n loopbaan
a lion
’n leeu
an apartment/flat
’n woonstel
y With plural nouns, the indefinite article is just omitted: mense, klere, vanne, beroepe.
This is the same in English: people, clothing, surnames, professions.
y In Afrikaans we often use die where English does not use the:
o Die liedjie gaan oor die liefde. (This song is about love.)
o Die meeste mense hou van sport. (Most people like sport.)
ACTIVITY 1.4
This activity will take approximately five minutes to complete.
Complete the informal quiz Quiz: LE 1_1.4 on the module page.
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AFK1505/1
PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Long and short vowel sounds
Most Afrikaans vowels can be written as a single vowel (a, e, o, u) or as double vowels (aa,
ee, oo, uu). In a syllable ending with a consonant, these single or double vowels represent
different sounds. Listen to the pronunciation of these sounds in following sound clip
while following in the table:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WzEgjPp5i1bjB6VJgETU7xi7EfKaS1B3/view?usp=sharing]
A
E
O
U
man (man)
pen (pen)
rok (dress)
bus (bus)
pad (road)
wen (win)
bos (bush)
rus (rest)
sak (bag)
mes (knife)
kop (head)
fluks (hardworking)
kat (cat)
les (lesson)
hof (court)
brug (bridge)
stad (town)
ses (six)
stok (stick)
lug (air)
Listen to the following sound clip. Try to distinguish between the words pronounced with
a short vowel and the ones that follow with a longer vowel. The English equivalents are
just given to help you extend your vocabulary. Repeat each word after you have heard it:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/11rrXyCvVE6Y9EgIp4Xeeq-AQnLDrl38S/view?usp=sharing]
y mat x maat (carpet x friend)
y les x lees (lesson x to read)
y drom x droom (bin/drum x to dream)
y mus x muur (cap x wall)
ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY
The additional vocabulary addresses the cultural checks and balances we find in Afrikaans.
The following words are only a few examples that illustrate the variety of greeting forms
we in Afrikaans.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jIf9CYHvhzYTOUHLEFvrl-vfDrH2L8Xr/view?usp=sharing]
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Table 1.2: Additional vocabulary for Learning unit 1
Alternative Afrikaans
Standardised
English
goeiemôre
good morning
goeiemiddag
good afternoon
goeienaand
good evening
hallo
hello
sharp, check jou!
totsiens
goodbye/so long
pêl, buddy, bra
vriend, maat
friend
hoezit? hoe lykit? hoe
ganit?
hoe gaan dit?
how are you?
ek laaikit
ek hou daarvan
I like it
ek laaikitie
ek hou niks daarvan
nie
I don’t like it
lanklaas gesien
lanklaas gesien
long time no see
varsity
universiteit
university
shukran/(tarima) kasih/
ta
dankie
thank you
hôkaai!
stop!
stop!
nai
nee
no
dai
daardie
that
aner
ander
another
oek
ook
also
awe (pronounced
aweh)
aita!
haai/hi
(These greetings can
be used at any time of
the day.)
CULTURE CHECK
Afrikaans originated as a result of contact among various speakers of different languages.
When the Dutch arrived in the Cape in 1652, the first traces of Afrikaans began to appear.
The inhabitants of the area (the Khoi-San), slaves from the east and islands in the Pacific
close to Africa, and seafarers and castaways from various language backgrounds started
using Dutch to communicate, which led to the development of the first form of Afrikaans.
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AFK1505/1
A language is never static − it always grows and produces new words and expressions.
Afrikaans came into being because various speakers interacted with one another and
subsequently developed a language that everyone could understand. The language is
still growing through contact with and the influence of other languages. Changes to
Afrikaans can be seen in the different greetings we can use in Afrikaans.
The examples in the Alternative Afrikaans column above are mostly used by speakers
who have been influenced by factors such as geographics, cultural heritage and English.
They are also used by these speakers to self-identify with a specific cultural orientation.
There are various forms of Afrikaans. One such form is Kaaps – a form of Afrikaans spoken
in the Cape Town area. This differently flavoured Afrikaans originated in Muslim schools
and developed over the years into the form that is currently used in the Western Cape.
Read the following cartoon, which depicts an informal conversation between two students,
Jerome and Hannes. You will see how the language alternatives are used when these
two students from different cultural groups engage:
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In the cartoon you can see that Jerome is speaking an alternative form of Afrikaans. Hannes
also uses the alternative form sometimes. In frame 1, Jerome greets using the word Awe,
while Hannes says Hi (Haai). In the conversation that follows, Jerome asks Hannes how
he is keeping (Hoe ganit?). Hannes replies with Dit gaan goed (I’m doing well).
In frame 2, Jerome asks how Hannes’s studies are going and whether he likes his subjects.
You can see or hear that Jerome is speaking Kaaps as he merges certain sounds or parts
of words, omits certain sounds or letters from words and even uses some English slang
(Isit lekke op varsity? = Is it nice at university?). Hannes replies using standard Afrikaans
in this case.
In frame 3, Hannes continues using the standardised form of Afrikaans when he asks
Jerome why he has dropped out. Jerome replies with Nai, ek het nie dai course gelaaik nie.
Die lecturers was boring (No, I didn’t like that course. The lecturers were boring). Certain
words in his reply (nai, dai, gelaaik) are very common in Kaaps.
In frame 4, Jerome remarks that he might enrol for another course, perhaps even Afrikaans.
And asks Hannes what his thoughts were. Hannes replies by using the colloquial bra
(friend) and nice to show comradery. Finally, in frame 5, Jerome thanks Hannes using
an Arabic word (shukran) that has become common in Kaaps. And greets Hannes by
saying check jou (see you). Hannes responds appropriately uttering a non-standardised
reference to friend (pêl) and takes leave of Jerome by saying Dit is ’n plesier (it’s a pleasure)
and totsiens (goodbye).
1.4
SUMMARY
In this learning unit we discussed the basics of Afrikaans pronunciation and considered
the difference between formal and informal speech. We also talked about some personal
pronouns in Afrikaans and discussed the differences between the articles used in Afrikaans.
I am sure you found it interesting to see how these basic Afrikaans words are used and also
what they sound like. Hopefully you also had time to practise using some of these words
and pronouncing them correctly. By now you should feel more comfortable greeting in
Afrikaans and introducing yourself to others in Afrikaans. We will build on these language
skills as we progress with this module. In the next learning unit we address another
important language skill, namely how to count in Afrikaans.
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REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
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SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 1
55
Starter
56
57
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
Activity 1.1
58
Feedback provided on Flip.
59
Activity 1.2
60
No feedback.
61
62
Activity 1.3
63
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
64
OR
Sipho kyk op sy horlosie. Hy loop vinniger. Hy is op pad universiteit toe. Sy klas begin nege-uur.
Hy is amper daar. Uit die hoek van sy oog sien hy vir Susan. Susan wag maar altyd vir hom.
Vandag lyk sy egter boos na al die gewag. Sy beheer haar woede goed. Hulle groet mekaar.
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Susan sug en sê: “Ek het nogal lank vir jou gewag!”
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“Jammer dat jy so lank wag. Ons gaan betyds wees,” sê Sipho.
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“Dit gaan ’n tragedie wees as ons laat is,” sê Susan.
Hulle drafstap klas toe. Die lesing begin. Hulle praat onderlangs met mekaar. Die dosent sê:
“Julle twee moet nou stilbly!”
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Activity 1.4
70
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
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14
Learning unit 2
Time to count
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
2
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Time to count
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately seven
hours to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
9
OVERVIEW
This learning unit includes four categories, namely vocabulary (spelling and pronunciation), listening, reading and grammar. The content includes the following: time, days of
the week, months of the year, seasons of the year, the metric system and distance. The
content is contextualised using the following grammatical constructions: prepositions,
possessive pronouns and sentence constructions where the word order does not start
with the subject of the sentence. In addition, the diphthongs ai/aai, oi/ooi, eeu and oei,
the plurals of words ending on b and d, and derivatives for the plurals of nouns ending
on te and de are studied.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y count and tell the time
y use the days of the week (including indirect speech words referring to various days)
y use the months of the year
y apply the metric systems
y apply distance
y use seasons
y use possessive pronouns
y compose sentences where the word order does not start with the subject of the
sentence
y formulate words with certain diphthongs
y use the plurals of words ending on b and d
y use the derivatives for the plurals of nouns ending on -te and -de
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Figure 2.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 2
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 2_Starter, on the module page. This
quiz focuses on telling the time. You do not need to read the rest of this learning unit to
complete this quiz.
2.1
INTRODUCTION
A very important aspect of any language is the ability to count. Using numbers effectively
is important when exchanging phone numbers, using money, giving dates and so on. The
proper usage of these numerical skills allows the speaker to communicate unambiguously
with Afrikaans speakers in any communication event.
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In the context of this learning unit, counting also includes words for the days of the week,
the different months of the year and the four seasons. With regard to the days of the week,
Afrikaans also has indirect speech words referring to the various days. The learning unit
also covers the metric system, dates and distance.
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The following section provides you with the core vocabulary for this learning unit. Before
we continue, please familiarise yourself with the core vocabulary for this learning unit to
ensure that you understand the Afrikaans words used.
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VOCABULARY
The following is a list of words you need to understand to achieve the specific outcomes of
this learning unit. Also listen to the pronunciation of the words or phrases in the following:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wb_ILywun4KhdnIvz0y9zglDN18-i5xv/view?usp
=sharing]
16
Table 2.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 2
Afrikaans
English
Hoe laat is dit?
What is the time?
Dit is tienuur.
It is ten o’clock.
Dit is kwart oor drie.
It is a quarter past three.
Dit is kwart voor vyf.
It is a quarter to five.
Dit is half-elf.
It is half past ten.
Dae van die week
Days of the week
Sondag
Sunday
Maandag
Monday
Dinsdag
Tuesday
Woensdag
Wednesday
Donderdag
Thursday
Vrydag
Friday
Saterdag
Saturday
die vorige dag, gister
the previous day, yesterday
môre
the following day
volgende week, maand, jaar
the following week, month, year
oor twee, drie dae
in two, three days time
twee dae gelede
the day before yesterday, two
days ago
die dag daarna
the day after
twee dae daarna
the day after tomorrow
Maande van die jaar
Months of the year
Januarie
January
Februarie
February
Maart
March
April
April
Mei
May
Junie
June
Julie
July
Augustus
August
September
September
Oktober
October
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November
November
Desember
December
Seisoene
Seasons
somer
summer
herfs
autumn
winter
winter
lente
spring
Metrieke stelsel
Metric systems
kilogram (kg)
kilogram (kg)
gram (g)
gram (g)
milligram (mg)
milligram (mg)
dosyn (12 eenhede)
dozen (12 units)
uur
hour
minuut
minute
sekonde (s)
second (s)
liter (l)
litre (l)
milliliter (ml)
millitre (ml)
Afstand
Distance
kilometer (km)
kilometre (km)
meter (m)
metre (m)
sentimeter (cm)
centimetre (cm)
millimeter (mm)
milimetre (mm)
2.2 NUMBERS IN AFRIKAANS
Despite knowing the numbers, it is important to pronounce them clearly and properly
to avoid confusion. Regular listening and reading exercises would help you to get to
learn Afrikaans numbers quickly. Listening is vital if you wish to get to grips with any
aspect of a new language.
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Rank numbers are numbers that refer to a position or a comparison between numbers
in the same context, namely first (eerste), second (tweede), last (laaste) and so on. Cardinal
numbers are numbers that refer to the counting system we use, namely one (een), two
(twee), three (drie) and so on. Below rank and cardinal numbers in Afrikaans are given
from 1 to 20. Let’s start this section on numbers by listening how they are pronounced
in Afrikaans.
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80
18
81
Watch the following video and repeat each number after it has been pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S2nL4wI6KPzhX6-R7p3iVtq8rJMnbTGi/view?usp=sharing]
Cardinal
numbers
(hooftelwoorde)
een (one)
twee (two)
drie (three)
vier (four)
vyf (five)
ses (six)
sewe (seven)
agt (eight)
nege (nine)
tien (ten)
Rank numbers (rangtelwoorde)
Cardinal numbers
(hooftelwoorde)
Rank numbers
(rangtelwoorde)
eerste (first)
tweede (second)
derde (third)
vierde (fourth)
vyfde (fifth)
sesde (sixth)
sewende
(seventh)
agste (eighth)
negende (nineth)
tiende (tenth)
elf (eleven)
twaalf (twelve)
dertien (thirteen)
veertien (fourteen)
vyftien (fifteen)
sestien (sixteen)
sewentien (seventeen)
elfde (eleventh)
twaalfde (twelfth)
dertiende (thirteenth)
veertiende (fourteenth)
vyftiende (fifteenth)
sestiende (sixteenth)
sewentiende (seventeenth)
agtien (eighteen)
negentien (nineteen)
twintig (twenty)
agtiende (eighteenth)
negentiende (nineteenth)
twintigste (twentieth)
ACTIVITY 2.1
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Choose the correct word in brackets to complete each sentence. Please attempt to do
this activity without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
2.1.1 Piet is … jaar oud. (agtien/agtiende)
2.1.2 Sipho het … balle. (drie/derde)
2.1.3 Susan het … pen. (een/eerste)
2.1.4 Thabo het … in die bus geklim.(een/eerste)
2.1.5 Lebo is … minute laat. (vyf/vyfde)
2.1.6 Dit is die … keer wat ek die boek lees. (twintig/twintigste)
2.3 TELLING THE TIME
In Afrikaans, time is indicated based on half-hours, as in English. The number of minutes
is indicated after the full hour or before the full hour. When we speak to another person,
we use a 12-hour clock.The following expressions are useful when we refer to the time.
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Listen to the following sound clip while following in the list. Repeat the recording if
necessary.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HlVueXW_AjrnRLuBdjT7zY1kbUeLfLTE/view?usp=sharing]
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Dit is tienuur.
Dit is vyf oor twaalf.
Dit is tien oor drie.
(It is ten o’clock.)
(It is five past twelve.)
(It is ten past three.)
Dit is kwart oor sewe.
Dit is twintig oor twee.
(It is quarter past seven.)
(It is twenty past two.)
Dit is vyf-en-twintig
oor nege.
Dit is halftien.
Dit is twintig voor agt.
Dit is vyf-en-twintig voor elf.
(It is half past nine.)
(It is twenty to eight.)
(It is twenty-five to eleven.)
Dit is kwart voor een.
Dit is tien voor vier.
Dit is vyf voor ses.
(It is quarter to one.)
(It is ten to four.)
(It is five to six.)
20
(It is twenty-five past nine.)
An important difference between Afrikaans and English that may confuse you is how the
half-hour is indicated:
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Afrikaans: halfvier (indicating half an hour to go before
four o’clock)
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15:30
English: half past three (indicating half an hour after three
o’clock)
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In business writing, we recommend using the internationally accepted and standardised
way of writing the time using a 24-hour clock and separating the hours and minutes by a
colon, for example 12:30, 15:50 and 20:23. However, when writing prose, we sometimes
need to write out the time in full:
91
y Ek moet agtuur by die werk wees. (I need to be at work at eight o’clock.)
y Die vliegtuig vertrek halftien. (The aeroplane departs at half past nine.)
y Om kwart voor nege kan jy die winkeldeure oopsluit. (You can unlock the doors of the
shop at a quarter to nine.)
ACTIVITY 2.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Identify the correct time in the following pictures. Please attempt to do this activity
without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
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2.4 DAYS OF THE WEEK
As you may be aware, there are seven days of the week. The Afrikaans names of the days
of the week share some similarities with those used in English. These include the following:
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y Sondag for Sunday
y Saterdag for Saturday
y Vrydag for Friday
y Maandag for Monday
y Woensdag for Wednesday
The other two days, Tuesday and Thursday, have different Afrikaans forms: Tuesday is
Dinsdag and Thursday is Donderdag.
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Days can also be indicated indirectly (without mentioning specific names), for example
when speakers refer to the previous day, week, month or year, or the following day, week,
month or year. Terms for these concepts include die vorige dag, gister of verlede week, verlede
maand or verlede jaar (the previous day, week, month or year) and môre (for the following day) or volgende week, maand or jaar (for the following week, month or year). Other
indirect forms include oor twee of drie dae (in two or three days’ time), die dag daarna (the
day after), die vorige dag (the day before) and twee dae daarna (the day after tomorrow).
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ACTIVITY 2.3
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Fill in the missing words for the sentences below. Please attempt to do this activity without
looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
OR
Complete this activity online to receive immediate feedback. The online version is available at Quiz: LE 2_2.3.
2.3.1 Ek gaan ... my opdrag oplaai. (I’m going to upload my assignment on Monday.)
2.3.2 Susan is ... huis toe. (Susan went home on Saturday.)
2.3.3 Sipho het ... die opdrag gedoen. (Sipho did the assignment the previous day.)
2.3.4 Die studente het ... gestaak. (The students went on strike last week.)
2.3.5 Ek gaan ... die boek lees. (I’m going to read the book tomorrow.)
2.3.6 Ons gaan ... fees vier! (We are going to celebrate on Friday.)
2.3.7 My familie gaan ... kerk toe. (My family goes to church on Sundays.)
2.3.8 Hy het die boek ... gebring. (He brought the book the next day.)
2.5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR
The 12 months of the year are easily recognisable in Afrikaans. The names are closely related to English in their spelling but the pronunciation differs. Listen to the pronunciation
of the months of the year in the following sound clip while following in the list provided:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BYQwiXzBWeK-ndGxzLqOhd8FDl270vnT/view?usp
=sharing]
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Januarie, Februarie, Maart, April, Mei, Junie, Julie, Augustus, September, Oktober,
November, Desember
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ACTIVITY 2.4
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Complete the sentences below by filling in the correct month of the year in Afrikaans.
2.4.1
Ek verjaar in ... (My birthday is in March.)
2.4.2
... is die mooiste maand! (October is the most beautiful month!)
2.4.3
Die eerste semester eindig in ... (The first semester ends in July.)
2.4.4
Mense spandeer baie geld in ... (People spend a lot of money in December.)
2.4.5
Valentynsdag is op die veertiende ... (Valentine’s Day is on the fourteenth of February.)
Now record yourself reading the above sentences out loud and post your recording on Flip.
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Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
2.6 SEASONS OF THE YEAR
The pronunciation of the four seasons of the year in Afrikaans is also very recognisable.
Like the months of the year, the seasons are also similar in spelling to English. One exception is somer (summer), which is often confused with the word sommer (just because, for
no reason) in Afrikaans.
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Listen to the pronunciation of the names of seasons in the following sound clip while
following in the list provided.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/10E59c5a_eJjNJukmBZmjsl7fzQTsk6tg/view?usp=sharing]
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lente, somer, herfs, winter
2.7 THE METRIC SYSTEM
People often talk about the size, weight, speed or length of something using SI units.
South Africans use the conventional metric system. The Afrikaans spelling and pronunciation of these terms are very similar to English. The metric system has some ground forms,
such as kilogram, hour and litre, and these forms have categories. Listen to the following
sound clip to learn how the words in the table are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OyS_jFQSpt4erzwL0mv0DRaw2o_cRDxN/view?usp
=sharing]
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kiloliter (kilolitre)
liter (litre)
milliliter (millilitre)
uur (hour)
minuut (minute)
sekonde (second)
kilogram
gram
milligram
2.8 DISTANCE
Distance is another concept that we often talk about. The Afrikaans spelling and pronunciation of words indicating distance also look and sound similar to their English equivalents.
As you can see in the list below, distance also has a ground form with different categories.
Listen to the following sound clip to learn how the words in the table are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vB8Iw0JpFKJ85X_ji7RWGQ43E13l20x1/view?usp=sharing]
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Afrikaans
English
kilometer (km)
kilometre (km)
meter (m)
metre (m)
sentimeter (cm)
centimetre (cm)
millimeter (mm)
milimetre (mm)
ACTIVITY 2.5
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Have a look at the images below. Now construct three Afrikaans sentences using the
partial sentences provided and the information in sections 2.6 and 2.7 above.
Write at least one sentence about each image. Type your answers in Forum 1_LE2 for
feedback.
Source: Pixaby.com
Die bus weeg … (The bus weighs …)
Die bus ry teen … per uur. (The bus is driving at … per hour.)
Source: Pixaby.com
My vriend(in) is … lank. (My friend is … tall.)
My vriend(in) drink … water op ’n dag. (My friend drinks … water per day.)
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Source: Pixaby.com
Jy gebruik … meel om koek te bak. (You use … of flour to bake a cake.)
’n Koek neem … om te bak. (A cake takes … to bake.)
GRAMMAR
In this section we focus on three subsections:
y prepositions (voorsetsels)
y possessive pronouns (besitlike voornaamwoorde)
y sentence constructions where the word order (woordorde) does not start with the
subject
Syntax: Prepositions
Prepositions are words that express the relationships between words. Sometimes the
relationship refers to a physical or spatial relationship (e.g. where something is or where
it is moving to in relation to something else):
y The child is inside the house, on the road, at school, outside the play area.
y The cellar is under the house; the roof is on top of the house.
y I receive a letter from my mother; I write a letter to my father
Sometimes the relationship is more abstract:
y One must provide for one’s children.
y He is married to a successful business woman.
y I do not have to put up with your complaints.
Afrikaans has similar prepositions (called voorsetsels) that are used for similar functions
as in English. The following are some of the most common prepositions in Afrikaans:
by, op, aan, met, onder, uit, in, sonder, van, na, bo, binne, oor, teen
We can loosely translate prepositions from English to Afrikaans as follows:
English
inside
in
on
Afrikaans
binne
in
op
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near, next to
without
at, near, with
with
from
to
under, underneath
out
over
against
aan
sonder
by
met
van
na, tot
onder
uit
oor
teen
Note that directly translating a preposition usually only works well when it refers to
physical or spatial relationships; the direct translation of prepositions that form part of
abstract concepts or idiomatic expressions is less successful. It is a mistake to think that an
English sentence with a preposition can be translated directly into Afrikaans. Afrikaans uses
prepositions idiomatically in a different way than English. Look at the following examples:
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Afrikaans
English
Incorrect use
Hy is getroud met ’n vrou
He is married to a woman
*Hy is getroud tot ’n vrou
met ander woorde
in other words
*in ander woorde
vermenigvuldig met drie
multiply by three
*vermenigvuldig deur drie
tussen hakies
in brackets
*in hakies
ly aan ’n siekte
… suffer from a disease
*… ly van ’n siekte
na my mening
in my opinion
*in my mening
die kind op die foto
the child in the photo
*die kind in die foto
aan die begin …
in the beginning …
*in die begin …
om daardie rede
for that reason
*vir daardie rede
NOTE: The asterisks above indicate that the constructions are not grammatically
correct.
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Prepositions are among the most idiomatic parts of speech and they often have multiple meanings. They are thus regarded as difficult to master in any foreign language.
Dictionaries often supply the correct preposition to use with the main word. You need
to read and listen to Afrikaans often to develop a feeling for Afrikaans prepositions. Try
to identify differences in the use of prepositions in English and Afrikaans whenever you
hear or read Afrikaans.
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ACTIVITY 2.6
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Complete the sentences below by filling in the missing preposition. Refer to a dictionary
or follow this link if you need help. Use the following prepositions:
In, om, oor, met, op, na, voor, af
2.6.1 Die winkelier vra … verskoning omdat hy nie die produk het nie.
2.6.2 Die studente moet inligting … voorsetsels versamel.
2.6.3 President Ramaphosa was gisteraand … televisie.
2.6.4 Ek gaan … die winkel om brood te koop.
2.6.5 Vee jou mond … … die servet.
2.6.6 Jy moet … jou studie fokus.
2.6.7 Die bus vertrek … kwart … twaalf.
2.6.8 Die siek vrou het … die straat inmekaargesak.
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Morphology: Possessive pronouns
A possessive pronoun does what its name indicates: it indicates possession (i.e. to whom
something belongs):
113
y Ek het my verslag al geskryf, maar Karin het haar verslag nog nie voltooi nie.
(I have already written my report, but Karin has not completed her report yet.)
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y Ek wonder of Pieter sy verslag ingelewer het.
(I wonder if Pieter has submitted his report.)
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y Julle weet dat julle verslae almal môre klaar moet wees.
(You know that your reports must be done by tomorrow.)
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There is a possessive pronoun that goes with every personal pronoun. In Learning unit
1 you have learned about Afrikaans personal pronouns (subject form as well as object
form). You can now add the possessive pronouns to this list. In Afrikaans, the personal
and possessive pronouns look very similar and is often exactly the same, which is why
we include both personal and possessive pronouns in the following table:
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Personal pronoun
Personal pronoun
(subject)
Possessive pronoun
(object)
Singular forms
(Enkelvoudsvorme)
ek
my
my
Ek skakel die sekretaresse.
jy
Die sekretaresse skakel my.
jou
Dit is my boek.
jou
Jy vra om verskoning
Pieter vra jou om verskoning. Dit is jou boek.
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u
u
u
U mag nie binne rook nie.
hy
Ek vra u om nie te rook nie.
hom
Dit is u boek.
sy
Hy is die voorsitter.
sy
Ons kies hom as voorsitter.
haar
Dit is sy boek.
haar
Sy reël die vergadering
Jy moet haar skakel.
Plural forms
Dit is haar boek
ons
ons
ons
Ons stem nie saam nie.
julle
Hulle waarsku ons.
julle
Dit is ons erfenis.
julle/jul
Julle het ’n ander mening.
hulle
Ons sal julle verskoon.
hulle
Dit is julle/jul erfenis.
hulle/hul
Hulle is verkeerd.
Die voorsitter verwag hulle.
Dit is hulle/hul erfenis.
(Meervoudsvorme)
y Have you noticed that you do not have to spend a lot of time studying the plural forms?
y
y
y
The three forms (the personal pronoun [subject and object form] and the possessive
pronoun) is exactly the same: ons, julle and hulle.
Also, note that the possessive pronoun in the singular form preceeds the noun to
create the possessive relationship.
In the singular, all forms of the possessive pronoun but one are the same as the object
form of the personal pronoun: my – my, jou – jou, u – u, haar – haar.
The exception in the singular are the forms associated with the masculine form hy,
where three different forms are found:
o hy (subject form, personal pronoun)
o hom (object form, personal pronoun)
o sy (possessive pronoun)
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119
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ACTIVITY 2.7
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Listen to the sound clip below and them complete the passage by filling in the missing
words.
You may complete this activity on paper or online at Quiz: LE 2_2.7.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1par6kP4YwgtDe1vdcQxvTmzsjP0r_HDw/view?usp
=sharing]
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Ek wil graag … familie beskryf. My broer George is ouer as … Hy woon oorsee, dus sien ek
… nie baie nie. … vrou se naam is Marinda en ek hou baie van … George en Marinda het
twee kinders, maar … kinders kan nie baie goed Afrikaans praat nie. My ouers is afgetree
en … woon in ’n aftreeoord. Ek gaan kuier elke week vir … , want ek woon die naaste aan
… dorp. My suster is nie getroud nie; … woon in Kaapstad en … twee hou dikwels saam
vakansie. Sy is lief vir diere en … honde en katte hou haar geselskap.
Syntax: Sentence construction where word order does not start with the subject
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Both English and Afrikaans have different types of sentences: statements,
questions, commands, wishes, etc. These types are formed using different word orders.
The normal word order of a standard sentence in both English and Afrikaans is subject
first, followed by the verb (subject–verb or SV order):
123
English:
Jonathan (subject) asks (verb) a question.
Afrikaans:
Jonathan (onderwerp) stel (werkwoord) ’n vraag.
124
125
In Afrikaans it is usually quite simple to form an interrogative sentence (question). Here
we will focus on how an interrogative sentence is formed by inversion. Let me explain:
126
If you want to form a question from these simple sentences, you have more than one
choice in English:
127
(1)
You can put a so-called tag at the end of the sentence.
(2)
You use an extra (auxiliary) verb (to do) to form the question.
128
129
Examples:
130
131
Tag: Jonathan asks a question, doesn’t he?
132
Auxiliary verb: Does Jonathan ask a question?
(3)
You can also use an interrogative pronoun (a wh-pronoun) to form another kind
of question:
133
134
135
Example:
Why does Jonathan ask a question?
Have you noticed that in all the English sentences the order of the words Jonathan and
ask(s) remains the same, namely SV order: subject first, then the main verb?
136
In Afrikaans we form an interrogative sentence by changing around (or inverting) the
word order of the (first) verb and the subject, resulting in a verb–subject or VS order. A
first step to transform a simple sentence (SV order) into a question, is to find the verb (the
action or time word). It is normally the word after the noun clause (the doers):
137
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138
Examples:
y Jonathan stel ’n vraag.
y Stel Jonathan ’n vraag?
y Die bure verhuis volgende week.
y Verhuis die bure volgende week?
y Hulle hou baie van koffie.
y Hou hulle baie van koffie?
Even if you use an interrogative pronoun, this inverted order (VS) persists in Afrikaans:
139
y Hoekom stel Jonathan ’n vraag?
y Wanneer verhuis die bure?
Forming a question is therefore a simple matter in Afrikaans: you just invert the word
order and place the only or first verb of the sentence before the subject.
140
ACTIVITY 2.8
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Change the following sentences to interrogative sentences in Afrikaans by moving the
verb to the beginning of the sentence.
Example: Terrence sing ’n lied.
Answer: Sing Terrence ’n lied?
2.8.1 Juanita speel klavier en viool.
2.8.2 Die Proteas vertrek vandag na Sri Lanka.
2.8.3 Jou ma is ’n onderwyseres.
2.8.4 Julle oupa en ouma leef nog.
2.8.5 Die prys van petrol styg vandag.
In English, the tendency is to retain the SV order as far as possible. When another word
or words are placed at the beginning of the sentence, the word order does not change:
141
y Marinda and Karin go to see a film.
y Tonight Marinda and Karin go to see a film.
y I raise at six o’clock
y Every morning I raise at six o’clock.
Do you see that in spite of the adverb or adverbial clause placed at the beginning of the
sentence, the basic order of verb and subject remains the same in English?
142
In Afrikaans, however, this is not the case. In simple sentences in Afrikaans, you will find
the SV order, but as soon as some other information is placed at the beginning of the
sentence, the word order changes to VS. It does not matter whether this extra information is a single word, a phrase or a full clause, the word order always changes.
143
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y Marinda en Karin gaan fliek. (SV order)
y Vanaand gaan Karin en Marinda fliek. (VS order)
y Ek staan sesuur op. (SV order)
y Elke oggend staan ek sesuur op. (VS order)
y As dit nie naweek is nie, staan ek sesuur op. (VS order)
ACTIVITY 2.9
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Put the following scrambled words in the correct order to form grammatical Afrikaans
sentences. Start with the words that has a capital letter. Please attempt to do this activity
without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
2.9.1 laat – vliegtuig – vertrek – Hoe – jou?
2.9.2 winter – ’n – ons – onder – In – donskombers – slaap – die.
2.9.3 Wanneer – inlewer – die – jy – gaan – verslag?
2.9.4 kollega – Ek – laai – my – elke – op – dag.
2.9.5 aan – sekretaresse – ’n – almal – moet – Die – uitnodiging – stuur.
PRONUNCIATION
This section covers the pronunciation and spelling of the diphthongs ai/aai, oi/ooi, eeu
and oei, plurals of words ending on -b and -d, and derivatives for the plurals of nouns
ending on -te and -de.
Phonetics and phonology: Diphthongs (ai/aai, oi/ooi, eeu and oei)
144
You have learned about vowels (short and long) in the previous learning unit. There are
also various diphthongs in Afrikaans. Some are short and others are longer. In this learning
unit we focus on the longer diphthongs that each represents a specific pronunciation.
146
Remember that the term diphthong can be translated into Afrikaans as either diftong or
tweeklank. The second translation literally means two sounds, which is exactly what a
diphthong is: it is a sound that moves from one vowel sound to another.
147
Listen to the Afrikaans pronunciation of diphthongs in the following sound clip while
following in the table:
148
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CzV0GPG458T5sO2i0j-IEiBuW8MkueUp/view?usp
=sharing]
149
ai
aai
oi
ooi
eeu
oei
baie
saai
Khoi
mooi
Eeu
koei
kaiing
raaisel
toiing
rooi
leeu
roei
aitsa
braai
toi-toi
nooi
meeu
loei
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150
Plurals of words ending on -b and -d
When forming the plurals of a nouns in Afrikaans (and sometimes also when forming
derivative words), the pronunciation of the consonants sometimes changes unexpectedly:
151
hande (with a d pronunciation)
hand (with a t pronuncation)
152
153
ribbes (with a b pronunciation)
rib (with a p pronuncation)
154
155
This difference occurs because Afrikaans voiced consonants become voiceless when they
appear at the end of a word. This is not the case in English. Do you agree that in English
there is a clear distinction between the final consonants in had (voiced) and hat (voiceless)?
Similarly, the words clout and cloud are pronounced differently in English.
156
In English, a voiced consonant remains voiced even when it occurs at the end of a word.
In Afrikaans this is not the case. Let’s illustrate this by comparing the words hande and
kante in this regard. In the plural form, as given here, you can distinguish a clear voiced d
in hande, while kante has a clear voiceless t. Thus, in the plural form, the consonant sounds
are clearly different. However, in the singular form the d in hand becomes voiceless and
is pronounced as a t. There is no difference in the pronunciation of the final consonant in
hand and kant, although the underlying difference is represented in the different spellings
of the final consonant. The same rule applies to the final consonant in rib: the voiced b
becomes a voiceless p because of its position at the end of a word. However, in the plural
ribbes we hear the voiced b again. This difference in pronunciation is not represented in
the spelling: the spelling remains b in the singular form.
157
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sj_uOwss2leM4JAHh4h_zDtBkFNFcdQn/view?usp
=sharing]
158
However, when forming plurals from basic words, it is sometimes necessary to double a
letter in the spelling to indicate the correct length of the preceding vowel. The following
examples illustrate this:
159
Singular
bom
Plural
bomme
(short vowel; syllable ends on consonant – (double m to indicate a short vowel; first
closed syllable)
syllable ends on consonant)
boom
bome
(long vowel; syllable ends on consonant)
(single m to indicate long vowel; both syllables end on vowel – open syllables)
Thus, words starting out with a long vowel (indicated by double vowel letters) in the
basic form of the word, followed by a single consonant letter, often change to a single
vowel letter in derived words:
160
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wzkRhia-N_tpE18P07m8dpDLtJfCsZ20/
view?usp=sharing]
161
a – aa
e – ee
straat
strate
been
slaap
slaperig
maak
maker
bene
o – oo
u – uu
loop
lopend
uur
ure
parkeer parkering
koor
kore
stuur
sturing
steel
boos
bose
immuun immuniteit
stelery
The opposite process is shown in the spelling of consonants: words starting out with a
short vowel a, e, i, o or u (indicated by a single vowel letter) in the basic form of the word
often double the consonant letter after the short vowel to indicate that the vowel is
pronounced as a short vowel. Let’s look at a few examples of words ending on -b and -d:
162
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bXm1_FgKgZPJQhkXdzOCiUsHRxXHPuSw/view?usp
=sharing]
163
rib
rob
skub
b – bb
ribbes
robbe
skubbe
bed
bad
bid
d – dd
beddens
baddens
biddery
Derivatives for the plurals of nouns ending on -te and -de
164
Some nouns in Afrikaans form a plural with an unexpected -t or -d before the plural -e.
This is a remnant of an earlier version of the word that originally ended on a -t or -d in
the singular. Afrikaans has lost this consonant at the end of the singular form; however,
in the plural form it reappears:
165
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RBlgamUQo80HEjS1Hi5XWAQjiHErLL-F/view?usp
=sharing]
166
Singular
Plural
English
kas
kaste
cupboard
kus
kuste
coast
mas
maste
mast of a boat
hoof
hoofde
head
amp
ampte
position, office
lig
ligte
light
resep
resepte
recipe
34
2.9
SUMMARY
This learning unit focused on vocabulary related to counting, telling the time, days of the
week, months of the year, seasons, the metric system and distance. You will use many
of these words when communicating in Afrikaans in day-to-day life. Although some
vocabulary (like the metric system) might not seem that useful right now, all the terms
you have learned in this learning unit are important. The pronunciation section explained
how we pronounce diphthongs in Afrikaans and also considered the pronunciation of
certain plural forms. Sometimes the pronunciation of Afrikaans words is tricky. That is why
it is important to listen to the sound clips until you are familiar with the sounds. It is also
important to pronounce these sounds – repeat the sounds as many times as necessary
to perfect your pronunciation. In the grammar section we looked at prepositions and
possessive pronouns. We also considered the structure of Afrikaans sentences that do not
start with a subject. Make sure you that you have completed all the activities in Learning
unit 2 to test whether you have achieved the stated outcomes.
167
REFERENCE LIST
Caywood, H. 2006. Afrikaans … geniet dit! Westville: Trumpeter.
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1505. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
SELF-EVALUATION
168
169
170
171
Answers to activities in Learning unit 2
Starter
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
Activity 2.1
2.1.1
Piet is agtien jaar oud.
2.1.2
Sipho het drie balle.
172
173
174
2.1.3 Susan het een pen.
175
176
2.1.4 Thabo het eerste in die bus geklim.
2.1.5 Lebo is vyf minute laat.
177
2.1.6 Dit is die twintigste keer wat ek die boek lees.
178
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Activity 2.2
179
180
181
Activity 2.3
2.3.1
182
Ek gaan Maandag my opdrag oplaai.
2.3.2 Susan is Saterdag huistoe.
183
2.3.3 Sipho het die vorige dag die opdrag gedoen.
184
2.3.4 Die studente het verlede week gestaak.
185
2.3.5 Ek gaan môre die boek lees.
186
2.3.6 Ons gaan Vrydag feesvier!
187
2.3.7
188
My familie gaan Sondae kerk toe.
2.3.8 Hy het die boek die dag daarna gebring.
189
Activity 2.4
190
2.4.1
191
Ek verjaar in Maart.
2.4.2 Oktober is die mooiste maand!
192
2.4.3 Die eerste semester eindig in Julie.
193
2.4.4
194
Mense spandeer baie geld in Desember.
2.4.5 Valentynsdag is op die veertiende Februarie.
195
196
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197
Activity 2.5
198
Feedback on this activity will be provided on the relevant forum.
199
Activity 2.6
200
201
Die winkelier vra om verskoning omdat hy nie die produk het nie.
2.6.2 Die studente moet inligting oor voorsetsels versamel.
202
2.6.3 President Ramaphosa was gisteraand op televisie.
203
2.6.4
204
205
207
Ek gaan na die winkel om brood te koop.
2.6.5 Vee jou mond af met die servet.
2.6.6 Jy moet op jou studie fokus.
206
2.6.7
Die bus vertrek om kwart voor twaalf.
2.6.8 Die siek vrou het in die straat inmekaargesak.
208
209
210
2.6.1
Activity 2.7
Feedback is provided in the relevant quiz.
OR
Ek wil graag my familie beskryf. My broer George is ouer as ek. Hy woon oorsee, dus sien ek
hom nie baie nie. Sy vrou se naam is Marinda, en ek hou baie van haar. George en Marinda het
twee kinders, maar hulle kinders kan nie baie goed Afrikaans praat nie. My ouers is afgetree
en hulle woon in ’n aftreeoord. Ek gaan kuier elke week vir hulle, want ek woon die naaste aan
hulle dorp. My suster is nie getroud nie; sy woon in Kaapstad en ons twee hou dikwels saam
vakansie. Sy is lief vir diere en haar honde en katte hou haar geselskap.
211
Activity 2.8
212
213
2.8.1
214
215
2.8.2 Vertrek die Proteas vandag na Sri-Lanka?
2.8.3 Is jou ma is ’n onderwyseres?
216
217
Speel Juanita klavier en viool?
2.8.4 Leef julle oupa en ouma nog?
2.8.5 Styg die prys van petrol vandag?
218
219
Activity 2.9
2.9.1
laat – vliegtuig – vertrek – Hoe – jou?
Hoe laat vertrek jou vliegtuig?
220
2.9.2
221
winter – ’n – ons – onder – In – donskombers – slaap – die.
In die winter slaap ons onder ’n donskombers.
222
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2.9.3
223
Wanneer – inlewer – die – jy – gaan – verslag?
Wanneer gaan jy die verslag inlewer?
224
2.9.4
225
kollega – Ek – laai – my – elke – op – dag.
Ek laai my kollega elke dag op.
226
227
2.9.5
228
aan – sekretaresse – ’n – almal – moet – Die – uitnodiging – stuur.
Die sekretaresse moet ’n uitnogdiging aan almal stuur.
38
Learning unit 3
Shopping
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
3
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Shopping
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately six hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
8
OVERVIEW
This learning unit are divided into four categories, namely vocabulary (spelling and pronunciation), listening, reading and grammar, and focuses on shopping for groceries and
clothes. Its content includes the following: asking about items in the store; asking about
payment options; and asking for help to find certain items in the store. The content is
contextualised using the grammatical construction of interrogative sentences formed
by inversion. In addition, the vowels i, ie, ê and schwa [ә], the diphthong y or ei and the
pronunciation of j are studied.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y ask about items in the store
y ask about payment options
y ask how to find certain items in the shop
y compose interrogative sentences using inversion
y formulate and pronounce words with certain vowels
y formulate and pronounce words with certain diphthongs
y pronounce the letter j properly
39
AFK1505/1
229
230
Figure 3.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 3
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Follow this link [https://www.baamboozle.com/game/1135899] to play a game to test
your knowledge of Afrikaans words about shopping.
Watch the video uploaded to this learning unit on your module site which explains how
to play the game.
3.1
INTRODUCTION
Finding your way around in a store and deciding what to purchase can be daunting when
you have to speak Afrikaans. In this learning unit we focus on encounters you may have
with Afrikaans speakers when you are shopping for groceries and clothing.
231
As in the previous learning units, we use various techniques to teach you how to ask for
various items in the store, asking for different payment options, and directions to certain
items in the store in Afrikaans. The relevant core vocabulary (table 3.1) forms the basis to
acquire these skills.
232
VOCABULARY
The following list covers the relevant core vocabulary you can use to achieve the specific
outcomes of this learning unit. Please watch the following video to hear how the words
in the table are pronounce:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fusv7P74dj_V69JiphdAYXO_Mxs4CfSx/view?usp
=sharing]
233
40
Table 3.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 3
Afrikaans
English
inkopies
shopping
winkel
(convenience) store, shop
winkelsentrum
shopping centre
kassiere
cashier
ry
aisle
rakke
shelves
koop
(to) buy
goed, goeters
stuff, goods
kruideniersware
groceries
kontant
cash
op krediet, skuld
on credit
(op) uitverkoping, te koop
on sale
klerewinkel
clothing store, shop
kledingstuk
clothing item; a piece of clothing
broek
pants, trousers
langbroek
trousers
kortbroek
shorts
hemp
shirt
rok
dress
serp
scarf
romp
skirt
baadjie
jacket
das
tie
jas
coat
trui
jersey, sweater
t-hemp
t-shirt
skoene
shoes
sokkies
socks
hoed
hat
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AFK1505/1
bloes
blouse
bêrekoop
lay-buy
geskenk
gift, present
geskenkbewys
gift card
blikkie
tin
brood
bread
suiker
sugar
koffie
coffee
tee
tea
melk
milk
botter
butter
groente
vegetables
vrugte
fruit
winkelier
shop, storekeeper
verkoopsdame (in klerewinkel)
saleslady (in clothing store)
winkelassistent (in winkel)
shop, store assistant (in a convenience
store)
kryt
crayon
papier
paper
skêr
scissors
liniaal
ruler
vleis
meat
wors
sausage
vis
fish
slaghuis
butchery
slagter
butcher
rolletjies
rolls
konfyt
jam
grondboontjiebotter
peanut butter
42
ACTIVITY 3.1
This activity will take approximately 35 minutes to complete.
Read the vocabulary in table 3.1 again and then complete the following crossword puzzle
with the help of the clues provided. A PDF version of the crossword puzzle can be downloaded in the section for Learning unit 3 on the module site.
Across
5.
The person who sells meat
6.
The person who manages a convenience store
10. The garment people wear around their waist that covers their legs
11. Items you purchase at a store
12. The place where you buy everyday items, like bread or milk
14. The place where you buy meat
16. A shirt-like item often worn with formal attire
17. A fashionable piece of fabric normally worn around the neck
19. A sweet spread you would put on bread
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AFK1505/1
20. A piece of clothing
22. The spot where clothes are displayed in a store
23. An overcoat
24. The place where you buy clothes
Down
1.
An item you buy at a butchery
2.
A female who assists you in a clothing store
3.
A voucher with which you can buy something
4.
Something you use to colour in images
5.
Material worn to cover your feet when you wear shoes
7.
A way to pay for the items you are purchasing
8.
The obvious activity you do when you go to the shopping centre
9.
A place where you find a collection of stores
13. Cooked perishable foods, like vegetables, are preserved and sold in it
15. A piece of clothing that is usually knitted
18.A passageway in a store where you find shelves (Note that an English word is required
here.)
21. A tool you can use to draw lines
25. A clothing item that is shorter than a dress
3.2 ASKING ABOUT ITEMS IN THE STORE
If we need information about items in a store, we must know the name of the item and
also how to apply interrogative pronouns and verbs in the first position. When we are
ask about tangible items, we normally use the pronouns wat, watter and/or wanneer in
addition to verbs in the initial position. See the following examples:
234
y Het julle dalk die nuwe Louis Vuitton-handsak? (Do you perhaps have the new Louis
Vuitton handbag?)
y Watter skoene pas die beste by my rok? (Which shoes best match my dress?)
y Wat is die grootte van hierdie aandrok? (What is the size of this evening dress?)
y Wanneer kan ek my bêrekoop kom haal? (When can I fetch my lay-buy?)
All the question sentences above make use of interrogative pronouns. These are a type
of pronoun (or question word) added to the beginning of question sentences in Afrikaans. You will also see these in sections 3.3 and 3.4, where we discuss different aspects
of shopping at a store. Although we mention using a verb at the beginning of questions
(see section 3.3), we will only discuss this in detail when we talk about inversion again in
the grammar section.
235
44
ACTIVITY 3.2
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Write down a suitable question for each of the following answers. Use a dictionary (hardcopy or online) if you need to.
3.2.1 Die grootte van die baadjie is medium.
3.2.2 Die kleur van die serp is ligblou.
3.2.3 Ja, ons verkoop boerewors.
3.2.4 Die nuwe rokke kom volgende week.
3.2.5 Daardie hemp sal beter by dié broek pas.
3.3 ASKING ABOUT PAYMENT OPTIONS
To develop your ability to ask for information about payment options in any store, you first
need to know how customers normally pay, and then how to use interrogative pronouns
and verbs in the first position 9 (you can also read about this in Learning unit 2).
236
There are two main ways of paying for items, namely in cash or electronically. The
first option means that you pay with cash (kontant), while the second option includes
paymebnt with a debit card (debietkaart) or on credit (op krediet/skuld) with a credit card
(kredietkaart). When you enquire about payment options, you will probably use words
such as hoe, hoeveel, watter and wanneer. Of course you could also start the question with
a verb. See the following examples:
237
238
239
o Hoe moet ek (vir die kledingstukke) betaal? (How must I pay [for the clothes]?)
o Kan ek met my kredietkaart betaal? (Can I pay with my credit card?)
o Wanneer moet die rekening betaal word? (When must the account be paid?)
240
ACTIVITY 3.3
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Write down a suitable question for each of the following answers. Use your dictionary
to support you, if needed.
3.3.1 Nee, ons aanvaar nie kredietkaarte nie.
3.3.2 Ons het kontant en elektroniese betaalopsies.
3.3.3 Die paaiement per maand is R150.
3.3.4 Daardie kassiere aanvaar geskenkbewyse.
3.3.5 Die uitstaande bedrag moet teen die einde van die maand betaal word.
45
AFK1505/1
3.4
ASKING ABOUT DIRECTIONS TO CERTAIN ITEMS IN THE
STORE
Interrogative pronouns and verbs in the initial position can also be used to ask questions
about the location of items in a shop. The following pronouns are used most often: waar,
wat, watter, hoe and waarom.
241
242
o Waar is die winkelassistent wat in hierdie afdeling werk?
o Wat is die kortste pad na die skoenafdeling?
243
244
245
o In watter ry is die slaapklere?
o Hoe kom ek by die kleedkamers uit?
o Waarom het die verkoopsdame my in die verkeerde rigting gestuur?
246
ACTIVITY 3.4
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Write down a suitable question for each of the following answers. Use your dictionary
to support you, if needed.
3.4.1 Ons verskuif ou produkte om nuwe produkte te bemark.
3.4.2 Die blikkieskos is so twintig meter van hier af.
3.4.3 Die lekkernye is in die volgende gang.
3.4.4 Ek gaan die skandeerder gebruik om die prys vas te stel.
3.4.5 Die langbroeke is op die boonste rak.
GRAMMAR
Syntax: Interrogative sentences formed by inversion
As you can see from the examples above, forming an interrogative sentence in Afrikaans
is usually quite simple. Whereas English has various ways of forming a question, Afrikaans
has mainly two. We have already explained how question words are used. Next we discuss
forming an interrogative sentence through inversion. Inversion of what, you might ask.
Let me explain:
The normal word order of a standard sentence in both English and Afrikaans is to place the
subject of the sentence (the doer) first, followed by the verb (Subject–Verb or SV order):
English:
Jonathan (subject) asks (verb) a question.
Afrikaans:
Jonathan (onderwerp) stel (werkwoord) ’n vraag.
If you want to form a question from these simple sentences, you have two choices in
English: you either put a so-called tag at the end of the sentence, or you put in an extra
(auxiliary) verb (to do) to form the question; thus:
46
y Tag: Jonathan asks a question, doesn’t he?
y Auxiliary verb: Does Jonathan ask a question?
You can also use an interrogative pronoun (a wh-pronoun) to form another kind of question:
y Why does Jonathan ask a question?
Have you noticed that in all the English sentences the word order of the words Jonathan
and ask(s) remains the same, namely subject first, then the main verb (SV order)? In Afrikaans you form an interrogative sentence by shifting (or inverting) the word order of the
(first) verb and the subject, resulting in verb–subject (VS) order:
y Jonathan koop ’n das.
y Koop Jonathan ’n das?
y Die bure braai vandag.
y Braai die bure vandag?
y Hulle hou baie van koffie.
y Hou hulle baie van koffie?
Even if you use an interrogative pronoun, this inverted order (VS) persists in Afrikaans:
y Hoekom koop Jonathan ’n das?
y Wanneer braai die bure?
Forming a question is therefore a simple matter in Afrikaans: you just invert the word
order and place the only or first verb of the sentence before the subject.
ACTIVITY 3.5
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Change the following sentences to interrogative sentences in Afrikaans:
Example: Lerato kleur die prent in. (kleur)
Answer: Kleur Lerato die prent in?
3.5.1 Sipho betaal kontant vir sy kledingstukke. (betaal)
3.5.2 Die melk is goedkoop. (is)
3.5.3 Jou ma doen gereeld inkopies. (doen)
3.5.4 Piet dra sy kortbroek in die somer. (dra)
3.5.5 Ons gaan môre vleis braai. (gaan)
In sections 3.2 to 3.4 you have practised using interrogative pronouns to form sentences.
Here we list them again. Listen to the pronunciation of the Afrikaans pronouns in the
attached sound clip.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IJQ26zIGm35aW2XBlk0thb4N3TEIOAuh/view?usp
=sharing]
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Afrikaans
English
Wat?
What?
Watter?
Which?
Wie?
Who/Whom
Wie se?
Whose?
Wanneer?
When?
Waarom?
Why?
Waar?
Where?
Hoe?
How?
These pronouns are normally positioned at the beginning of a sentence to form a question. Consider the following examples:
249
y Wat is die prys van hierdie hemp? (What is the price of this shirt?)
y Wie is die bestuurder van die winkel? (Who is the store manager?)
y Hoe kan ek vir die rok betaal? (How can I pay for the dress?)
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These pronouns are sometimes preceded by a preposition. See the following sentence:
y Aan wie stuur ek my klagte? (To whom do I send my complaint?)
PRONUNCIATION
This section covers the pronunciation and spelling of the vowels i or ie, ê or schwa [ә], the
diphthongs y or ei, and the pronunciation of the letter j.
Before you continue, read through the document on phonetics we have made available
and the PowerPoint presentation with the pronunciation of each letter. You will find these
documents in the Learning unit 3 section on your module site.
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Phonetics and phonology: Vowels (i/ie, ê/schwa [ә])
You have learned about short and long vowels in the previous learning units. In this section we focus on the spelling and pronunciation of two more vowel sounds.
The sound [i] (like the letter e in the English me, he, she) can be written in Afrikaans as
either i or ie. The pronunciation is the same. However, the letter i is sometimes also used
for another sound: [ə], as in the letter e in the English the.
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48
Listen to the pronunciation of the Afrikaans words in the following sound clip and repeat
the words to get used to their sound. The English words have just been added to extend
your vocabulary.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/12VsI7vMn_tCKmeoQwSkUyCYqSzjlEUk7/view?usp
=sharing]
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vis (fish)
mite (myth)
sien (see)
is (is)
histories (historical)
iets (something)
masjinerie (machinery)
klink (sounds)
kies (choose)
ACTIVITY 3.6
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
The word pairs below appear similar, but their spelling, sound and meanings differ. Listen
to the following sound clip and underline the word from each pair that is pronounced
in the sound clip provided to you. The English words have just been added to extend
your vocabulary.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G5EJM9hdH_6L6_pu4L9DeJUpg9Ox0NhK/view?usp
=sharing]
vis vies (fish, angry)
kies kis (to choose, chest/container)
lig lieg (light/not heavy, to lie/not speaking the truth)
lied lid (song, member)
bid bied (to pray, to offer)
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Phonetics and phonology: Diphthongs y/ei
You have probably already noticed that the same vowel sound in English is sometimes
represented in writing by different spellings. Although the vowels in some words sound
the same, they are spelled differently. Examples of this are:
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y I am buying meat for the braai. (vowel represented by -ea-)
y I will meet him this afternoon. (vowel represented by -ee-)
y I have received the parcel. (vowel represented by -ei-)
y He grieved about the loss of his brother. (vowel represented by -ie-)
Although Afrikaans spelling in general represents the sounds of vowels much more
clearly than English spelling does, Afrikaans sometimes displays the same phenomenon
as described above. One example of this is the spelling of the sound [əi] (as in the English
may) with either ei or y. The pronunciation is the same, but the meanings differ. Note the
homophones in the following table:
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Afrikaans
English
rys, reis
rice, (to) travel
weier, wyer
(to) refuse, wider
pyl, peil
arrow, level
Mei, my
May, me
These spellings do not always appear in pairs as in the examples above. Common words
spelt with ei without a corresponding form with y are the following:
260
eier, klein, plein, geheim, meisie, pleit, terrein, teiken, goedheid
261
Common words spelt with y without a corresponding form with ei are the following:
262
hys, hy, my, sy, stryd, yster, lyf, by, hyg, pyn, dy, kry, vy
263
NOTE:
Hys should not be confused with the word huis (house) or the non-standardised form hys
(house) often used by speakers of Kaaps, an alternative form of Afrikaans. In this context
hys means to lift up.
Please use your dictionary when you are not sure whether you should use ei or y.
264
ACTIVITY 3.7
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Complete the following sentences by filling in the correct form of the vowel y or ei. Consult
a dictionary if necessary.
3.7.1 Ek gaan liewers vir my ’n trui br… (I’d rather knit a jersey for myself.)
3.7.2
Die ma het vir haar kind kr…t by die winkel gekoop. (The mother bought crayons for
her child at the store.)
3.7.3 Jy moet my w…s waar Edgars is. (You have to show me where Egdars is.)
3.7.4 Die winkelassistent l… aan kanker. (The shop assistant suffers from cancer.)
3.7.5 Hierdie pad l… na die klerewinkel toe. (This road leads to the clothing store.)
Phonetics and phonology: Pronunciation of j
265
The consonant j usually is usually found at the beginning of Afrikaans words. It is also often
used in diminutives. At the beginning of a word of a syllable, the letter j is pronounced
as [j] (as in English youth):
y jas, jaar, jok, juig, jy, jeug, jammer, jonk, julle
50
In a few exceptional cases, the Afrikaans j is pronounced in a similar way as in English.
Often these words have been borrowed from English:
267
y jellie, jaguar, jazz, junior
In Afrikaans varieties mainly spoken in the Western and Northern Cape, j is often
pronounced as dj:
268
y jou, julle, jy pronounced as: djou, djulle, djy
ACTIVITY 3.8
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Read the following passage aloud and make a recording of your efforts on Flip. Do not
try to understand everything you are reading – just focus on pronunciation.
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
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270
Gedurende Julie verlede jaar toe dit so koud was, het ek en Jan, my jarelange
vriend, besluit om die Jagtershofberge te klim. Jong, dit was nou ’n amper tragiese storie van bejaarde mans wat hul verlore jeugjare wou herleef.
Met die aanvang van die tog was ons baie jolig. Die jazz het oor ons koue lippe
gevloei. Al singend met ons jellie-lippe was die steiltes nie so erg nie. Jislaaik, dit
was darem koud op die berg!
3.5 SUMMARY
In this learning unit you had a lot of pronunciation and grammar aspects to learn. We
considered the pronunciation of the following sounds: i, ie, y, ei, j and the schwa sound.
We also explained how we form interrogative sentences through inversion and by using
interrogative pronouns. If you still feel unsure about the construction of questions, we
encourage you to contact your lecturer for additional help.
271
We also encourage you to use the vocabulary you have learned here as often as possible.
Go to a store and give it a go, or try to name the items in your kitchen cupboard – you
can always use Google Translate to translate the names of items you do not know.
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REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
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SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 3
273
274
Starter activity
275
276
Feedback provided in the game.
Activity 3.1
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
langbroek
hemp
rok
das
baadjie
rolletjies
grondboontjiebotter
vleis
vis
brood
288
52
289
Activity 3.2
3.2.1
290
291
3.2.2 Wat is die kleur van die serp?
292
3.2.3 Verkoop julle boerewors?
293
3.2.4 Wanneer kom die nuwe rokke?
294
295
297
3.2.5 Watter hemp sal beter by dié broek pas?
Activity 3.3
296
3.3.1
Kan ek die klere met my kredietkaart betaal?
3.3.2 Watter betaalopsies het julle?
298
3.3.3 Hoeveel is die paaiement per maand?
299
3.3.4
300
301
Wat is die grootte van die baadjie?
Watter kassiere aanvaar geskenkbewyse?
3.3.5 Wanneer moet die uitstaande bedrag betaal word?
Activity 3.4
3.4.1
Waarom verskuif julle die ou produkte?
3.4.2
Hoe ver moet ek loop om by die blikkieskos uit te kom?
302
303
3.4.3 Waar sal ek die lekkernye kry? In watter ry sal ek die lekkernye kry?
304
305
3.4.4
306
Wat gaan jy gebruik om die prys vas te stel?
3.4.5 Op watter rak is die langbroeke?
Activity 3.5
307
308
309
310
311
3.5.1
3.5.2 Is die melk goedkoop?
3.5.3 Doen jou ma gereeld inkopies?
3.5.4
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Betaal Sipho kontant vir sy kledingstukke?
Dra Piet sy kortbroek in die somer?
3.5.5 Gaan ons gaan môre vleis braai?
313
Activity 3.6
314
315
vis vies (fish, angry)
kies kis (to choose, chest/container
lig lieg (light/not heavy, to lie/not speaking the truth)
316
317
lied lid (song, member)
318
bid bied (to pray, to offer)
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319
Activity 3.7
3.7.1
Ek gaan liewers vir my ’n trui brei.
3.7.2
Die ma het vir haar kind kryt by die winkel gekoop.
3.7.3
Jy moet my wys waar Edgars is.
3.7.4
Die winkelassistent ly aan kanker.
3.7.5
Hierdie pad lei na die klerewinkel toe.
320
321
322
323
324
Activity 3.8
325
Feedback will be provided on Flip.
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Learning unit 4
Out and about
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
4
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Out and about
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately six hours to
complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
6
OVERVIEW
In this learning unit we focus on the vocabulary you need to describe certain objects when
you are in town or at a restaurant. The grammar section focuses on personal pronouns
(object form), the plurals of nouns, and separable compound and participle verbs. In addition, the pronunciation section includes short and long vowels and the doubling of letters
in spelling. This is an extension of the information presented to you in Learning unit 2.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y use vocabulary related to banking, pharmacies and restaurants
y spell and pronounce words with short and long vowels
y spell and identify words with double punctuation
y compose a sentence with personal pronouns in the object form
y compose sentences with separable compound and participle verbs
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Figure 4.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 4
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STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 4_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on vocabulary. You do not need to read the rest of this learning
unit in order to complete this quiz.
4.1
INTRODUCTION
When we are out and about running errands or just socialising with friends, we need the
right vocabulary to communicate effectively. In this learning unit we focus on specific
vocabulary that you will use in a bank, in a pharmacy or when you are grabbing a bite
at your favourite restaurant.
329
Because the main focus of this learning unit is vocabulary, you must pay careful attention
to the vocabulary in table 4.1. The words in table 4.1 will be of great help you when you
need to form simple sentences.
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VOCABULARY
The following list contains the relevant core vocabulary you can use to achieve the specific outcomes of this learning unit. Please watch the following video to learn how these
Afrikaans words and phrases are pronounced.
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GgxlqRBNFu2D_pULW6bQHTFdPDW3fLf5/
view?usp=sharing]
331
56
Table 4.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 4
Afrikaans
English
bankkaart
bank card
debietkaart
debit card
kredietkaart
credit card
bankteller
bank teller
OTM (outomatiese tellermasjien)
ATM (automatic teller
machine)
bankbestuurder
bank manager
lening
loan
bankstaat
bank statement
debietorder(s)
debit order(s)
bankrekening(e)
bank account(s)
rekeningnommer
account number
deposito
deposit
ontrekkingsfooi
withdrawal fee
PIN (persoonlike
identifikasie-nommer)
PIN (personal identitification
number)
ontrek(king)
withdraw(al)
bedrag
amount
kontant
cash
EFT (elektroniese geldoordrag)
EFT (electronic funds transfer)
selfoonbankdienste
cellphone banking
aanlyn bankdienste
online banking
belegging(s)
investment(s)
identiteitsdokument (ID)
identity document (ID)
bewys van adres
proof of address
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rentekoers
interest rate
paaiement
instalment
apteek
pharmacy
apteker
pharmacist
medisyne
medicine
medikasie
medication
voorskrif
prescription
pille
pills
mediese fonds
medical aid
bybetaling
co-payment
restaurant,
restaurant
restourant
ontbyt
breakfast
middagete
lunch
aandete
dinner
spyskaart
menu
wynlys
wine list
bespreek
book
bespreking
booking
Do the following activities to practise using the vocabulary in table 4.1. When necessary,
we have provided you with additional vocabulary or information. Please attempt the
activities without looking at the answers in the self-evaluation section at the end of this
learning unit.
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ACTIVITY 4.1
This activity will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Translate the following steps using the vocabulary for this learning unit and a dictionary:
Easy steps to make payments to individuals:
1. Dial *121*345#.
2. Select Bank.
3. Select Payments.
4. Select Pay Individual.
5. Enter an Account Number.
6. Enter your name as Reference.
How would you do the following in Afrikaans?
4.1.1 Ask to speak to the bank manager
4.1.2 Ask to renew your credit card
4.1.3 Ask how much cash you can withdraw per day
ACTIVITY 4.2
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Imagine that you are at a pharmacy. You want to purchase Myprodol®. The pharmacist
speaks Afrikaans to you. Complete the following dialogue by indicating how you would
respond. Upload your completed dialogue to the Activity 4.2 Discussion Forum on the
module page for comment.
Pharmacist: Goeiedag. Waarmee kan ek help?
You:
Pharmacist: Het u ’n voorskrif vir die medikasie?
You:
Pharmacist: Wat is u mediese fonds?
You:
Pharmacist: Is daar nog iets waarmee ek kan help?
You:
Complete the following sentences by adding the missing vocabulary:
Jy moet ’n … hê as jy nie self vir medisyne kan betaal nie. Jou dokter moet vir jou ’n … gee
voor jy medikasie by die apteek kan gaan haal. Indien jou mediese fonds nie die volle bedrag
betaal nie, moet jy ’n … maak.
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ACTIVITY 4.3
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Can you name the following items? We have provided some additional vocabulary to
help you.
kaas, tamatie, blaarslaai, wyn, koeldrank, nagereg, bier, roomys, spinasie
4.3.1
4.3.2
4.3.3
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4.3.4
4.3.5
Source: Pixaby.com
Listen to the following sound clip and indicate what the person has ordered in the restaurant by filling in the missing vocabulary:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hJaC7qMCO1RzfXU5jr1_MG-pp27ZEv0n/view?usp
=sharing]
Ek wil graag die … bestel. Ek wil die … hê, maar nie die … nie. Kan ek ook eerder
’n … kry, want ek is nie lus vir … nie. Om te drink sal ek graag ’n glas … wil hê en
dan vir … kan jy vir my … bring.
GRAMMAR
Morphology: Plural forms of nouns
As in English, most Afrikaans nouns (called selfstandige naamwoorde or just naamwoorde)
also have a plural form (Afr. meervoud). In English, the plural of nouns is usually formed
by adding an -s to the noun:
flower
flowers
hotel
hotels
computer
computers
keyboard
keyboards
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Afrikaans nouns form their plural by adding either an -s or an -e to the noun:
English
Afrikaans
Plurals ending on -e
Afrikaans
English
Plurals ending on -s
vrou
vroue
female(s)
man
mans
man (men)
bank
banke
bank(s)
leeu
leeus
lion(s)
boek
boeke
book(s)
hoender
hoenders
chicken(s)
kous
kouse
sock(s)
emmer
emmers
bucket(s)
Sometimes the spelling of a word is adapted to form the plural, for example hof (court)
x howe (courts).
Please note that we do not often -have a choice between the -s or -e plural; some nouns
take the plural suffix -e; others use -s. Only a few words can take either, but the different
plural suffixes then often indicates a subtle difference in meaning:
y rekening: rekenings, rekeninge (no difference in meaning)
y vorm: vorms (that you fill out), vorme (shapes)
As in English, some nouns do not have a plural form, for example melk, modder, haat and
geduld; while others have irregular plural forms, for example stad – stede (city – cities),
skip – skepe (ship – ships), kind – kinders (child – children).
Dictionaries indicate the plural of a noun, whether regular or irregular, in bold directly after
the word category, in brackets. If the noun does not have a plural, this is also indicated:
Afrikaans
English
Remark on Afrikaans plural
Singular
Plural
rots
rotse
rock
regular plural form ending on -e
bankteller
banktellers
bank
teller
regular plural form ending on -s
stad
stede
city
irregular plural form
geld
geld
money
no plural form
Note that plural endings in Afrikaans also include -(e)ns, -ers, -ere, -te and -de.
62
The -te and -de plural endings are discussed in Learning unit 2.
Afrikaans
English
Plural ending on -(e)ns
gevoel
gevoelens
Afrikaans
English
Plural ending on -ers
feelings
goeters
goeters
things
(no singular)
lewe
lewens
lives
kind
kinders
children
hawe
hawens,
hawes
ports,
harbours
maat
maters
friends
Afrikaans nouns ending in -d sometimes take the -ere plural ending:
gemoedere (moods), goedere (goods), liedere (songs)
ACTIVITY 4.4
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Consult your dictionary and write down the the plural form of each of the following words:
4.4.1
buurvrou
4.4.2
huis
4.4.3
vriend
4.4.4
prokureur
4.4.5
student
4.4.6
seisoen
4.4.7
naweek
4.4.8
nommer
4.4.9
rigting
4.4.10
storm
4.4.11
winter
4.4.12
trein
4.4.13
rif
4.4.14
rug
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333
Morphology: Personal pronouns (object form)
Please look carefully at the following list of personal pronouns in Afrikaans. The ones that
you have learned in Learning unit 1 are the subject forms: they operate as the subject of
the sentence. Here is a refresher:
335
ek
jy
hy
sy
ons
julle
hulle
Just like in English, Afrikaans has separate object forms for these pronouns. In the following
English examples, the pronouns I and she are used as the subject of the sentence:
336
y I see the teacher.
y She sees the cat.
But when we refer to that same person (I or she) as the object of the sentence, we have
to use another pronoun related to the subject form:
337
y The teacher sees me. The cat sees her.
338
It is exactly the same in Afrikaans:
y Ek sien die onderwyser.
y Sy sien die kat.
but
339
y Die onderwyser sien my.
y Die kat sien haar.
Please study the following table, which contains a list of the personal pronouns in Afrikaans.
The list contains both the subject and object forms as you will come across them in almost
every sentence you hear, read, write or speak. In Afrikaans, the personal and possessive
pronouns look very similar and are often exactly the same, which is why we include both
personal and possessive pronouns in the following table:
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64
Personal pronoun
(subject)
Personal pronoun
(object)
Possessive pronoun
Singular form (enkelvoudsvorme)
ek
my
my
Ek skakel die sekretaresse.
Die sekretaresse skakel my.
Dit is my boek.
jy
jou
jou
Jy vra om verskoning
Pieter vra jou om verskoning.
Dit is jou boek.
u
u
u
U mag nie binne rook nie.
Ek vra u om nie te rook nie.
Dit is u boek.
hy
hom
sy
Hy is die voorsitter.
Ons kies hom as voorsitter.
Dit is sy boek.
sy
haar
haar
Sy reël die vergadering.
Jy moet haar skakel.
Dit is haar boek.
Plural form (meervoudsvorme)
ons
ons
ons
Ons stem nie saam nie.
Hulle waarsku ons.
Dit is ons erfenis.
julle
julle
julle/jul
Julle het ’n ander mening.
Ons sal julle verskoon.
Dit is julle/jul erfenis.
hulle
hulle
hulle/hul
Hulle is verkeerd.
Die voorsitter verwag hulle.
Dit is hulle/hul erfenis.
Have you noticed that you do not need to pay a lot of attention to the plural forms? The
three forms (the personal pronoun [subject and object form] and the possessive pronoun)
are the same: ons, julle and hulle.
341
In the singular, all forms of the possessive pronoun but one are the same as the object
form of the personal pronoun: my – my, jou – jou, u – u, haar – haar.
342
The exception in the singular are the forms associated with hy, where three different
forms are found:
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y hy (subject form, personal pronoun)
y hom (object form, personal pronoun)
y sy (possessive pronoun)
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To simplify it further: in the plural (the last three forms) Afrikaans has the same words for
the subject and object forms: ons – ons, julle – julle, hulle – hulle.
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ACTIVITY 4.5
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Listen to the following sound clip and then complete the sentences by adding the missing
personal pronoun:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QxGG92EyTDWwCd4WWMVUTxqfwWIu9bzJ/
view?usp=sharing]
4.5.1 Wat het met … bankkaart gebeur?
4.5.2 My man het … gevra of … … by die restaurant kan kry.
4.5.3 Die apteker lyk gaaf. Hoe lank koop … al by ...?
4.5.4 Vra vir … of … die bankbestuurder is.
4.5.5 Spel asseblief jou naam vir …; ek wil dit langs jou bespreking aanbring.
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Morphology and syntax: Separable verbs
You might already have noticed that Afrikaans has lots of verbs that can be separated.
These verbs are often found in combinations with prepositions. We must take special
care when we use them in sentences. Let’s look at some examples of a similar process
in English:
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y The event is coming up next week.
y The upcoming event has been postponed.
We also have going out/outgoing; built-in/in-built; and outspoken/speak out. Can you
see that these are all combinations of verbs with prepositions? Note that the prepositions
sometimes precede the verb, but in other cases they are placed after the verb.
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We have a similar situation with a number of often-used Afrikaans verbs. Verbs that are
very common, such as sien, kom and gaan, are often linked with prepositions to form new
verbs with different meanings:
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y sien:
y kom:
y gaan:
y kyk:
opsien, insien, uitsien, nasien, oorsien,
inkom, opkom, aankom, oorkom, nakom, agterkom
ingaan, uitgaan, opgaan, ondergaan, nagaan
nakyk, aankyk, opkyk, uitkyk
When these verbs are used in simple sentences with just one verb, the prepositional part
of the verb is separated from the verb and placed after the verb. Sometimes it has to be
placed even further away from the verb in the sentence:
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y uitsien: Suleika sien uit na die vakansie.
y opkom: Die son kom op. Die son kom al vyfuur op in die somer.
y aantrek: Die kinders trek hulle skoolklere aan.
y opstaan: My pa staan sesuur soggens op.
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My pa staan soggens om sesuur op.
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Some other verbs are also separable in the same way, even though they do not have a
preposition attached to the verb. Other compound verbs show the same characteristics
when used in a simple sentence. The first part can be an adjective or noun. Look at the
following examples:
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y goedkeur:
y saamstem:
y teleurstel:
y plaasvind:
Die bestuur keur die voorstel goed. (to approve)
Ek stem saam met die voorstel. (to agree)
Die matriekuitslae stel die onderwyser teleur. (to disappoint)
Die vergadering vind volgende week plaas. (to take place, occur)
To complicate matters, not all compound verbs separate in this way; some stay intact in
simple sentences:
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y raadpleeg:
y stofsuig:
y mishandel:
Hy raadpleeg sy dagboek. (to consult)
Die skoonmaker stofsuig die kantoor. (to vacuum clean)
Die man mishandel die kind. (to abuse)
The question is: How would you know when to separate a verb? The best solution is to
consult a dictionary. The dictionary indicates the past tense of Afrikaans verbs as follows:
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y goedkeur werkwoord
y raadpleeg werkwoord
y mishandel werkwoord
het goedgekeur (approve [of])
het geraadpleeg (consult)
het mishandel (abuse)
When the ge- prefix that indicates past tense appears at the beginning of the word, as
in geraadpleeg, you do not separate the verb. Also, we do not separate the verb if there
is no ge- part at all, for example mishandel – het mishandel. However, when -ge- appears
in the middle of the verb, as in goedgekeur, we must separate the verb when we use it in
simple sentences, as can be seen in the examples above.
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ACTIVITY 4.6
4.6.1Use your dictionary to at least ten Afrikaans verbs beginning with uit-, op-, aan-,
oor- or in-. Do not use the verbs that have been included in the explanation above.
4.6.2Form a simple sentence with each of these verbs. In each case the preposition must
be separated from the verb and placed after the verb.
(Example: uitsaai – DSTV saai die wedstryd uit.)
Upload your answers to Activity 4.6 Discussion Forum on your module page for comment.
PRONUNCIATION
This section covers the pronunciation and spelling of short and long vowels.
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Phonetics and phonology: Vowels
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In Learning unit 2 we explained that most letters representing vowels can be written as
single or double letters in Afrikaans. In the same way, several letters representing consonants can be written as single or double letters. This characteristic of Afrikaans spelling
has been inherited from Dutch.
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The underlying reason for the use of double and single vowels is that vowels in Afrikaans
can be pronounced as either long or short sounds, as explained in Learning unit 2. When
forming plurals or other words derived from basic words (e.g. diminutives and adjectives)
it is sometimes necessary to double a consonant in the spelling to indicate how the preceding vowel should be pronounced. The following examples illustrate this:
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Afrikaans
English
Singular
Plural
bom (short vowel; syllable
ends on a consonant)
bomme (double m to indicate a short
vowel; syllable ends on a consonant)
bomb(s)
boom (long vowel; syllable
ends on a consonant)
Bome (single m to indicate a long vowel; syllable ends on a vowel)
tree(s)
Thus, words starting with a long vowel (indicated by double vowel letters) in the basic
form of the word, followed by a single consonant letter, often change to a single vowel
letter in their plural forms. Please listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following
table. Read the words in the table while you are listening to the sound clip.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XRDzIfW4VpNLEpMryzcK-TCRuKfx5_wy/view?usp
=sharing]
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aa – a
ee – e
oo – o
uu – u
bankstaat
bankstate
leen
lening
kantoor
kantore
buur
bure
advokaat
advokate
erfdeel
erfdele
horoskoop
horoskope
uur
ure
betaal
betaling
embleem
embleme
persoon
persone
duur
dure
afspraak
afsprake
kasteel
kastele
aankoop
aankope
kultuur
kulture
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Spelling and pronunciation: Doubling of letters in spelling
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The opposite process is shown in the spelling of consonants: words starting with a short
vowel a, e, i, o or u (indicated by a single vowel letter) in the basic form of the word often
double the consonant letter after the short vowel to indicate that the vowel is pronounced
as a short vowel. Please listen to the following sound clip to learn the pronunciation of
the words in the table:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/13lqHbJRE21DKUXipNKDtdlHynlpOTD2q/view?usp
=sharing]
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b – bb
d – dd
k – kk
l – ll
m – mm
rib
ribbes
bed
beddens
straf
strawwe
blik
blikke
bal
balle
kam
kamme
rob
robbe
bad
baddens
skof
skowwe
stok
stokke
hotel
hotelle
rem
remme
skub
skubbe
bid
biddery
rif
riwwe
tak
takke
krul
krulle
bom
bomme
n – nn
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f – ww
p – pp
r – rr
s – ss
t – tt
g – gg
ken
kennis
kop
koppe
ster
sterre
bus
busse
mat
matte
vrag
vraggie
son
sonne
lip
lippe
tor
torre
jas
jasse
sot
sotte
lig
liggie
dun
dunner
slap
slapper
kar
karre
os
osse
pet
pette
rug
ruggie
Please also note the following:
y Afrikaans words never end on a double consonant: bal, son, skip, rot.
y There are words with double f (-ff-) in Afrikaans, for example: heffing, koffie and gaffel.
y
y
However, when a singular noun or short adjective ends on -f, the plural or derived
form gets -w(w)-: drif – driwwe, laf – lawwe, muf – muwwe, hof – howe, graaf – grawe.
Words ending in -g often drop the -g in the plural, for example: vraag – vrae, dag – dae,
kroeg – kroeë en brug – brûe.
When words or syllables end on more than one consonant, no doubling of consonants
takes place, and the single or double vowels remain constant, as follows:
Afrikaans
English
Singular
Plural
Singular
kaart
kaarte
card
bank
banke
banks
eend
eende
duck
kers
kerse
candle
wolk
wolke
cloud
pols
polse
pulse
kind
kinders
child
buurt
buurte
neighbourhood
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4.2 SUMMARY
In this learning unit we focused on vocabulary. We supplied you with vocabulary relating to banking, visiting the pharmacy and eating at a restaurant. If you are interested in
learning some more word to use when you are out and about, follow this link. This learning unit also expanded on Learning unit 2, where we talked about the pronunciation of
short and long vowels. Remember to listen to the pronunciations and repeat them as
many times as you need. In the grammar section we paid attention to plural forms and
explained how the object forms of personal pronouns are used. Finally, we looked at
separable verbs are and how to use them correctly in Afrikaans.
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REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
grammar for English speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
SELF-EVALUATION
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Answers to activities in Learning unit 4
Starter activity
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Feedback provided in the relevant quiz
Activity 4.1
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Translate:
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1. Dial *121*345#. (Skakel *121*345#.)
2. Select Bank. (Kies Bank.)
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3. Select Payments. (Kies Betalings.)
4. Select Pay Individual. (Kies Betaal Individu.)
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5. Enter an Account Number. (Sleutel ’n Rekeningnommer in.)
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6. Enter your name as Reference. (Voer jou naam as Verwysing in.)
379
How would you do the following in Afrikaans?
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4.1.1 Ask to speak to the bank manager
381
Possible answer: Kan ek asseblief met die bankbestuurder gesels?
382
383
4.1.2 Ask to renew your credit card
Possible answer: Hoe kan ek my kredietkaart hernu?
384
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385
4.1.3 Ask how much cash you can withdraw per day
Possible answer: Hoeveel kontant kan ek per dag onttrek?
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Activity 4.2
Possible responses
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Pharmacist: Goeiedag. Waarmee kan ek help?
You: Hallo. Ek wil graag Myprodol koop.
Pharmacist: Het u ’n voorskrif vir die medikasie?
You: Ja, ek het ’n voorskrif.
Pharmacist: Wat is u mediese fonds?
You: My mediese fonds is A+ Medical.
Pharmacist: Is daar nog iets waarmee ek kan help?
You: Nee dankie. Dit is al.
Activity 4.3
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4.3.1 roomys
4.3.2 spinasie
391
4.3.3 kaas
392
4.3.4 nagereg
393
4.3.5 bier
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Ek wil graag die hamburger bestel. Ek wil die kaas hê, maar nie die tamatie nie. Kan ek ook
eerder ’n slaai kry, want ek is nie lus vir skyfies nie. Om te drink sal ek graag ’n glas wyn wil
hê en dan vir nagereg kan jy vir my roomys bring.
Activity 4.4
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4.4.1
buurvrouens/buurvroue
4.4.2
huise
4.4.3
vriende
4.4.4
prokureurs
4.4.5
studente
4.4.6
seisoene
4.4.7
naweke
4.4.8
nommers
4.4.9
rigtings/rigtinge
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397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
4.4.10 storms
405
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4.4.11 winters
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4.4.12 treine
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408
4.4.13 riwwe
4.4.14 rûe
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Activity 4.5
410
411
4.5.1 Wat het met jou bankkaart gebeur?
4.5.2 My man het my gevra of ek hom by die restaurant kan kry.
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413
4.5.3 Die apteker lyk gaaf. Hoe lank koop jy al by hom?
4.5.4 Vra vir haar of sy die bankbestuurder is.
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415
4.5.5 Spel asseblief jou naam vir my; ek wil dit langs jou bespreking aanbring.
Activity 4.6
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Feedback will be provided on the relevant forum.
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Learning unit 5
Let's chat
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
5
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Let's chat
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately six hours to
complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
6
OVERVIEW
This learning unit is divided into three main sections and focuses on talking about the
weather, talking about your interests and talking about your family. You will also learn
how we form the past and future tenses in Afrikaans.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y talk about the weather
y talk about your interests
y talk about your family and friends
y talk about events using the past tense in Afrikaans
y talk about events using the future tense in Afrikaans
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Figure 5.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 5
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STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Follow this link [https://www.baamboozle.com/game/1164795] to play a game to test
your knowledge of Afrikaans words about the weather.
Watch the video uploaded to this learning unit on your module site which explains how
to play the game.
5.1
INTRODUCTION
Talking about the weather is often seen as a poor way to start a conversation, but having
the vocabulary to talk about the weather is necessary in any language. We experience
the weather every day, so we need to know how to express ourselves when it comes to
the weather. We also need to know how to communicate other aspects of our lives. We
all have interests and we all have friends and/or family. This learning unit gives you the
opportunity to acquire the vocabulary you need to talk about all these topics.
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VOCABULARY
Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table and watch the video to learn
how these words are pronounced:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r4R-_UNoIpxkVJa93YPjGQph9kuX8go1/view?usp
=sharing]
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Table 5.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 5
Afrikaans
English
reën
rain
wind
wind
sonskyn
sunshine
hael
hail
sneeu
snow
donderweer
thunder
weerlig
lightning
bewolk
cloudy
mistig
misty
koud
cold
warm
hot
ma
mother (mom)
pa
father (dad)
oom
uncle
tannie
aunt
ouma
grandmother
(grandma)
oupa
grandfather
(grandpa)
broer
brother
suster
sister
niggie
cousin (female)
nefie
cousin (male)
skoonma
mother-in-law
skoonpa
father-in-law
skoonsuster
sister-in-law
swaer
brother-in-law
skoonseun
son-in-law
skoondogter
daughter-in-law
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5.2 TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER
Let’s begin this learning unit by considering the different ways we can talk about the
weather. We’ll start with temperature. When talking about the temperature, you can
indicate that it is hot, cold or humid or muggy. To emphasise that the temperature is
extremely uncomfortable, you could say it is scorching or freezing. We can do the same
in Afrikaans. Read the following sentences and listen to the recordings of each in the
sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1caKERQ5NOQGpFltnOhwRLOBVGU-g6yh7/view?usp
=sharing]
422
423
424
Dit is warm. (It’s hot.)
Dit is koud. (It’s cold.)
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426
Dit is bedompig. (It’s humid/muggy.)
Dit is skroeiend warm. (It’s scorching hot.)
Dit is yskoud. (It’s freezing cold.)
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We can also refer to specific weather-related events. We can identify rain, wind and snow
or thunder and lightning. Read the following sentences while listening to the sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ro8FlQOcBD2hMnlnCct_CajwSxpJnMjb/view?usp
=sharing]
429
Dit reën. (It’s raining.)
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431
Die wind waai. (The wind is blowing.)
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Dit sneeu. (It’s snowing.)
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Dit hael. (It’s hailing.)
Die son skyn. (The sun is shining.)
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435
Dit is bewolk. (It’s cloudy.)
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Daar is donderweer. (There’s thunder.)
Daar is weerlig. (There’s lightning.)
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ACTIVITY 5.1
This activity will take approximately five minutes to complete.
Have a look at the following pictures and write down a sentence that best describes each
picture. (You may use the sentences we have provided above.)
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5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
5.1.4
Source: Pixaby.com
5.3 TALKING ABOUT INTERESTS
Let’s divide people’s interests into three categories, namely sports, hobbies and relaxation, and consider each one separately. This should give you enough time to focus on
the vocabulary for each category.
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REMEMBER: A good way to learn the vocabulary would be to mimic the pronunciation
of the words in the sound files.
5.3.1
Sport
Listen to the pronunciation of the following words in the attached sound clip. We encourage you to listen to the sound clip while following in the list:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ue3Yowva7OQJjolKAbkgL5nsFr0i51PP/view?usp=sharing]
442
443
rugby (rugby)
sokker (soccer)
444
445
tennis (tennis)
hokkie (hockey)
446
netbal (netball)
447
448
fietsry (biking)
swem (swimming)
449
landloop (cross country running)
450
skaak (chess)
451
5.3.2 Stokperdjies
Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip while following in
the list:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eM9TKlpNyxq3BYnSkbSvrKo7M6FKMzFR/view?usp
=sharing]
453
454
455
bak (baking)
brei (knitting)
456
457
skilder (painting)
beeldhou (sculpting)
sing (singing)
458
visvang (fishing)
459
oefen (exercising)
460
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5.3.3 Ontspanning
Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip while following in
the list:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_veQgwe-nfcTjy-6HLykDQsMhXzpzJC3/view?usp
=sharing]
462
463
lees (reading)
464
465
stap (walking)
televisie kyk (watching television)
tuinmaak (gardening)
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467
musiek luister (listening to music)
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469
skryf (writing)
meditasie (meditation)
ACTIVITY 5.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Write a short text (about three Afrikaans sentences) about your interests. Refer to activities
relating to sport, hobbies or relaxation. Your interests may differ from the suggestions
above. Record yourself reading your text on Flip.
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
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5.4
TALKING ABOUT FAMILY AND FRIENDS
We have reached the final section of this learning unit. This section contains some important words and phrases that you can use to talk about your family and friends.
472
Let’s start with family. Study the following family tree and then have a look at the text
explaining the relationships among the individuals. An English translation of the text is
included.
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Karin en Anton het drie kinders. Hulle name is Maria, Johan en Steve. Maria is getroud met
Paul en Steve is getroud met Anna. Maria en Paul het een dogter en haar naam is Linde. Steve
en Anna het twee kinders. Hulle name is Antoinette en Pieter.
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Karin and Anton have three children. Their names are Maria, Johan and Steve. Maria is
married to Paul and Steve is married to Anna. Maria and Paul have one daughter and her
name is Linde. Steve and Anna have two children. Their names are Antoinette and Pieter.
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ACTIVITY 5.3
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Use the vocabulary in the block to answer the questions based on the text you have just
read:
ouma, swaer, skoondogter, niggies, oom
5.3.1 Linde en Antoinette is ...
5.3.2 Johan is Linde se …
5.3.3 Paul is Johan se …
5.3.4 Anna is Anton se …
5.3.5 Karin is Pieter se …
Have a look at table 5.1, which contains some core vocabulary for this learning unit, if you
are struggling to complete the activity above. This table appears at the beginning of the
learning unit. Table 5.2 at the end of the learning unit contains additional vocabulary.
477
Note that in Afrikaans we make a distinction between familie and gesin. The term familie
(extended family) includes to our siblings, mother, father, grandmothers and grandfathers,
uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, etc. We use gesin (immediate family) to
refer to our core family, that is, only parents and their children. (Gesin also includes the
spouses of siblings and their children, if applicable). For example:
478
Die hele familie is hier. (The whole family is here – refers to many family members.)
479
Ons gesin gaan met vakansie. (Our family is going on holiday – refers only to immediate
family members, i.e. parents and children.)
480
Also interesting is how Afrikaans speakers refer to in-laws. In Afrikaans, we use the term
skoon- to refer to anyone in the in-law group: skoonma, skoonpa, skoonseun, skoondogter,
skoonsuster, skoonouers and skoonfamilie. However, we never say *skoonbroer, instead
we use the term swaer. This is a characteristic of Afrikaans that we have borrowed from
Dutch, which also prefers the term zwager over schoonbroer.
481
Let’s also consider some vocabulary you can use to talk about friends and relationships.
Have a look at the following pictures and read the text below each one. An English translation of each texts is included.
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483
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Picture 1
484
485
Thando en Stephen is in ’n verhouding. Thando is Stephen se meisie en Stephen is Thando se
kêrel.
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Thando and Stephen are in a relationship. Thando is Stephen’s girlfriend and Stephen is
Thando’s boyfriend.
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Picture 2
488
489
490
Adeena, Rachel, Amira, Zara en Natalie is almal vriende. Hulle het ’n baie spesiale vriendskap.
Adeena, Rachel, Amira, Zara and Natalie are all friends. They have a very special friendship.
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492
Picture 3
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494
Juan en Nadine is vriende. Juan is Nadine se vriend en Nadine is Juan se vriendin.
Juan and Nadine are friends. Juan is Nadine’s friend (male) and Nadine is Juan’s friend
(female).
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497
Picture 4
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499
Niko en Marie is getroud. Hulle is man en vrou.
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Niko and Marie are married. They are husband and wife.
GRAMMAR
Syntax: Past tense
Let’s briefly turn our attention to grammar before we start learning vocabulary relating
to our family and friends. In this learning unit we discuss how to form the past tense
(verlede tyd) in Afrikaans.
So far, we have been talking about the weather, the seasons and our interests. However,
at some point you will want to tell someone about something that happened in the past
or something that you did in the past. Look at following the examples:
y Dit sneeu./Dit het gesneeu. (It snowed.)
y Ek bak./Ek het gebak. (I baked.)
y Die kinders swem in die rivier./Die kinders het in die rivier geswem. (The children swam
in the river.)
y Dit reën in die somer./Dit het in die somer gereën. (It rained in the summer.)
y Ek hou van die winter./Ek het van die winter gehou. (I liked winter.)
y Daar is weerlig./Daar was weerlig. (There was lightning.)
We begin by considering the formation of the past tense by adding an auxiliary verb and a
past participle. The past tense in Afrikaans is similar to the present perfect tense in English
(They have eaten all the food). However, unlike in English, the verbs in Afrikaans do not
change in the past tense (with some exceptions, which we will discuss later). Instead, we
add the auxiliary verb het to the sentence and the past participle ge- to the main verb.
Have another look at the past tense sentences above. What do you notice? Do you see
that when a sentence is written in the past tense, the auxiliary het is placed in the second
position in the sentence (after the subject), and the main verb is moved to the end of the
sentence and combined with the past participle ge-?
y Die kinders swem in die rivier./Die kinders het in die rivier geswem.
y Dit reën in die somer./Dit het in die somer gereën.
y Ek hou van die winter./Ek het van die winter gehou.
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However, in shorter sentences there is no movement because the main verb is already
at the end of the sentence:
y Dit sneeu./Dit het gesneeu.
y Ek bak./Ek het gebak.
This means that the auxiliary het is simply inserted in the second position in the sentence
(after the subject) and the past participle is added to the verb.
ACTIVITY 5.4
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Change the following sentences into the past tense. Please attempt to do this activity
without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
5.4.1 Die kinders kyk televisie.
5.4.2 Almal speel rugby.
5.4.3 Dit hael.
5.4.4 Ek stap in die middae.
5.4.5 Ek lees.
There is an exception to the above rule when we change the present tense verb is to the
past tense: is changes to was in the past tense, no additional auxiliary verb is added and
no additional past participle is added.
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y Daar is weerlig./Daar was weerlig. (There was lightning.)
y Ek is dors./Ek was dors. (I was thirsty.)
y Die man is jonk./Die man was jonk. (The man was young.)
Some other forms of the past tense that require special attention are het gehad and is
gewees. When we want to express that we or someone else had something in the past,
we use het gehad. We would say:
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y Ek het ’n rooi fiets gehad toe ek klein was. (I had a red bicycle when I was small.)
y Hy het ’n hond gehad. (He had a dog.)
In the sentences above, het gehad is the past tense form of het (i.e. have/has in the present tense):
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y Ek het ’n rooi fiets. (I have a red bicycle.)
y Hy het ’n hond. (He has a dog.)
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That means, het gehad is the equivalent of had in English.
It is important to note that when we refer to a birth date (someone else’s or our own), we
should not use the verb was in Afrikaans. So, unlike English where you could say “I was
born in 1989”, you would say “Ek is in 1989 gebore” in Afrikaans.
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Other exceptions relate to the past participle ge-. We do not always add ge- to verbs
when forming the past tense. Verbs that do not take the past participle are the following:
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y Verbs starting with be-, ge-, er-, her-, ont- and vero Ek het dit herhaal.
o Hy het met sy opdrag begin.
o Ons het die pakkie ontvang.
Syntax: Past tense and separable verbs
Another aspect of the past tense that is worth noting is how we deal with separable
verbs when we want to use them to express a past event. In Learning unit 4, you learned
what separable verbs are and how they function in sentences. Because separable verbs
are made up of two parts, it is worth explaining what shape they take when used in different tenses.
You should remember that in the present tense, the parts of a separable verb are separated (see Learning unit 4). In the past tense these parts are joined together again, but
remember that we also have to insert the past participle. To do this, we simply add the
past participle to the middle of the separable verb – between its two parts. Look at the
following examples:
y Ek stem saam met die voorstel. (I agree with the proposal.)
y Ek het met die voorstel saamgestem. (I agreed with the proposal.)
y Die vergadering vind volgende week plaas. (The meeting takes place next week.)
y Die vergadering het verlede week plaasgevind. (The meeting took place last week.)
Can you see that in the past tense versions of the sentences the parts of the separable
verb reunite and the past participle is added between them?
Do you think you have mastered the past tense in Afrikaans? Do activity 5.5 to find out.
ACTIVITY 5.5
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Change the following sentences into the past tense. Please attempt to do this activity
without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
5.5.1 Die kind is siek.
5.5.2 Die produk verval.
5.5.3 My suster is getroud.
5.5.4 Sy herskryf die eksamen.
5.5.5 Ek vergeet my woordeskat.
Rewrite each of the following sentences twice. First, insert each part of the separable
verb in brackets correctly into the sentence. Then change the sentences you have created into the past tense.
5.5.6 Ek … elke oggend vroeg … (opstaan)
5.5.7 Sy … vreeslik … na die partytjie. (uitsien)
5.5.8 My vriend … sy beste skoene … (aantrek)
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Syntax: Future tense
Being able to refer to events in the past tense is just as important as being able to talk
about what will happen in the future. When we refer to the future in Afrikaans, we simply
add either the modal verb sal or the verb gaan to the sentence:
y Ek speel sokker. (I am playing soccer.)
y Ek sal sokker speel./Ek gaan sokker speel. (I will play soccer.)
y Johan eet sy middagete. (Johan is eating his lunch.)
y Johan sal sy middagete eet./Johan gaan sy middagete eet. (Johan will eat his lunch.)
y Susan snoei die boom. (Susan is trimming the tree.)
y Susan sal die boom snoei./Susan gaan die boom snoei. (Susan will trim the tree.)
Look at the main verbs in each sentence: speel, eet and snoei. What do you notice? In each
case these verbs moved to the end of the sentence. Why? Because another verb (sal/gaan)
replaced them in the second position of the sentence. Remember that we also discussed
this when we focused on negation in Afrikaans, where the main verbs also move to the
end of the sentence when the auxiliary verb het is placed in the second position, after
the subject of the sentence.
Syntax: Future tense and separable verbs
Once again we have to consider how separable verbs work in the future tense. We have
already explained that to form the past tense, these verbs are moved to the end of the
sentence and the past participle is added between the separable parts of the verb. When
we use separable verbs to express the future tense, their parts reunite and move to the
end of the sentence, but no further changes are made. Here are some examples:
y Ek stem saam met die voorstel. (I agree with the proposal)
y Ek sal met die voorstel saamstem. (I will agree with the proposal)
y Die vergadering vind volgende week plaas. (The meeting takes place next week)
y Die vergadering sal volgende week plaasvind. (The meeting will take place next week)
ACTIVITY 5.6
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Use the separable verbs below to form two future tense sentences. Share your sentences
on Activity 5.6 Discussion Forum on the module page for comment.
5.6.1 aankom
5.6.2 ingaan
PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Pronouncing specific diphthongs and vowels in Afrikaans
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We have already considered diphthongs in Learning units 2 and 3, and we have also talked
about the plural forms of words where the consonants double or the vowels decrease
(see Learning unit 4). Here we take a look at why certain diphthongs and vowels do not
take a double consonant in their plural form.
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In Afrikaans you will find words that include the diphthongs ou, ui and ei or y, and the
vowels eu, ie and oe. These words do not get a double consonant in the plural form. As
already explained, a double consonant is used to indicate vowel length in the plural form
of a word (and tells us how to pronounce the word). In the case of words containing the
diphthongs and vowels mentioned above, a double consonant is not necessary because
these diphthongs or vowels all have the same length – meaning they are neither long
nor short sounds. Please listen to the sound clip below. You will hear that there is no difference between the length of the diphthongs or vowels in the singular or plural form
of the words listed here:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BWSX84zH454n5azf_AUP_eIiUEHm03zz/view?usp
=sharing]
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511
fout = foute (mistakes)
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huis = huise (houses)
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neus = neuse (noses)
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515
prys = pryse (prizes)
eik = eike (oaktrees)
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dier = diere (animals)
stoep = stoepe (patios)
Afrikaans pronunciation is sometimes difficult, but we offer speaking practice sessions
in this module to help students with pronunciation. Keep an eye out for the invitations
under Announcements on the module site.
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ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY
Table 5.2: Additional vocabulary for Learning unit 5
Afrikaans
English
seun
son
dogter
daughter
familie
family
gesin
household family
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kinders
children (kids)
vriende
friends
beste vriend
best friend
vriend
male friend
vriendin
female friend
kêrel
boyfriend
meisie
girlfriend
verloofde
fiancé
my gunsteling … is
…
my favourite … is …
ek hou van ...
I like ...
ek geniet ...
I enjoy ...
ek hou nie van ... nie
I don’t enjoy ...
want
because
omdat
because
CULTURE CHECK
Family plays an important role in African society. It can determine how persons interact
with others, their political identity and even who they marry. Family structure can be divided into relationships of descent and relationships of affinity. Relationships of descent
are based on patrilineal or matrilineal systems (systems controlled by either the men or
the women in the family). Here, senior generations have more power and status than
younger generations, and younger family members are expected to show respect to
older family members. Relationships of affinity has to do with marriage systems. These
are highly diverse in the African context. For example, in Asante marriages each spouse
continues to live in the house where they were born – the married couple do not live
together in a single home. Their children may decide to stay with one of them until they
marry, or to live with another relative. In Afrikaans culture, a couple usually do not stay
in the same home before they are married, but once married they share a home. Like
the wider African society, most speakers of Afrikaans also believe that younger people
should respect older people and that senior members of a family have more power than
the younger family members.
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5.5 SUMMARY
We have reached the end of Learning unit 5. In this learning unit we discussed the past
tense in Afrikaans. We also considered the pronunciation of some diphthongs. Words
relating to the weather, seasons, personal interests, family and relationships were learned.
Practise the vocabulary as often as you can! Also make sure that you have completed all
the activities to test and extend your knowledge of Afrikaans grammar.
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In the next learning unit we talk about our surroundings.
REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
Kapp, S. 2018. Skoonvarke, en die onpas “swaer”. Aanlyn: https://viva-afrikaans.org/leesluister/blog/item/379-skoonvarke-en-die-onpas-swaer (Toegang verkry: 1 April 2021).
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
grammar for English speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 5
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Starter
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Feedback provided in the game.
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Activity 5.1
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5.1.1 Dit reën.
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5.1.2 Daar is weerlig.
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5.1.3 Die son skyn.
5.1.4 Die wind waai.
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Activity 5.2
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Feedback will be provided on Flip.
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Activity 5.3
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5.3.1 Linde en Antoinette is niggies.
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5.3.2 Johan is Linde se oom.
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5.3.3 Paul is Johan se swaer.
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5.3.4 Anna is Anton se skoondogter.
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5.3.5 Karin is Pieter se ouma.
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Activity 5.4
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538
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5.4.1 Die kinders het televisie gekyk.
5.4.2 Almal het rugby gespeel.
5.4.3 Dit het gehael.
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5.4.4 Ek het in die middae gestap.
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5.4.5 Ek het gelees.
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Activity 5.5
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5.5.1 Die kind was siek.
5.5.2 Die produk het verval.
5.5.3 My suster was getroud.
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547
5.5.4 Sy het die eksamen herskryf.
5.5.5 Ek het my woordeskat vergeet.
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5.5.6 Ek staan elke oggend vroeg op.
Ek het elke oggend vroeg opgestaan.
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5.5.7 Sy sien vreeslik uit na die partytjie.
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Sy het vreeslik na die partytjie uitgesien.
5.5.8 My vriend trek sy beste skoene aan.
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My vriend het sy beste skoene aangetrek.
Activity 5.6
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Feedback will be provided on the relevant forum.
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Learning unit 6
Me and my surroundings
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
6
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Me and my surroundings
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately five hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
5
OVERVIEW
This learning unit is divided into five main sections and focuses on describing things,
talking about illness, talking about feelings, colours and animals. You will also learn about
adjectives, degrees of comparison and diminutive forms. We also consider the pronunciation of certain diminutive forms in this learning unit.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y describe yourself
y describe your surroundings
y use colours and shapes to describe something
y identify and name some animals
y talk about illness
y talk about your feelings
y explain and use degrees of comparison
y use diminutive forms (and pronounce them correctly)
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Figure 6.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 6
STARTER
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 6_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on adjectives. You do not need to read the rest of this learning unit in
order to complete this quiz.
6.1
INTRODUCTION
Being able to describe something is an essential part of communication. If you attend a
job interview, the interviewer might ask you to describe yourself. If you see something
that you like or dislike, you might want to describe it to somebody. If you fall ill, the doctor
might ask you to describe your symptoms. These scenarios show that it is very important
that people must be able to describe things using language that is understood by their
audience.
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In this learning unit we assist you in acquiring the vocabulary and grammatical skills you
need to describe yourself, others and your surroundings.
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VOCABULARY
Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table and watch the video to learn
how these words are pronounced:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1okDN4vFfBxFx00C4uWoiDGWgqEk-sVAg/view?usp
=sharing]
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Table 6.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 6
Afrikaans
English
twintig
twenty
een-en-twintig
twenty-one
twee-en-twintig
twenty-two
drie-en-twintig
twenty-three
vier-en-twintig
twenty-four
vyf-en-twintig
twenty-five
ses-en-twintig
twenty-six
sewe-en-twintig
twenty-seven
agt-en-twintig
twenty-eight
nege-en-twintig
twenty-nine
dertig
thirty
bitter
bitter
heerlik
delicious
lekker
nice, tasty
sleg
bad, terrible
soet
sweet
sout
salty
suur
sour
baie
many, a lot
groot
big
klein
small
kort
short
lank
long
leeg
empty
min
few, little
vol
full
6.2 DESCRIBING THINGS
Think about all the things in your life that you can describe. You might want to tell someone
something about yourself, or you might want to describe your friends, family or someone
else you have met. Maybe you see something beautiful – a landscape, a building or a car.
This learning unit will help you to acquire some basic vocabulary to do just that.
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6.2.1
Describing yourself and others
Let’s begin by describing ourselves. What would you like to tell others about yourself?
Maybe you want to tell someone how old you are or say something about your personality.
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You have already studied Afrikaans numbers in Learning unit 2. Use that information to
tell someone how old you are. Telling someone your age is obviously not the same as
describing your personality or feelings, but it is still something we often do. Students
enrolled for this module are often around 20 years old, sometimes older, therefore we
have included a table that provides you with the ages for 20- to 50-year-olds. Listen to
the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m6AzcLXEksfhTnvoKFUXLJBF1a3bwrKU/view?usp
=sharing]
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20
twintig
36
ses-en-dertig
21
een-en-twintig
37
sewe-en-dertig
22
twee-en-twintig
38
agt-en-dertig
23
drie-en-twintig
39
nege-en-dertig
24
vier-en-twintig
40
veertig
25
vyf-en-twintig
41
een-en-veertig
26
ses-en-twintig
42
twee-en-veertig
27
sewe-en-twintig
43
drie-en-veertig
28
agt-en-twintig
44
vier-en-veertig
29
nege-en-twintig
45
vyf-en-veertig
30
dertig
46
ses-en-veertig
31
een-en-dertig
47
sewe-en-veertig
32
twee-en-dertig
48
agt-en-veertig
33
drie-en-dertig
49
nege-en-veertig
34
vier-en-dertig
50
vyftig
35
vyf-en-dertig
Have you noticed that we do not say Afrikaans numbers in the same way as English
numbers? In English you read the number from left to right: twenty-seven. In Afrikaans, we start with the second part of the number: sewe-en-twintig (which translates to
seven-and-twenty).
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In activity 6.1, you must briefly introduce yourself. Start thinking about what you would
like to say. One option is to state your age as you have already learned how to do it.
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You might also want to tell others where you are from or where you were born. Perhaps
you want to talk about your job? Here are some helpful phrases to get you going. Also
listen to the sound clip to hear how these phrases are pronounced.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IsnAI6Gnx4StRgZSW3Qh448S7PHyBrLZ/view?usp
=sharing]
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y Ek is in Nelspruit gebore. (I was born in Nelspruit.)
y Ek is in 2004 gebore. (I was born in 2004.)
y Ek is van Pretoria. (I am from Pretoria.)
y Ek werk in Bloemfontein. (I work in Bloemfontein.)
y Ek gee skool. (I teach.)
y Ek is ’n onderwyser. (I am a teacher – male.)
y Ek is ’n onderwyseres. (I am a teacher – female.)
y Ek studeer onderwys. (I am studying teaching/education.)
NOTE:
When you refer to yourself, you will probably use the construction Ek is (I am). In other
cases, you will use the construction Ek + verb (Ek studeer/Ek werk/Ek verkoop).
Have a look at the Afrikaans names of occupations in the list below to build your vocabulary.
If your occupation is not listed here, use Google Translate to translate the name of your
profession into Afrikaans and then listen to the sound clip to hear how it is pronounced.
Also listen to the following sound clip to learn how the listed occupations are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gzkpNhHuBcfqbaj8Y1X8y2HGRLqcQZzX/view?usp
=sharing]
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y aanbieder (presenter)
y administratiewe assistant (administrative assistant)
y apteker (pharmacist)
y bankier (banker)
y bemarker (marketer)
y bestuurder (manager)
y bouer (builder)
y dokter (doctor)
y dosent (lecturer)
y entrepreneur (entrepreneur)
y ingenieur (engineer)
y kassier (cashier – male)
y kassiere (cashier – female)
y kelner (waiter – male)
y kelnerin (waiter – female)
y konstruksiewerker (construction worker)
y ontwerper (designer)
y rekenmeester (accountant)
y veearts (vet)
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y vertaler (translator)
y winkeleienaar (shop owner)
y restauranteienaar (restaurant owner)
You may also want to describe is your own or someone else’s personality. The following
is a list of common personality traits. Listen to the sound clip to hear how these Afrikaans
words are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GN2kD-IDVoL4ulFexbo664-f-LdNROjg/view?usp=sharing]
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y aggressief (aggressive)
y angstig (anxious)
y baasspelerig (bossy)
y beterweterig (know-it-all)
y betroubaar (trustworthy)
y eerlik (honest)
y ekstrovert (extrovert)
y emosioneel (emotional)
y geduldig (patient)
y hardwerkend (hardworking)
y hulpvaardig (helpful)
y introvert (introvert)
y lojaal (loyal)
y lui (lazy)
y onafhanklik (independent)
y ongeduldig (impatient)
y onvriendelik (unfriendly)
y skaam (shy)
y vriendelik (friendly)
y vrolik (cheerful)
When you describe your own personality, use the construction Ek is (I am). For example:
Ek is lui (I am lazy) or Ek is skaam (I am shy).
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When you describe someone else’s personality, use the constructions jy is (you are – singular), hy is (he is), sy is (she is), hulle is (they are) or julle is (you are – plural). For example,
Jy is hardwerkend (You are hardworking), Sy is vrolik (She is cheerful) and Hulle is geduldig
(They are patient).
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Now it is time to test what you have learned. Complete activity 6.1 to receive some
feedback on your speaking and writing abilities.
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ACTIVITY 6.1
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Write down a couple of Afrikaans sentences to describe yourself. Tell us about at least
two of your personality traits. Share this written text on Activity 6.1 Discussion Forum.
Now we move on to describing your surroundings. Remember to listen to the vocabulary
for each learning unit a couple of times to make sure that you know how to pronounce
the words. If you are wondering about the translation of certain English words that are
not discussed here, we encourage you to look them up in a bilingual dictionary. If any
translation is unclear to you, please contact your lecturer for clarification.
6.2.2 Describing your surroundings
To structure this section, we categorise the descriptive words into the following groups:
food and drink; measurements and amounts; location; and state.
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6.2.2.1 Food and drink
Have you recently eaten something you liked or disliked? Let’s learn some vocabulary
to describe it.
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Listen to the following sound clip while following in the list:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r8aQsxiTdtoMix3Ii889cDqI7DEvWmeI/view?usp=sharing]
y bitter (bitter)
y heerlik (delicious)
y lekker (nice, tasty)
y sleg (bad, terrible)
y soet (sweet)
y sout (salty)
y suur (sour)
y smaakloos (tasteless)
y smaaklik (tasty)
The following sentences show how the words in the list can be used:
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y Hierdie vrug is so bitter. (This fruit is so bitter.)
y Die kos was heerlik. (The food was delicious.)
y Hierdie toebroodjie is lekker. (This sandwich is nice.)
y Sjoe, die pasta was sleg. (Wow, the pasta was terrible.)
y Die koeldrank is soet. (The cooldrink is sweet.)
y Daardie vis is te sout. (That fish is too salty.)
y My bord kos is smaakloos. (My plate of food is tasteless.)
y Die ontbyt was smaaklik. (Breakfast was tasty.)
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NOTE:
When we use adjectives to describe something, we often place them at the end of the
sentence, after the noun: S + V + adjective. However, this position is not fixed. In the
first grammar section of this learning unit, you will see that adjectives can move around
in a sentence, but their forms then often need to change.
6.2.2.2 Measurements and amounts
Use the vocabulary in this section to talk about measurements or amounts. Remember
to listen to the sound clip to learn how the Afrikaans words are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s8eoX75M8nV4Pcj2aOMzfg1lUn8dNxBZ/view?usp
=sharing]
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y baie (a lot, many)
y enige (any)
y groot (big)
y klein (small)
y kort (short)
y lank (long)
y leeg (empty)
y min (few/little)
y sommige (some)
y vol (full)
The following sentences show how the words in the list can be used:
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y Daar is baie mense by die konsert. (There are a lot of people at the concert.)
y Dit is baie duur. (It is very expensive.)
y Jy kan enige kar kies. (You can choose any car.)
y Die huis is groot. (The house is big.)
y Die kind is klein. (The child is small.)
y My hare is kort. (My hair is short.)
y Die man is lank. (The man is tall.)
y Die glas is leeg. (The glass is empty.)
y Daar is min kos oor. (There is only a little food left.)
y Sommige mense is onbetroubaar. (Some people are untrustworthy.)
y My maag is vol. (My stomach is full.)
NOTE:
When we use baie, we place it before the noun it describes.
Daar is baie mense./Ek is baie honger.
Baie is also placed in front of adjectives and adverbs:
Die kind is baie klein./Die motor is baie vinnig.
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6.2.2.3 Location
This section contains adjectives, adverbs and prepositions that can be used to describe
the location of a place, an object or a person.
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Listen to the following sound clip while following in the list to learn how the words are
pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q2ouJTSiMpqyMrhNKsLBgO8L1ZgNLstd/view?usp
=sharing]
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y agter (behind)
y binne (inside)
y bo (op) (above, on [top])
y buite (outside)
y hoog (high)
y in (in)
y laag (low)
y langs (aan) (next [to])
y links (van) (left [of])
y onderaan (at the bottom)
y onder (below)
y oorkant (across from)
y regs (van) (right [of])
y voor (in front)
The following sentences show how the words in the list can be used:
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y Die winkel is agter die skool. (The shop is behind the school.)
y Die huis is in die buurt. (The house is in the neighbourhood.)
y Die tas is bo-op die kas. (The luggage is on top of the cupboard.)
y Hulle bly bo die waterlyn. (They live above the water line.)
y Ek wag buite. (I am waiting outside.)
y Die trappe is te hoog. (The stairs are too high.)
y Die kind slaap in sy bed. (The child is sleeping in his bed.)
y Die deur is laag. (The door is low.)
y Ek bly langs die apteek. (I live next to the pharmacy.)
y Die restaurant is links van die winkelsentrum. (The restaurant is left of the shopping centre.)
y Skryf jou naam onderaan die dokument. (Write your name at the bottom of the document.)
y Hulle wag aan die oorkant van die straat. (The are waiting on the other side of the street.)
y Hy het regs van die gebou geparkeer. (He parked on the right side of the building.)
y Die man staan voor die huis. (The man is standing in front of the house.)
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NOTE:
There are some combination rules that must be followed when we refer to locations.
In some cases, the words that refer to locations msut be used in conjunction with certain verbs.
Examples:
Slaap is used with in, op or onder:
Ek slaap in my bed./Ek slaap onder die sterre./Ek slaap op die grond.
Klim (to climb) also has a couple of combinations:
Sy klim in die kar in/Ek klim van die bus af/Hulle klim in die boom op.
Some other terms used to refer to location, such as naby (nearby, close to) and ver (far
[from]), require a specific structure. Naby is accompanied by aan and ver is accompanied
by van or af:
Sy bly naby aan die skool.
Hy bly ver van die dorp af.
The same is true for links (left) and regs (right):
Ek woon links van die hotel.
Hy het regs van die hotel geparkeer.
6.2.2.4 State
The final list in this section contains some words that are used to describe the state of
something or someone.
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Listen to the following sound clip while following in the list to learn how the words are
pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QWu73bm74asQHw1IlJ1WKFk6osebIVPu/view?usp
=sharing]
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y arm (poor)
y glad (slippery)
y grof (coarse, rough)
y hard (hard)
y heel (whole, intact)
y heerlik (lovely, delicious)
y jonk (young)
y lieflik (lovely)
y ontevrede (dissatisfied)
y oud (old)
y ryk (rich)
y sag (soft)
y stil (quiet)
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y stukkend (broken)
y tevrede (satisfied)
y wonderlik (wonderful)
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The following sentences show how the words in the list can be used :
y Die vrou is arm. (The woman is poor.)
y Die vloer is glad. (The floor is slippery.)
y Die materiaal is grof. (The material is coarse.)
y Die grond is hard. (The ground is hard.)
y Die glas is heel. (The glass is intact.)
y Dit was ’n heerlike ervaring. (It was a lovely experience.)
y My broer is nog jonk. (My brother is still young.)
y Wat ’n lieflike dag! (What a lovely day!)
y Die man is ontevrede met die diens. (The man is dissatisfied with the service.)
y My oupa is oud. (My grandpa is old.)
y Ek wens ek was ryk. (I wish I were rich.)
y Die mat is sag. (The carpet is soft.)
y Die strate is stil. (The streets are quiet.)
y Die bord is stukkend. (The plate is broken.)
y Die onderwyser is tevrede met my werk. (The teacher is satisfied with my work.)
y Dit is wonderlike nuus. (It is wonderful news.)
ACTIVITY 6.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Have a look at the following pictures. How would you describe each of these scenes using
the vocabulary you have learned in sections 6.2.2.1 to 6.2.2.4?
Picture 1
Picture 2
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Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Source: Pixaby.com
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6.3 TALKING ABOUT ILLNESS
Everyone falls ill or feels unwell from time to time. You might have to describe your
symptoms to a doctor or a friend. In this section of the learning unit we focus on vocabulary
related to illness. Let’s first consider the causes (oorsake) of illness or injuries:
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Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wf1E2XIpxOjm-_ZdCCt3W3h2uyQQ5Exa/view?usp
=sharing]
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y Ek het geval. (I have fallen [down].)
y Ek het my kop gestamp. (I hit my head.)
y Ek het my toon gestamp. (I bumped my toe.)
y Ek het iets verkeerd geëet. (I ate something bad.)
y Ek het my arm gebreek. (I broke my arm.)
y Ek het my been gebreek. (I broke my leg.)
y Ek was in ’n motorongeluk. (I was in a motor vehicle accident.)
y Ek was in aanraking met ’n siek person. (I had contact with a sick person.)
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Now, let’s move on to the symptoms (simptome) of some illnesses:
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Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KY9FHNiGTSSsnE4o7tSr5UgnHE5RT_l7/view?usp
=sharing]
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y Ek voel siek. (I feel ill.)
y Ek voel nie lekker nie. (I don’t feel well.)
y Ek voel duislig. (I feel dizzy.)
y My kop is seer. (I have a headache.)
y Ek het hoofpyn. (I have a headache.)
y My maag pyn. (My stomach hurts.)
y Ek het keelseer. (My throat hurts.)
y Ek hoes. (I have a cough.)
y Ek voel naar. (I feel sick/nauseous.)
y Ek het nie ’n eetlus nie. (I don’t have an appetite.)
y Ek het koors. (I have a fever.)
NOTE:
When you talk about your illness, use the construction Ek het or Ek voel to indicate
almost any cause or symptom.
In section 6.4 we focus on vocabulary related to feelings.
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6.4
TALKING ABOUT FEELINGS
In this section we separate feelings into positive (positiewe) and negative (negatiewe)
feelings (gevoelens). The following lists are obviously not exhaustive. If you are wondering
what other feelings might translate to in Afrikaans, look them up in your bilingual dictionary
or ask your lecturer.
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Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lSfenNWROXircJ0hpow_BnEGNabIjrcO/view?usp
=sharing]
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Positive:
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y Ek voel positief. (I’m feeling positive.)
y Liefde. (Love.)
y Ek hou van jou. (I like you.)
y Ek is lief vir jou./Ek het jou lief. (I love you.)
y Blydskap. (Happiness.)
y Ek voel gelukkig. (I’m happy.)
y Ek is bly. (I’m happy.)
y Ek voel hoopvol. (I’m hopeful.)
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Negative:
y Ek voel negatief. (I’m feeling negative.)
y Haat. (Hate.)
y Ek hou nie van jou nie. (I don’t like you.)
y Ek haat jou. (I hate you.)
y Hartseer. (Sadness.)
y Ek voel ongelukkig. (I’m unhappy.)
y Ek voel hartseer. (I’m sad.)
y Ek voel nie hoopvol nie. (I’m not hopeful.)
Use the vocabulary you have learned so far as often as possible. Use it in messages or
when talking to friends and family. The more you use your new vocabulary, the easier it
will be to remember.
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6.5 COLOURS
Most of you know the colour wheel. The colour wheel includes 12 main colours, but you
don not need to know the Afrikaans for all 12 colours. Let’s focusing on the most common
colours. Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L-61q_zGLRioxV59O8fHWjWgKMunzz_h/view?usp
=sharing]
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y rooi (red)
y oranje (orange)
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y geel (yellow)
y groen (green)
y blou (blue)
y bruin (brown)
y swart (black)
y wit (white)
6.6 ANIMALS
For the purpose of this section we categorise animals into two groups, namely pets
(troeteldiere) and wild animals (wilde diere). An image of each animal is included for ease
of reference.
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6.6.1
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Pets
Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MAal-AkbL4cuAk0D0YTnq3f5lpRon5mE/view?usp
=sharing]
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y goudvis (goldfish)
y haas (rabbit)
y hamster (hamster)
y hond (dog)
y kat (cat)
y papegaai (parrot)
y perd (horse)
y slang (snake)
6.6.2 Wild animals
Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the following sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uV1wdH5sAxUSTet3WdVIvkL0FkUMTOfo/view?usp
=sharing]
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y hiëna (hyena)
y jagluiperd (cheetah)
y kameelperd (giraffe)
y leeu (lion)
y luiperd (leopard)
y olifant (elephant)
y seekoei (hippopotamus)
y sebra (zebra)
y wildehond (wild dog)
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ACTIVITY 6.3
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Choose one of the following pictures and write about it in Afrikaans. Which animal have
you chosen? Why have you chosen it? Name some of this animal’s characteristics. Share
your answers on Activity 6.3 Discussion Forum on the module page.
A)
B)
C)
Table 6.2 contains additional vocabulary for this learning unit. We recommend that you
learn the vocabulary to enhance your ability to communicate in Afrikaans.
GRAMMAR
Morphology and syntax: Adjectives
In this learning unit you have already encountered many adjectives that you can use to
describe a range of different things. However, adjectives have some tricks that you need
to learn if you want to use them correctly.
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The first trick with adjectives is that they can move around in a sentence – they can be
placed either before or after a noun. This placement determines the form of some adjectives. This means that the form of an adjective will change depending on whether it is
placed before or after a noun.
When adjectives are placed after a noun, they are referred to as predicative adjectives
(predikatiewe byvoeglike naamwoorde) because they follow directly after the verb (or
predicate). These forms do not change:
y Die dag is lieflik.
y Die kos is heerlik.
y Die dorp is besig.
y Die toets is moeilik.
When an adjective is placed before the noun, it is called an attributive adjective (attributiewe byvoeglike naamwoord) and an attributive -e must be added to the adjective:
y Dit is ’n lieflike dag.
y Die heerlike kos.
y Die besige dorp.
y Die moeilike toets.
Unfortunately, adding the attributive -e is not required for all attributive adjectives. When
the adjective consists of only one syllable, the -e is usually not added when the adjective
is used attributively:
y Die strate is stil./Die stil strate.
y Die groep is groot./Die groot groep.
y Die vrou is arm./Die arm vrou.
Single-syllable adjectives that end in -d are inflected in the following way if they are
placed before a noun:
y Die onderwyser is goed./Dit is ’n goeie onderwyser.
y Die wintermaande is koud./Hierdie is koue maande.
You will notice that the -d is dropped and an -e is added in the above examples.
If the adjective consists of one syllable and ends in an -f, the final -f is changed to a -w- or
-ww- in the attributive position, and the attributive -e is once again added:
y Die man is gaaf./Dit is ’n gawe man.
y Die kind is rof./Dit is rowwe kinders.
y Die fliek is laf./Dit is ’n lawwe fliek.
The last two examples include the -ww- inflection because the vowels in both rof and
laf are short. When a vowel is short, it is followed by a double consonant. The double
consonant shows us that the preceding vowel is short.
Some adjectives change quite a bit when used attributively. Let’s have a look at some
adjectives ending in -g and -k.
Single-syllable adjectives ending in a -g can change in the following ways when used
before a noun:
y Die mat is sag./Die sagte mat.
y Jou antwoord is reg./Dit is die regte antwoord.
y Die veld is droog./Dit is ’n droë veld.
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y Die gebou is hoog./Dit is ’n hoë gebou.
y Die stoel is laag./Dit is ’n lae stoel.
You will notice that the shorter adjectives (with short vowels) have a -te added at the
end, while the adjectives with long vowels are chopped in half and either an -ë or -e is
added to the end.
When single-syllable adjectives end in -k, the -k often changes to a -g when the adjective
is used attributively:
y Die seun is jonk/Die jong seun.
y Die pad is lank/Die lang pad.
TO SUMMARISE:
SHORT VOWEL = DOUBLE
CONSONANT
SHORT VOWEL + f = ww
Die vloer is glad.
LONG VOWEL + f = we
Die gladde vloer.
LONG VOWEL = ONE VOWEL FALLS
AWAY
Die man is wreed.
Die wrede man.
DOUBLE CONSONANT = e
Die stoel is hard.
Die harde stoel.
Sy vel is grof.
Sy growwe vel.
Die man is doof.
Die dowe man.
DOUBLE CONSONANT + f = we
Die eier is half.
Die halwe eier.
SHORT VOWEL + g = te
Die kussing is sag.
Die sagte kussing.
LONG VOWEL + g = e/ë
LONG VOWEL + d = e/ë
Die berg is hoog.
Die hoë berg.
Die water is koud.
Die koue water.
Die stoel is laag.
Die lae stoel.
Die pad is breed.
Die breë pad.
Die kind is moeg.
Die moeë kind.
Die straat is wyd.
Die wye straat.
Die trein is vroeg.
Die vroeë trein.
Die man is oud.
Die ou man.
Die glas is leeg.
Die leë glas.
Die hond is dood.
Die dooie hond.
WORDS ENDING ON -lik
Die kind is goed.
Die goeie kind.
Die kos is smaaklik.
WORDS ENDING ON -ig
Die smaaklike kos.
Die tuin is pragtig.
Die pragtige tuin.
COLOURS MOSTLY STAY THE SAME
LANK & JONK
Die rok is rooi
Die rooi rok.
Die sneeu is wit.
Die wit sneeu.
Die man is lank.
Die lang man.
*Die ring is goud.
Die goue ring.
Die seuntjie is jonk.
Die jong seuntjie.
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ACTIVITY 6.4
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Fill in the correct form of the adjective in brackets in the sentences below. Some adjectives are used predicatively (after the noun) while others are used attributively (before
the noun).
6.4.1 Ons ry met ’n … motor. (vinnig)
6.4.2 Dit is ’n … dag. (warm)
6.4.3 My bure is … (wonderlik)
6.4.4 Julle is … mense. (vriendelik)
6.4.5 Dit is … nuus. (sleg)
6.4.6 Die klip is ... (hard)
The second trick to adjectives is that they can be used in degrees of comparison. This means
that you can use adjectives to express degrees of intensity. The degrees of comparison
are: the positive form (stellende trap), the comparative form (vergrotende trap) and the
superlative form (oortreffende trap).
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In the positive form (stellende trap) nothing happens – the adjectives are simply presented
as is:
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klein
lekker
vinnig
belangrik
slim
snaaks
In the comparative form (vergrotende trap), an -er suffix is added to the adjective:
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klein
kleiner
lekker
lekkerder
vinnig
vinniger
belangrik
belangriker
slim
slimmer
snaaks
snaakser
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Sometimes we compare the characteristics of one item with another using the comparative form. For this we use as: Hy is kleiner as my broer (He is smaller than my brother).
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In the superlative form (oortreffende trap), a -ste suffix is added to the adjective and the
article die is also used:
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klein
kleiner
die kleinste
lekker
lekkerder
die lekkerste
vinnig
vinniger
die vinnigste
belangrik
belangriker
die belangrikste
slim
slimmer
die slimste
snaaks
snaakser
die snaaksste
As with the attributive use of adjectives discussed above, there are exceptions when
it comes to the degrees of comparisons.
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The first exception occurs when adjectives become difficult to pronounce when the -er
or -ste suffixes are added. In such cases we use the words meer and mees in Afrikaans:
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geleë (situated)
meer geleë
die mees geleë
verleë (embarrassed)
meer verleë
die mees verleë
verlief (in love)
meer verlief
die mees verliefde
This is also true for multi-syllabic adjectives that ends in an -e:
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tevrede
meer tevrede
die mees tevrede
verlate (abandoned)
meer verlate
die mees verlate
The second exception occurs when adjectives have irregular forms. In Afrikaans, these
adjectives are goed, baie and graag:
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goed
beter
die beste
baie
meer
die meeste
graag
liewer/eerder
die graagste
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A second group of adjectives are also worth noting, since these take no degree of comparison. They include:
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dood
dood
dood
alleen
alleen
alleen
klaar
klaar
klaar
The following important notes on degrees of comparison are worth remembering:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Some adjectives consist of a short vowel in a closed syllable. When the -er is added
in the comparative form, the consonant letters in the middle of the word will double:
vlak – vlakker.
Some adjectives consist of a long vowel in a closed syllable. When the -er is added in
the comparative form, the long vowel is written with one vowel letter: skoon – skoner.
Adjectives that end in -s always take two s’s in the superlative form: boos – boosste.
With adjectives that end in -r, and extra d is added in the comparative form: duur
– duurder.
ACTIVITY 6.5
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Fill in the correct form of the adjective in each of the spaces below. Please attempt to do
this activity without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
6.5.1 vol, …, die volste
6.5.2 gelukkig, gelukkiger, ...
6.5.3 akkuraat,..., die akkuraatste
6.5.4 ..., dunner, die dunste
6.5.5 ervare, ..., die mees ervare
Let’s now turn our attention to the second part of this grammar section, which deals
with diminutives.
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Morphology: Diminutives in Afrikaans
In this learning unit you have already learned a lot of vocabulary that you can use to
express your feelings. However, expressing ourselves is not only accomplished by what
we say, but also by how we say things. For example, if someone is whispering they might
be scared, or when someone is typing a message in capital letters, they might be ANGRY
OR ANNOYED.
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In Afrikaans we often use the diminutive form when we think something is adorable or
when we care about something. You will often hear people saying something like: Ag,
kyk die ou babatjie (Look at the little baby) or Hulle huisie is te pragtig (Their little house
is beautiful).
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In this grammar section we discuss diminutive forms in Afrikaans, and explore their forms
and uses.
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Just like other languages around the world, Afrikaans has a way to indicate the diminutive form of objects. This is done by adding different suffixes to the end of words. The
appropriate suffix is determined by the sound structure of the main word. These suffixes
all have one thing in common, namely they all end in -ie:
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-tjie
miertjie, oortjie, vuurtjie, laaitjie, treintjie, truitjie, storietjie
-jie
saadjie, hondjie, maatjie, katjie, hartjie, stertjie
-ie
koppie, messie, werkie, mensie, vissie, huisie
-etjie
karretjie, blommetjie, sterretjie, stemmetjie
-pie
armpie, wurmpie, boompie, liggaampie, probleempie
-kie
rekeninkie, kussinkie, vergaderinkie, piesankie
Read the words in the table again. What do you notice? Can you identify some rules for
diminutive forms in Afrikaans by looking at the examples? If you have been able to identify
some rules, compare them to the following:
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In Afrikaans, most nouns ending in a diphthong or an -ie, take the -tjie suffix: leeutjie,
storietjie.
(2) Words that end on either -t or -d take the -jie suffix: landjie, matjie.
(3) Words that take the suffix -ie can change in two ways. Firstly, the consonant of the
word doubles if the vowel is short: bussie, takkie. Secondly, words with a long vowel
are shortened in the diminutive form: neef (nefie), plaas (plasie).
(4) Short words that end on a consonant that doubles in the plural form take the suffix
-etjie: sonnetjie. One exception to this is that words ending in -ing do not keep to the
double consonant in the plural rule and simply take the diminutive suffix without
any further change: leerlingetjie, ringetjie.
(5) If the word contains a long vowel or diphthong and ends in -m, the -pie suffix is
added: raampie, stroompie. Other words (with a short vowel) that end in -m also take
the -pie suffix: armpie, wurmpie.
(6) For most words ending in -ng (in a non-stressed syllable) the suffix -kie is added and
the final -g is deleted: vertoning (vertoninkie).
(7) Note the following:
(1)
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Some words in Afrikaans appear to be in the diminutive form, but are in fact not:
baadjie, mandjie, mossie. These words therefore also take a suffix in their diminutive
form: baadjietjie, mandjietjie, mossietjie.
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At the beginning of this grammar section we mentioned that the diminutive form in Afrikaans can express that you think something is adorable. However, the diminutive form
in Afrikaans can also be used to express endearment (My engeltjie het vir my ’n geskenk
gebring), teasing (Ag siestog, wil jy nie jou handjies vuil maak nie?) or contempt (Daardie
mannetjie is lekker skelm). Sometimes the diminutive is used to be sarcastic. In referring
to someone’s fancy new car, someone might say: Siestog, kyk sy klein karretjie (Shame,
look at his tiny car).
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Struggling to pronounce the diminutive forms in Afrikaans? Have a look at the next spelling and pronunciation section for some explanations, examples and tips.
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PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Pronouncing diminutive forms in Afrikaans
Diminutives in Afrikaans can be difficult to pronounce because what you see is not always
what you get – we often pronounce the sounds very differently than expected.
The most important aspect of diminutive pronunciation in Standard Afrikaans is that
the j – which features in most diminutive forms, is not pronounced as j. In fact, the j is
pronounced as k. A diminutive form like stertjie is actually pronounced sterkie, miertjie as
mierkie and blommetjie as blommekie. It is important to note that non-standard varieties
of Afrikaans have different pronunciations when it comes to aspects of the language
such as diminutive forms. In the Afrikaans spoken in the Cape, for example, we often hear
speakers pronounce the diminutive form of words with a [t∫] sound. This is not incorrect,
it is simply a different way of pronouncing these sounds in Afrikaans.
A second interesting aspect of diminutives is that the pronunciation of the preceding vowel
is often changed to a diphthong-like pronunciation. For example: hondjie pronounced
as hoinkie. The same is true for a word like maatjie, which is pronounced maaikie. Listen
to the pronunciation of the diminutive forms in the sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SL4yD9BKd7jp5QGBgzlyleoX-8K3f9a0/view?usp=sharing]
y handjie
y hondjie
y maatjie
y katjie
y bootjie
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ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY
Table 6.2: Additional vocabulary for Learning unit 6
6.7
Afrikaans
English
betyds
on time
laat
late
vroeg
early
goed
good
sleg
bad
vinnig
quick, fast
stadig
slow
moeilik
difficult
maklik
easy
slim
smart
dom
dumb
SUMMARY
This learning unit included a lot of useful vocabulary relating to illness, describing things,
colours and animals. Use your new vocabulary as often as possible to get used to it. For
additional vocabulary practice, read this resource.
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This learning unit also included information on use adjectives, degrees of comparison
and diminutive forms in Afrikaans. We know that grammar might be tricky, but practice
makes perfect. Please complete all the relevant activities in this learning unit to practise
your skills and test your knowledge. Also attend the online grammar classes or watch the
recordings for further explanations.
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In the next learning unit we discuss how to express yourself in various situations.
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REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
grammar for English speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
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SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 6
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Starter
642
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
643
Activity 6.1
644
Feedback will be provided on the relevant forum.
645
646
Activity 6.2
Possible answers:
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Picture 1: leeg
648
649
Picture 2: lekker; soet
Picture 3: jonk; gelukkig; bo-op die dak
650
651
Picture 4: stukkend
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653
Picture 5: oud
Activity 6.3
654
655
Activity 6.4
656
657
6.4.1 Ons ry met ’n vinnige motor.
6.4.2 Dit is ’n warm dag.
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659
Feedback will be provided on the relevant forum.
6.4.3 My bure is wonderlik.
6.4.4 Julle is vriendelike mense.
660
661
6.4.5 Dit is slegte nuus.
6.4.6 Die klip is hard.
Activity 6.5
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6.5.1 vol, voller, die volste
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6.5.2 gelukkig, gelukkiger, die gelukkigste
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6.5.3 akkuraat, akkurater, die akkuraatste
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6.5.4 dun, dunner, die dunste
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6.5.5 ervare, meer ervare, die mees ervare
667
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Learning unit 7
Being polite
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
7
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Being polite
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately three hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
3
OVERVIEW
Learning unit 7 is divided into four main sections that focus on thanking, asking politely,
giving commands and making requests. The grammar section focuses on some sentence
structures associated with asking politely and making requests. We also look at word
stress in Afrikaans pronunciation.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y thank someone
y ask someone politely to do something or to give you information
y give commands
y make requests
y pronounce words correctly in Afrikaans
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Figure 7.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 7
STARTER
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 7_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on sentence structure. You do not need to read the rest of this learning
unit in order to complete this quiz.
7.1
INTRODUCTION
Expressing yourself in a polite manner is common, necessary and done almost every day.
However, when you are learning a new language, even this seemingly simple action can
feel complicated.
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In this learning unit we show you how to express yourself politely in Afrikaans. We look
at thanking, asking politely, giving commands and making requests. Learning unit 7 is
the first of two learning units that focus on expressing yourself. Learning unit 8 is the
second of these two learning units.
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You need to learn the Afrikaans words in the following core vocabulary table. Watch the
video to learn how the words and phrases in table 7.1 are pronounced:
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VOCABULARY
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N67uLJCq-av4D1Yr20jvCCpDd39DA0uv/view?usp
=sharing]
Table 7.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 7
Afrikaans
7.2
English
dankie
thank you
baie dankie
thank you very much
asseblief
please
kan jy?
can you?
sal jy?
will you?
mag ek?
may I?
THANKING OTHERS
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Source: Doringdraad on Pinterest
Like many other languages, Afrikaans is considered a polite language. We often use polite
terms when we are speaking, and we use certain words to express appreciation and respect.
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Thanking other people is common practice in Afrikaans. In this section we explore some
of the most common ways to thank others. We are sure that you will find these expressions very handy when communicating in Afrikaans.
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In Afrikaans, we use either dankie (thank you) or baie dankie (thank you very much) to
thank another person. You can use these expressions separately or you can use them in
a sentence. If you choose to use them separately it simply means that you will respond
with either dankie or baie dankie when thanking someone. You are also free to personalise
these expressions, adding to them to make them your own. For example: You might hear
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duisend dankies (a thousand thanks) or vreeslik dankie (thank you so much) in Afrikaans. In
informal situations, people sometimes change the word order and say dankie baie. If you
are uncomfortable with tailoring certain expressions at this stage, just stick to the basics.
When it comes to adding dankie or baie dankie to a sentence, you have two options. The
first is to add the expression to the beginning of your sentence or place it in front of your
sentence:
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y Dankie, ek waardeer jou harde werk. (Thank you, I appreciate your hard work.)
y Dankie vir my geskenke. (Thank you for my presents.)
However, you can also add the expression to the end of a sentence or place it after a
sentence:
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y Ek waardeer jou harde werk, dankie. (I appreciate your hard work, thank you.)
y Ek hou baie van my geskenke, dankie. (I like my presents a lot, thank you.)
NOTE:
In certain regions of South Africa, trammakassie and shukran are also used in Afrikaans
to thank someone.
When someone thanks you and you would like to reply, use the following responses:
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Plesier! (Pleasure)
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Dit is ’n plesier. (It is a pleasure)
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Dit was niks. (It’s nothing)
Geen probleem nie. (No problem)
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7.3
ASKING POLITELY
Since most Afrikaans speakers are very polite, it means that we also use certain structures
and words to ask questions politely or to ask for something politely. Let’s look at some
of the structures available to you.
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One common way of asking politely is to use asseblief (please). This word can be inserted
into the question or added at the end of questions in Afrikaans:
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y Kan jy my help, asseblief? (Can you help me, please?)
y Kan jy my asseblief help? (Can you please help me?)
y Sal jy my oplaai, asseblief? (Will you pick me up, please?)
y Sal jy my asseblief oplaai? (Will you please pick me up?)
y Sal jy asseblief die kar was? (Will you please wash the car?)
y Sal jy die kar was, asseblief? (Will you wash the car, please?)
y Kan jy asseblief vir my verduidelik waar die winkelsentrum is? (Can you please explain to
me where the shopping mall is?)
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y Kan jy vir my verduidelik waar die winkelsentrum is, asseblief? (Can you explain to me
where the shopping mall is, please?)
y Mag ek asseblief nog koeldrank kry? (May I please have some more cooldrink?)
y Mag ek nog koeldrank kry, asseblief? (May I have some more cooldrink, please?)
NOTE:
Kanala is also used to thank others in Afrikaans in certain parts of the country or by
certain Afrikaans speakers.
Also note that asseblief is always placed after both the subject and object in a question
sentence. For example: Sal jy my asseblief help? Not: Sal jy asseblief my help? It is also quite
unnatural to place asseblief at the beginning of sentences: Asseblief, sal jy my help?
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7.4
GIVING COMMANDS
Giving commands is often misunderstood as being rude. While commands are often
used in more serious contexts, they can also be used in polite ways to ask someone to
do something. Commands form part of the imperative mood in English and are called
bevelsinne in Afrikaans.
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Commands are easy to form. In English commands are formed by using the infinitive of
the verb. A command can be a single word or more than one word:
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y Go away!
y Speak!
To form a negative command, we add the auxiliary verb to do in its negative form (do
not/don’t):
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y Don’t leave!
y Do not speak!
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In Afrikaans we use a similar pattern. Instead of do not, we use moenie.
y Loop! = Moenie loop nie!
y Praat! = Moenie praat nie!
When we use a negative command in Afrikaans, we use two negative words: moenie and
nie. This is because Afrikaans uses a double negative in negative sentences. We discuss
this interesting phenomenon in the next learning unit, but you need to be aware of it
while studying this section.
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When we use commands in a certain context, such as an emergency, we often use an
exclamation marks to emphasise the seriousness of the command. If there were a fire
in a building and you wanted everyone to leave quickly, you could scream something
like Hardloop! However, in a more relaxed situation you would probably say something
like Julle word versoek om die gebou te verlaat or Sal julle omgee om die gebou te verlaat?
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These are still commands, but the original, serious command has now been repackaged
as a politer request.
ACTIVITY 7.1
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Rewrite the following commands as polite requests:
7.1.1 Trek jou skoene uit!
7.1.2 Praat die waarheid!
7.1.3 Gee pad!
7.1.4 Moenie daardie knoppie druk nie!
Rewrite the following polite requests as direct commands in the imperative mood:
7.1.5 Sal jy vir my die boek aangee?
7.1.6 Ons versoek dat almal asseblief opstaan.
7.1.7 Sal julle omgee om stil te bly?
7.1.8 Ek sal dit waardeer as julle nie rook nie.
While requests are often used to mask commands, they have many characteristics and
features that are worth exploring. We take a look at these next.
7.5
MAKING REQUESTS
Requests are more complicated than you might expect. When we make requests, we
are imposing on another person. This means that we are expecting another person to
do something for us and we can never be sure if our request might be inconvenient to
that person. Speakers of Afrikaans seldom want to be indebted to others and saving face
remains very important, therefore we make requests in a variety of ways.
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Note that using asseblief is still an important part of a polite request. Reread section 7.3
if you need to refresh your memory.
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The first strategy is known as direct requests. This means we simply ask another person
to do something. Direct requests are not always very polite:
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y Maak die kombuis skoon, asseblief. (Clean up the kitchen.)
y Ek vra jou om asseblief die kombuis skoon te maak. (I’m asking you to clean up the kitchen.)
y Jy sal die kombuis moet skoonmaak. (You’ll have to clean up the kitchen.)
A second strategy is known as conventionally indirect requests. Here the person making
the request asks more politely:
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y Wat dink jy daarvan om bietjie skoon te maak? (How do you feel about cleaning up?)
y Kan jy asseblief die kombuis skoonmaak? (Could you clean up the kitchen, please?)
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A third strategy is called non-conventionally indirect requests. In this case, a person hints
at something rather than making a clear, direct request:
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y Sjoe, maar die kombuis is vuil. (Wow, the kitchen is really dirty.)
It is important to remember that different cultures use requests differently since each
culture determines what is appropriate. However, in Afrikaans we advise you always to
choose the politer form of request.
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GRAMMAR
Syntax: Forming sentences to ask politely in Afrikaans
Have you noticed the pattern in the examples in section 7.3 above? Can you see that all
the questions start with kan jy, sal jy or mag ek? This is a structure often used in Afrikaans
when we formulate a polite question. The words kan, sal and mag are auxiliary verbs
that are placed at the beginning of polite questions. Because an auxiliary verb is placed
at the beginning of the sentence, the main verb (MV) moves to the end. Have a look at
the following examples:
Ek kyk televisie – Mag ek televisie kyk (asseblief)?
S MV O
AV S
O
MV
Jy help my – Kan jy my help (asseblief)?
Jy maak vir my kos – Sal jy vir my kos maak (asseblief)?
Afrikaans speakers typically use the construction mag ek (may I) when asking permission to do something. Kan jy (can you) is used when determining the ability of someone
to fulfil a request. Sal jy -(would you) is used when determining whether someone else
is willing to assist you or to fulfil a request; in other words, to determine whether they
would possibly assist you.
Use what you have learned in this learning unit to complete the following activity:
ACTIVITY 7.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Rewrite the following statements as polite questions. Use the above-mentioned auxiliary
verbs to assist you.
7.2.1 Ek ry met die kar dorp toe.
7.2.2 Ek werk môre van die huis af.
7.2.3 Jy gaan kruidenersware koop.
7.2.4 Jy help my met die skottelgoed.
It is worth noting that these types of structures are also used when we formulate polite
requests in Afrikaans (see section 7.5).
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Morphology: Pronouns and requests in Afrikaans
Do you know that the pronouns added to requests can actually determine the focus
of the request? A request can focus on the speaker (the person asking), the hearer (the
person asked) or the speaker and the hearer (an inclusive request). A request can also be
impersonal. Let’s have a look at these separately:
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If the focus of the request is on the speaker, he or she uses a first-person personal pronoun in the request:
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y Kan ek dalk jou notas leen? (May I borrow your notes?)
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If the focus is on the hearer, the speaker uses a second person personal pronoun:
y Sal jy die kombuis kan skoonmaak? (Will you be able to clean the kitchen?)
When the focus of the request is inclusive, the first-person personal pronouns we or us
are used:
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y Kom ons maak die kombuis skoon. (Let’s clean the kitchen.)
An impersonal focus means that the request is non-conventionally indirect and does not
refer to any specific person. Note the use of the infinitive here:
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y Dis dalk ’n goeie idee om skoon te maak. (It might be a good idea to clean up.)
PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Word stress
In terms of pronunciation, this learning unit focuses on stress – specifically word stress.
Word stress is important because it helps us to pronounce words correctly in Afrikaans.
However, when we also consider stress or emphasis in a sentence, we are able to emphasise parts of our polite questions, commands and requests. In this section we therefore
consider word stress and emphases on words in sentences.
Word stress refers to placing emphasis on a specific syllable of a word when pronouncing
it. For example, when speaking English you would pronounce the word minister as MInister and political as po-LI-tical. It is interesting that word stress in Afrikaans and English
differs as both languages have borrowed some of the same words from Latin and Greek.
In Afrikaans, word stress is often placed on the last syllable of a word (and sometimes
in the middle, but rarely on the first syllable). Look carefully at the illustrations of word
stress in Afrikaans and English in figure 7.2 and listen to the pronunciation of the words
in the sound clip.
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Akfrikaans
English
Afrikaans
English
perFEK
PERfect
pikkeWYN
PENguin
miNISter
MInister
puBLIEK
Public
inSEK
INsect
spesiAAL
SPEcial
konTAK
CONtact
proSES
PROcess
kommenTAAR
COMmentary
proVINsie
PROvince
kosTUUM
COstume
inspekTEUR
inSPECtor
parFUUM
PERfume
enerGIE
Energy
proBLEEM
PROblem
epiSOde
Episode
presiDENT
PREsident
batteRY
BAttery
persenTAsie
perCENtage
departeMENT
dePARTment
KIlometer
kiLOmetre
effekTIEF
efFECtive
filoSOOF
phiLOsopher
heliKOPter
HElicopter
digiTAAL
DIgital
immiGRANT
IMmigrant
poliTIEK
poLItics
instruMENT
INstrument
poLItikus
poliTIcian
integriTEIT
inTEgrity
komiTEE
comMIttee
joernaLIS
JOURnalist
paLEIS
PAlace
kabiNET
CAbinet
Figure 7.2: Illustration of word stress in Afrikaans and English
ACTIVITY 7.3
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Copy the following Afrikaans words into a Word document and then indicate the word
stress by underlining the emphasised syllable. Please attempt to do this activity without
looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
7.3.1 mismoedig
7.3.2 oproep
7.3.3 sekelmaan
7.3.4 terrein
Write down any word in Afrikaans that matches the stress patterns described below.
Record yourself pronouncing each one and share them on Flip. Please use other words
than the ones already listed in figure 7.1 above or in questions 7.3.1 to 7.3.4.
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
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7.3.5 an Afrikaans word with stress on the second syllable
7.3.6 an Afrikaans word with stress on the last syllable
7.3.7 an Afrikaans word with stress on the first syllable
Another way of using stress in language is to emphasise a word in a sentence. This is done
when you want to focus attention on something or change the meaning of a sentence.
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Let’s take one of the example sentences above to illustrate this: Kan jy my help, asseblief?
When we emphasise different words in the sentence, we give different meanings to the
sentence. For example:
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y Kan jy my help, asseblief?
y Kan jy my help, asseblief?
y Kan jy my help, asseblief?
y Kan jy my help, asseblief?
In the sentences above, the emphasised words are the words in bold. In the first sentence,
the emphasis is on jy, indicating that the speaker wants that person specifically to assist
them. In the second sentence, the speaker places an emphasis on themselves, asking the
other person to assist them and not someone else. In the third sentence, the emphasis
is on the word help. Here the speaker is emphasising that they need assistance. In the
fourth and final sentence, the emphasis is placed on asseblief. This could indicate that the
speaker is desperately asking for assistance, or that the speaker is impatient or annoyed.
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You can practise your pronunciation of words by playing the language games in this
module. Keep an eye out for these games on the module site.
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CULTURE CHECK
Interestingly, studies by Blum-Kulka and Olshtain (1984) and Blum-Kulka, House and
Kasper (1989) have found that speakers of Australian English, Hebrew, Canadian French,
and Argentinean Spanish all prefer requests that focus on the hearer rather than the
speaker. This is also true for native Afrikaans and Sesotho speakers who make requests
in English (Ganchi 2012). It therefore seems that focusing on the hearer when making
requests is a common practice in many languages across the world.
7.6
SUMMARY
This learning unit focused on polite language, from saying thank you to making requests.
We discussed word stress in Afrikaans and politeness markers in sentences. Remember,
you can always reread sections or contact your lecturer if there is something you do not
understand. Go ahead and try to use what you have learned here as often as possible –
practise at home or when you are at a store, a restaurant or work.
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We hope that you have enjoyed this learning unit. You should now feel able to express
yourself more confidently. However, we are not done with this topic just yet. In Learning
unit 8 we discuss other ways of expressing yourself, including how to say no and refusing
requests.
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REFERENCE LIST
Blum-Kulka, S & Olshtain, E. 1984. Requests and apologies: a cross-cultural study of speech
act realization patterns (CCSARP). Applied Linguistics 5(3):196–213.
Blum-Kulka, S, House, J & Kasper, G. 1989. Cross-cultural pragmatics: requests and apologies.
Norwood, NJ: Alblex.
CARLA. 2021. Request strategies across languages. Online: https://carla.umn.edu/
speechacts/requests/strategies.html (Date of access: 20 August 2021).
Ganchi, F. 2012. An analysis of requests produced by second language speakers of English and how these requests are received by English first language speakers. Master’s thesis. Stellenbosch University. Online: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/bitstream/
handle/10019.1/71918/ganchi_analysis_2012.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (Date
of access: 23 August 2021).
SELF-EVALUATION
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Answers to activities in Learning unit 7
Starter
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Feedback will be provided in the relevant quiz.
Activity 7.1
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Possible answers
7.1.1
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7.1.2 Ek sal dit waardeer as jy die waarheid praat.
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7.1.3 Verskoon my.
7.1.4
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Sal jy asseblief jou skoene uittrek?
Jy word versoek om nie daardie knoppie te druk nie.
Possible answers:
7.1.5 Gee die boek aan!
7.1.6 Staan op!
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728
729
7.1.7
Bly stil!
7.1.8 Moenie rook nie!
730
Activity 7.2
7.2.1 Mag ek met die kar dorp toe ry?
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7.2.2 Mag ek môre van die huis af werk?
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7.2.3 Sal jy kruideniersware gaan koop?
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7.2.4 Kan jy my met die skottelgoed help?/Sal jy my met die skottelgoed help?
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Activity 7.3
7.3.1 mismoedig
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738
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7.3.2 oproep
7.3.3 sekelmaan
7.3.4 terrein
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7.3.5 Students’ answers will be evaluated on Flip.
7.3.6 Students’ answers will be evaluated on Flip.
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7.3.7 Students’ answers will be evaluated on Flip.
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Learning unit 8
Negative sentences and saying no
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
5
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Negative sentences and saying no
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately three hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
3
OVERVIEW
This learning unit includes five sections and specifically focuses on how to use and form
negative sentences in Afrikaans. We also explore how you can say no and refuse requests.
We also consider the structures of main and subordinate clauses in sentences, and discuss
the pronunciation of r, g and c in Afrikaans.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y form and use negative sentences (negation) in Afrikaans
y say no and refuse requests
y explain the differences between the structures of main and subordinate clauses
y pronounce the r, g and c sounds in Afrikaans correctly
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Figure 8.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 8
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 8_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on the double negative in Afrikaans. You do not need to read the rest
of this learning unit in order to complete this quiz.
8.1
INTRODUCTION
In the previous learning unit we provided you with information about being polite.
However, being polite does not always mean that you agree with other people or that
you agree to assist other people. In this learning unit (and in Learning unit 9) we consider
how you can politely disagree, refuse requests or say no.
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Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table and watch the video to learn
how these words are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kq9qS89p-5RTtiwjUah7NZSr6oXp3rxp/view?usp=sharing]
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VOCABULARY
Table 8.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 8
Afrikaans
English
jammer
sorry
nee dankie
no thank you
geen
none
niemand
nobody
niks
nothing
nooit
never
moenie
don’t
moet nie
do not
en
and
maar
but
want
because
as
if
aangesien
since, considering
dat
that
indien
if, in case
nadat
after
omdat
because
sodra
as soon as
terwyl
while
8.2 SAYING NO
Being able to say no or refuse a request is an important aspect of communication. Obviously we do not always want to do something, eat something, watch something or go
somewhere. When other people ask you for something or about something and you
want to decline, there are a couple of polite ways to do just that.
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The most common yet polite way to say no when someone asks you if you want to eat
or drink something, go somewhere or do something, is to say nee dankie (no thank you).
Afrikaans speakers often use nee dankie when declining an offer. For example:
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Ben: Wil jy saam met ons winkel toe gaan?
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Lisa: Nee dankie.
You are also welcome to add an explanation if you want:
Kris: Kan ek vir jou nog koeldrank ingooi?
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Janine: Nee dankie, ek is nie dors nie. (Note the structure of the double negative here.)
When you refuse a request, you can simply change the request into a negative using
yourself as the subject. Note that when we politely refuse a request, we often use either
ek kan nie or ek het nie:
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y Kan jy my help, asseblief?
y Jammer, maar ek kan jou nie help nie.
y Sal jy asseblief die hond bad?
y Ek kan nie nou die hond bad nie.
y Sal jy asseblief nog brood gaan koop?
y Ek het nie nou tyd om brood te koop nie, jammer.
What do you notice in the examples? Can you see that we have added jammer (sorry)
to two of the refusals? This is often done in Afrikaans when we are politely refusing a
request. Jammer can be added at the beginning or the end of a sentence, but is never
inserted into the sentence itself:
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Jammer, ek kan nie nou kuier nie.
Ek kan nie vandag die rekening betaal nie, jammer.
You might have noticed that most of the sentence structures above include two negative
words. This is called the double negative and is an essential component of negation in
Afrikaans. The following grammar section explains this feature in greater detail.
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GRAMMAR
Syntax: Negation
Negation is something you would have come across before. In English, sentences are
negated by adding not or did not, do not and does not:
y The man is friendly./The man is not friendly.
y The boys are playing in the park./The boys are not playing in the park.
y The protestors broke the window./The protestors did not break the window.
y The child understands the question./The child does not understand the question.
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In Afrikaans, negation looks a bit different. Here we use a double negative (i.e. two negative words) to negate a sentence:
y Die man is vriendelik./Die man is nie vriendelik nie.
y Die seuns speel in die park./Die seuns speel nie in die park nie.
y Die betogers het die venster gebreek./Die betogers het nie die venster gebreek nie.
y Die kind verstaan die vraag./Die kind verstaan nie die vraag nie.
Can you spot the pattern? When using double negation in Afrikaans, the first nie is
placed right after the first verb of the sentence. The second nie follows at the end of the
sentence. This is true even if the original sentence is written in the past tense (see the
third example above).
Although using a double nie in Afrikaans is one of the most common ways to negate a
sentence, there are also other options. For example, we can also use other negative words
such as geen, nooit, niemand and niks:
y Ek het niks geld nie! (I have no money!/I don’t have any money!)
y Daar is niemand by die skool nie. (There is nobody at the school.)
y Ek het geen idee hoe dit gebeur het nie. (I have no idea how it happened.)
y Sy kan niks aan die situasie doen nie. (She cannot do anything about the situation.)
Can you see that there is still a double use of the negative in each case? Here, the first
nie has been replaced by another negative word, but the second nie remains in place.
Note that when we are dealing with very short sentences that do not include an object,
we only use one nie, which is placed after the verb. This is then coincidentally also the
end of the sentence:
y Ons eet./Ons eet nie.
S
V
y Die mense praat./Die mense praat nie.
S
V
It is important to note that a particular structure is used when we negate commands. In
such cases, we always use the word moenie (don’t):
y Loop!/Moenie loop nie! (Don’t go!/Don’t leave!)
y Sing ’n liedjie./Moenie ’n liedjie sing nie. (Don’t sing a song.)
y Bring die stoel nader./Moenie die stoel nader bring nie. (Don’t bring the chair closer.)
The examples above clearly show that moenie is placed at the beginning of a negated command and the second nie is placed at the end of the sentence. Also notice that
the sentence structure of negated commands changes somewhat. Look at the verb in
the second and third commands. They are placed at the beginning of the command.
However, once we negate these commands, the verb moves to the end of the sentence,
settling in just before the final nie:
Sing ’n liedjie = Moenie ’n liedjie sing nie.
In Afrikaans, separable verbs are often used in commands. These types of verbs have
already been discussed in Learning units 4 and 5 (reread the relevant learning unit to
refresh your memory). In this section we only show you how separable verbs act in negative commands.
Separable verbs are broken up in commands. One part of the verb is found at the beginning of the command and its friend is located at the end of the command:
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y Aantrek: Trek jou skoene aan. (Put on your shoes.)
y Uitgooi: Gooi asseblief die water uit. (Please throw out the water.)
When we negate these commands, the two parts of these separable verbs join together
and move to the end of the sentence:
y Moenie jou skoene aantrek nie. (Don’t put on your shoes.)
y Moet asseblief nie die water uitgooi nie. (Please do not throw out the water.)
Have another look at the second example above. Note that if you want to use asseblief in
the negation of a command (because it is more polite), you must change moenie (don’t)
to moet nie (do not) and add asseblief between the two words.
Do you think you understand negation in Afrikaans? Test your knowledge by completing
activity 8.1. Please attempt to do this activity without looking at the answers given at the
end of this learning unit.
ACTIVITY 8.1
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Negate the following sentences by adding the double negatives provided in brackets:
8.1.1 Ek hou van katte. (nie/nie)
8.1.2 Daar is iemand in my huis. (niemand/nie)
8.1.3 Sy besit baie eiendom. (niks/nie)
8.1.4 Hy het baie vriende. (geen/nie)
Negate the following commands:
8.1.5 Rook hier!
8.1.6 Was die skottelgoed.
8.1.7 Skakel asseblief die lig af.
Identify the issue with each of the following sentence structures:
8.1.8 *Die man nie slaap nie.
8.1.9 *Ek nie soek die aartappels nie.
NOTE: The asterisks above indicate that the sentences are not grammatically correct.
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Syntax: Main and subordinate clauses
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You are now at a stage in this module where you are learning more and more complex
ways of communicating in Afrikaans. One aspect of communicating in any language is
knowing how to form grammatically correct sentences. In this section of the learning
unit we focus on forming sentences using specific conjunctions.
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Let’s pretend that you are feeling ill and you want to describe your symptoms to a friend,
a family member or a doctor. You might want to mention more than one symptom, or
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you might want to explain why you are feeling a certain way. To do this, you will probably
use main sentences and subordinate clauses.
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Let’s consider some examples:
y Ek voel siek en ek het hoofpyn. (I feel sick and I have a headache.)
y Ek is moeg, want ek voel nie lekker nie. (I am tired because I don’t feel well.)
y Ek voel siek omdat ek nie ’n eetlus het nie. (I feel sick because I don’t have an appetite.)
NOTE:
While want and omdat both translate as because, they represent different conjunctions
in Afrikaans. While want represents a coordinating conjunction, omdat represents a
subordinating conjunction.
In the examples above you will see that we are working with multiple sentences. The
sentences are connected with a conjunction (underlined in the examples above). Note
the following in Afrikaans:
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A simple sentence (enkelvoudige sin) includes one main or independent verb:
y Ek voel siek.
A compound sentence (veelvoudige sin) includes more than one main clause, and these
clauses are linked using coordinating conjunctions like en, want and maar. In a compound
sentence, each of the sentences can function as an independent sentence, meaning that
when the sentences are linked with a coordinating conjunction, the sentence structure
remains that of a main clause:
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y Ek voel siek. [Main clause 1] Ek het ’n hoofpyn. [Main clause 2] = Ek voel siek en ek het ’n
hoofpyn. [Main clause 1 + Main clause 2]
The pattern used for complex sentences (saamgestelde sinne) is a bit different. Firstly, the
sentences are linked using a subordinating conjunction, such as dat, as, sodra, aangesien,
terwyl, nadat, omdat and indien. Secondly, the structure of the sentence that follows the
main clause changes because the sentence becomes a subordinate sentence:
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y Ek voel siek. [Main clause 1] Ek het nie ’n eetlus nie. [Main clause 2] = Ek voel siek omdat
ek nie ’n eetlus het nie. [Main clause 1 + Subordinate clause 1].
Can you see that when the subordinate conjunction is added to the sentences above,
the verb in the second sentence (het) moves to the end? Have a look at the following
examples if you are still unsure:
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Die man sny die gras terwyl sy kinders swem. (The man is cutting the grass while his kids
are swimming.)
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My vriend is laat omdat hy verslaap het. (My friend is late because her overslept.)
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Have a look at the following summary of what we have just discussed:
Simple sentence
Compound sentence
Complex sentence
y Includes a single
y Includes two or more
main verbs.
y Is formed by joining
y Includes two or more
main verbs.
y Is formed by joining
y
y
main verb.
sentences with
a coordinating
conjunction.
Each sentence is a
main clause.
sentences with
a subordinating
conjunction.
The sentence
following the
conjunction becomes
a subordinate clause
and the sentence
structure changes.
ACTIVITY 8.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Join the following main clauses using the conjunctions in brackets:
8.2.1 Die kind is moeg. Die kind is honger. (en)
8.2.2 Ek sing ’n lied. Ek is gelukkig. (omdat)
8.2.3 Jana moet studeer. Jana speel tennis. (maar)
8.2.4 Ek sal die boek lees. Ek het televisie gekyk. (nadat)
PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Pronunciation of r, g and c
The pronunciation of Afrikaans words often poses a challenge to students. There are certain sounds in Afrikaans that are particularly difficult to pronounce. Since the first learning
unit in this module we have tried to acquaint you with certain sounds and pronunciations
in Afrikaans. In this learning unit we explain how r, g and c are pronounced in Afrikaans.
These particular sounds are challenging because they are sometimes absent from other
languages or pronounced completely differently (e.g. r), or they can be pronounced in
many ways (e.g. g).
The r sound in Afrikaans is known as a triller. This means that when the sound is pronounced, the tip of the tongue trills in the front of the mouth near the teeth. This is
different from the r sound in English, which is pronounced with the tongue closer to
the middle of the mouth. Listen to the sound clip below to hear the differences in the
pronunciation of the sounds. Follow in the table while you are listening. To feel how your
tongue moves in your mouth, we encourage you to pronounce each of the words in the
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sound clip a few times. Pay close attention to the big differences in English and Afrikaans
pronunciation. Do you notice that the r sound in Afrikaans is most prominent when it is
the first letter in a word?
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/17q5e2wtRFEeg5lUTH3w_MV9b0vXrKgre/view?usp
=sharing]
r pronunciation: Afrikaans
r pronunciation: English
rok (dress)
run
rooi (red)
rock
verskriklik (horrible)
terrible
beer (bear)
deer
The c sound in Afrikaans has four possible pronunciations. Three of them correspond
with English and are not so difficult to master.
Let’s start by considering words with a c that is pronounced as k. These are often words that
both Afrikaans and English have borrowed from French, like cliché, collage and croissant.
In some cases, Afrikaans has an alternative spelling for certain words to emphasise that
they contain the k sound, for example confetti (also konfetti), curriculum (also kurrikulum)
and cholesterol (also kolesterol).
A second pronunciation of c in Afrikaans is tj, which corresponds with English pronunciations of words such as chowder, cheeky and cheers.
The third pronunciation of c in Afrikaans is sh, as in the English words chalet and chauffeur.
The fourth and final pronunciation of c is g, which is found in words such as Christen and
chaos (pronounced gristen and ga’os).
Listen to the pronunciation of the sounds in the following sound clip while following in
the table:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16YPbWMA9gWOsZdEQUVOe4Ktvoqzdxttt/view?usp
=sharing]
c pronounced
as k
c pronounced
as tj
c pronounced
as sh
c pronounced
as g
cliché
chowder
chalet
Christen
confetti
cheeky
chauffeur
chaos
curriculum
cheers
The final pronunciation we discuss in this learning unit is the pronunciation of g. This sound
might seem simple, but it can actually be very confusing to non-native Afrikaans speakers.
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There are three ways to pronounce g in Afrikaans. Two of these pronunciations are very
similar, and non-native Afrikaans speakers often find it difficult to distinguish between
them. The first pronunciation of g is as a hard, velar (i.e. formed at the back of the throat)
sound. This sound is found in words like gras, grawe and grond.
The second pronunciation of g is difficult to distinguish from the first, but it is a softer,
palatal (i.e. formed towards the middle of the mouth) g sound found in words such as gee
and geld. With this pronunciation you can feel air escaping from the back of your mouth.
The third pronunciation for g is a harder, velar g that is similar to the g sound in the English word golf. In Afrikaans this pronunciation is also found in gholf, as well as in words
like berge and ghoeroe. Listen to the pronunciation of the sounds in the sound clip while
following in the table:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16y1BuiOAVdBWaPmVL-0Q7OXi5cVNVrmk/view?usp
=sharing]
g sound 1
g sound 2
g sound 3
gras
gee
gholf
grawe
geld
berge
grond
ghoeroe
Use the information in this section on pronunciation to complete the following activity:
ACTIVITY 8.3
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
8.3.1 Record yourself saying the following words on Flip:
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
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y chemie
y chroom
y geel
y goud
y groen
y groet
y raai
y roep
y rook
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8.3 SUMMARY
In this learning unit we taught you how to say no in Afrikaans, and we discussed negative
sentences, simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences. The grammar
might seem overwhelming at first, but it will become easier the more you practise. We
also explained how to pronounce three tricky sounds: c, g and r. Grab a dictionary and
try to pronounce as many of the words starting with these sounds as possible. Also listen
to the sound clips again until you have mastered the pronunciation of Afrikaans words.
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REFERENCE LIST
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
Grammar for English Speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 8
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Starter
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Feedback will be provided in the relevant quiz.
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Activity 8.1
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Negate the following sentences by adding the double negatives provided in brackets:
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8.1.1
Ek hou van katte. (nie/nie) (Ek hou nie van katte nie.)
8.1.2
Daar is iemand in my huis. (niemand/nie) (Daar is niemand in my huis nie.)
8.1.3
Sy besit baie eiendom. (niks/nie) (Sy besit niks eiendom nie.)
8.1.4
Hy het baie vriende. (geen/nie) (Hy het geen vriende nie.)
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Negate the following commands:
8.1.5
Rook hier! (Moenie hier rook nie!)
8.1.6
Was die skottelgoed. (Moenie die skottelgoed was nie.)
8.1.7
Skakel asseblief die lig af. (Moet asseblief nie die lig afskakel nie.)
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Identify the issue with each of the sentence structures below:
8.1.8 Die man nie slaap nie. (This a very short sentence without an object and should
therefore only receive one nie in the negative: Die man slaap nie.)
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8.1.9 Ek nie soek die aartappels nie. (Here the first nie is incorrectly placed directly after
the subject. It should be placed directly after the first verb: Ek soek nie die aartappels
nie.)
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Activity 8.2
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8.2.1
Die kind is moeg en die kind is honger./Die kind is moeg en honger.
8.2.2 Ek sing ’n lied omdat ek gelukkig is.
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8.2.3 Jana moet studeer, maar Jana speel tennis./Jana moet studeer, maar sy speel tennis.
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8.2.4 Ek sal die boek lees nadat ek televisie gekyk het.
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Activity 8.3
Feedback will be provided on Flip.
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Learning unit 9
Politely disagreeing, apologising and offering excuses
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
9
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Politely disagreeing, apologising and
offering excuses
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately two hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
3
OVERVIEW
This learning unit consists of five sections that focus specifically on politely disagreeing,
apologising and offering excuses, forms of address (honorifics), demonstrative and relative
pronouns, and how to know whether words in Afrikaans should be written as one word
or separate words.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y disagree and apologise politely, and offer excuses in both formal and informal contexts
y explain and use appropriate forms of address
y explain and use demonstrative pronouns
y explain and use relative pronouns.
y distinguish between words that should be joined and words that should be separated
in their written form
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Figure 9.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 9
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 9_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on relative and demonstrative pronouns. You do not need to read the
rest of this learning unit in order to complete this quiz.
9.1
INTRODUCTION
In Learning unit 8, we explained how to say no and politely refuse requests in Afrikaans.
In this learning unit we specifically focus on how to disagree politely with someone or
offer excuses in formal and informal situations.
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Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table, and watch the video to learn
how these words and phrases are pronounced:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kQ3mGF-i_-RRJY2FU12MV8muczo2M9Bb/view?usp
=sharing]
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VOCABULARY
Table 9.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 9
9.2
Afrikaans
English
askies, askuus, ekskuus
I am sorry, I apologise
ek is jammer
I am sorry
ek vra om verskoning
I apologise
verskoon my
excuse me
saamstem, ooreenstem
agree
nie saamstem nie, verskil
disagree
verskoning
excuse
verskoning, apologie
apology
POLITELY DISAGREEING AND APOLOGISING
Being able to disagree with someone in an appropriate way is very important in any
language. Because everyone is unique and thinks about things differently, there will
definitely be occasions when you do not agree with another person. Disagreeing with
someone is not a negative thing – it is actually a crucial part of effective communication.
However, the way you disagree can definitely determine whether a peaceful discussion
turns into a negative experience.
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By now you know that Afrikaans (like other languages) have certain words that indicate
politeness. When we use these words, we communicate to our listener that we are not
trying to offend or hurt them.
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Jammer is one such word. Although jammer can be used to disagree politely with someone, it can also be used to apologise. Apologising for your actions is obviously also a very
polite thing to do.
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Let’s discuss how to apologise before we move on to how to disagree politely.
There are many reasons why you might have to apologise to someone. Perhaps you have
done something wrong, offended them, missed an important event or showed up late
to a meeting. In Afrikaans we usually apologise in two ways: Firstly, you can use jammer.
This translates to sorry. Jammer is often used in informal contexts where individuals are
familiar with one another. You can structure your apology with jammer in two ways:
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y Jammer dat ek laat is. (Sorry for being late.)
y Ek is jammer dat ek laat is. (I’m sorry for being late.)
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In the first example you can see we used jammer dat (sorry that/for ...) and in the second
example the structure is Ek is jammer dat (I am sorry that/for ...). In both examples you the
verb is has been placed at the end of the sentence. Why? Think of what you have learned
in Learning unit 8. We discussed the different types of sentences and said that when we
use a subordinating conjunction, the structure of the sentence following it changes. In
Afrikaans dat is a subordinating conjunction. This means that the verb in the sentence that
follows it must move to the end of the sentence. Let’s consider the example sentences
above as main sentences before we combine them – this might help you to see exactly
how the verb moved:
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y Jammer. Ek is laat. »» (dat) »» Jammer dat ek laat is.
y Ek is jammer. Ek is laat. »» (dat) »» Ek is jammer dat ek laat is.
When apologising in a more formal setting, you should say Ek vra om verskoning. This
translates to I apologise. You can use this phrase on its own or you can combine it with
a reason for your apology:
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y Ek vra om verskoning dat ek laat is. (I apologise for being late.)
y Ek vra om verskoning dat ek dit verkeerd gedoen het. (I apologise for not doing it correctly.)
Once again you will notice that the verbs in the second sentences (is and het) move to
the ends of the sentences. By now you should be able to guess why this happens. The
verb movement is due to the use of dat, a subordinating conjunction.
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NOTE:
The word askies is often used in Afrikaans as an informal way to say both sorry and
I apologise.
Let’s now move on to disagreeing politely with others. As mentioned above, you can
use jammer when you disagree with other people. In such cases, jammer is used with the
coordinating conjunction maar to emphasise your disagreement:
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y Jammer, maar ek stem nie saam nie.
y Jammer, maar ek dink jy is verkeerd.
Because you are using a coordinating conjunction, there is no verb movement in the
examples above.
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The following ways of disagreeing are considered less polite, but are still acceptable:
y Ek dink nie dit is die geval nie. (I do not think this is the case.)
y Dit is nie so dat ... (It is not the case that ...)
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Of course you do not always have to disagree with others. There will probably be many
times that you want to communicate that you agree with someone. To do this in Afrikaans,
you can use the following structures:
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y Ek stem saam. (I agree.)
y Ek stem saam met jou. (I agree with you.)
y Ek stem saam dat ... (I agree that ...)
y Dit is inderdaad so dat ... (It is indeed the case that ...)
Note that dat can be used here too (see example 3). If you choose to use dat, you must
remember that the structure of the sentence that follows dat must change because the
verb must be placed at end of the sentence:
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Ek stem saam dat die opdrag moeilik is.
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Also, if you use dat and a double negative, the second nie must still move to the end of
the sentence after the verb:
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Ek stem saam dat die opdrag nie moeilik is nie.
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NOTE:
There are also other informal ways in which Afrikaans speakers indicate that they agree.
These include:
Aweh! (Yes!)
Ja! (Yes!)
Net so! (Exactly!/Just like that!)
Presies! (Exactly!)
Let’s now turn our attention to offering excuses in both formal and informal situations.
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9.3
OFFERING EXCUSES
Apart from knowing how to apologise and agree or disagree with others, it is also useful
to know how you can offer excuses in different situations.
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In Afrikaans, we often use verskoon my when we offer excuses. This is used in both formal
and informal contexts, and can be adapted in various ways:
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y Verskoon my, asseblief. (Please excuse me.)
y Verskoon my. (Excuse me.)
y Mag ek verskoon word? (May I be excused?)
y Sal julle my verskoon? Ek het ’n ander afspraak. (Would you excuse me? I have another
appointment.)
The examples above show that the expression verskoon my can be used by itself, or it can
be used with the polite asseblief. It can also be used with the modal verbs mag and sal.
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Note that verskoon my can also be used if you want to get someone’s attention. For example, if you are in a store looking for something and you want to ask someone to assist
you, you would say verskoon my to get their attention before asking them for help. In this
case, verskoon my is the equivalent of pardon me.
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ACTIVITY 9.1
This activity will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Read the following scenarios and answer the questions that follow. Record yourself on Flip.
Flip link: https://flip.com/1ab467cf
Join code: 1ab467cf
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9.1.1You are in a meeting at work and you have to leave because you need to pick up
your child from school. How would you excuse yourself?
9.1.2 You borrowed a friend’s book and accidently damaged it. How would you apologise?
9.1.3Your boss makes a statement and you disagree with him. How would you verbally
express that you disagree?
9.4
FORMS OF ADDRESS (HONORIFICS)
In Afrikaans we use different forms of address depending on the person to whom we are
speaking. There are many factors that determine which forms of address are appropriate,
including the person’s age and gender. Table 9.2 contains some common forms of address
in Afrikaans. Listen to the pronunciation of the words in the sound clip:
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b1_8PJHLZvPd0lOl9TFOFULXM6MqYXFj/view?usp
=sharing]
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Table 9.2: Common forms of address in Afrikaans
Afrikaans
English equivalent
Meneer
Sir
Mevrou
Ma’am
Mejuffrou
Miss
Doktor
Doctor (academic)
Professor
Professor
Dokter
Doctor (medical)
Oom
Sir (informal)
Tannie
Ma’am (informal)
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Watch the video below. It provides you with basic information about forms of address
in Afrikaans.
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[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cxstXejmwNqQvBcWr4uwacpWFws0NSeU/view?usp
=sharing]
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Note the following:
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(1)
(2)
(3)
In Afrikaans there are different forms of address to distinguish between a doctor
(someone with an academic degree) and a doctor (someone with a medical degree).
This difference is noticeable in written texts, but the difference in pronunciation is
often very difficult to distinguish in spoken texts. Let the context guide you with this.
Meneer, mevrou, mejuffrou, dokter, doktor and professor can all be used in formal
contexts.
Many white Afrikaans speakers consider oom and tannie to be the informal equivalents of meneer and mevrou. The general rule is that if a person is ten or more years
older than you, you should address them as oom or tannie. You will often hear white
Afrikaans children use this term when speaking to adults. Although oom and tannie
can be translated as uncle and aunty, a person does not have to be related to you to
be referred to as either one. Both your uncle (family member) and the older gentleman on the bus you talk to every day can be addressed as oom.
Note that nowadays many people actually find it insulting to be called oom or tannie –
use the terms with extreme caution. This is why most people prefer to use or be called
meneer or mevrou. It is always a good idea to use the more formal form of address (meneer
or mevrou) if you do not know what the person you are talking to prefers to be called.
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GRAMMAR
Morphology and syntax: demonstrative and relative pronouns
In the grammar section of this learning unit we focus on demonstrative and relative
pronouns. Both these pronouns fulfil very important functions in Afrikaans and are important for effective communication. If you need to recap the other pronouns we have
discussed, have another look at Learning units 1, 2 and 4.
Let’s start with relative pronouns. Relative pronouns are used to add additional information
to a sentence. They refer back to a noun or person that has already been mentioned earlier
in a sentence. The three relative pronouns that you need to know are wat, wie and waar.
Each of these relative pronouns are used according to certain rules and structures:
1. Wat is used for people, animals and inanimate objects:
y Die man wat daar loop, is die skelm.
y Die nuwe motor wat ons gister gekoop het, gee reeds probleme.
y Die honde wat die kind aangeval het, is gevang.
Note that you might hear someone say Die man wie daar loop, is die skelm when referring
to people. This is not correct. Wie as relative pronoun is discussed next.
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Also note that you cannot use wat and a separate preposition as a relative pronoun. This
means that you cannot say *Die stoel op wat ek sit or *Die stoel wat ek op sit. In these cases,
we use waar plus a preposition. This is discussed in more detail later.
2. When we use wie as a relative pronoun in Afrikaans, we always use it with a preposition or the word se:
y Die vrou wie se kinders oorsee werk, is my kollega.
y Die persoon aan wie ek die geld betaal het, werk by Unisa.
y Die man met wie ek gesels het, is my broer.
y Die kind wie se kat weg is, is baie ontsteld.
3. Waar is used as a relative pronoun with a preposition (which is the correct alternative
to using wat plus a preposition, as discussed above). Pay close attention to how the
relative pronoun waar + preposition replace wat + preposition in each case):
y Die stoel waarop (wat + op) ek sit, is gemaklik.
y Die bus waarmee (wat + met) ons ry, voel onveilig.
y Die groep waarin (wat + in) ek is, weet nie wat om te doen nie.
Note that waar can also be used by itself in a sentence to specify a place or location:
y Die stad waar ek grootgeword het, is ver.
y Die winkel waar ek kruideniersware koop, het toegemaak.
Pay attention to the characteristics of relative pronouns that have been mentioned earlier.
In all our examples the relative pronouns are used to refer back to someone or something
already mentioned in the sentence, and to add additional information:
y Die nuwe motor (wat ons gister gekoop het), gee reeds probleme.
y Die man (met wie ek gesels het), is my broer.
y Die stoel (waarop ek sit), is gemaklik.
y Die bus (waarmee ons ry), voel onveilig.
In each of these examples we could leave out the section in brackets and the sentence
would still make sense. Note that each of the relative pronouns refer directly to the person or object mentioned first in each sentence: wat refers to the new car, met wie refers
to the man and so on.
Try activity 9.2 to test your knowledge of relative pronouns. Please attempt to do this
activity without looking at the answers given at the end of this learning unit.
ACTIVITY 9.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Insert the correct relative pronoun into the space in each sentence. The options have
been provided to you after each sentence.
9.2.1 Die kinders … in die veld speel, is my niggies. (wie/wat/waarin)
9.2.2 Die seun … hy ’n geskenk gegee het, is siek. (wie se/aan wie/waarmee)
9.2.3 Die trein ... ons reis, is groot. (wat/waarmee/met wie)
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Explain what is wrong with each of the following sentences:
9.2.4 *Die beker in wat die tee is.
9.2.5 *Die vrou wie die geld gesteel het, is tronk toe.
Another important group of pronouns in Afrikaans is demonstrative pronouns. We have
two demonstrative pronouns in standard Afrikaans, namely hierdie and daardie. These
pronouns are used to indicate how close an object or a person is to you (close to you or
further away, i.e. proximity).
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It is easy to distinguish between these two pronouns. Hierdie (this) is used to refer to
something close to you. Daardie (that) is used to refer to something further away.
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Note that in English demonstrative pronouns have plural forms: this/these and that/those.
In Afrikaans we use the same form of the demonstrative pronoun throughout – there are
no singular or plural forms:
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y this cat, these cats = hierdie kat, hierdie katte
y that man, those men = daardie man, daardie mans
NOTE:
Words such as the article die can also be used as a demonstrative pronoun if we add an
acute accent to the word: dié. It then has the same meaning as hierdie.
In spoken Afrikaans we often hear speakers use the informal terms daai or doer to refer
to objects or people that are further away from them. In such cases both daai and doer
mean daardie.
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Syntax and spelling: writing Afrikaans words as compounds or separate words
Knowing when to write a word as one word (a compound) or separate words can be very
confusing. In English, these rules are fairly inconsistent and we must often use a dictionary
to be certain of the spelling:
846
book + club = book club
847
848
book + case = bookcase
In Afrikaans, the rules for compound words are a bit clearer. Compounds in Afrikaans
are always written as one word and can be made up of nouns, verbs or a combination
of nouns and verbs:
849
850
boek + rak = boekrak
boek + klub = boekklub
851
kantoor + deur = kantoordeur
852
853
groep + belang = groepsbelang
854
hond + hok = hondehok
148
Have you noticed that extra letters (s and e, respectively) have been added to the compounds
in the final two examples? We call these verbindingsklanke and they are added between
the two stem words of a compound. In Afrikaans we use the following verbindingsklanke:
-e-, -s-, -ns-, -ens- and -er-. Unfortunately there are no strict rules when it comes to using
these connections in a compound. Depending on how people have been taught growing
up, you can hear variations such as landwyd or landswyd, verjaardag or verjaarsdag. Certain
forms are fixed, however. For example, most people say kinderkamer, but never kindkamer.
855
The following rule is clear and must be adhered to: When the first stem word in the compound
does not end in an -s in its singular form and the second word of the compound starts
with an s-, no additional s is added to the word. For example:
856
y seun + skool = seunskool (not *seunsskool)
y man + skoene = manskoene (not *mansskoene)
It is also important to note that adjectives and nouns are never combined to form
a compound word:
857
y moeilike + besluit = moeilike besluit (not *moeilikebesluit)
y heerlike + kos = heerlike kos (not *heerlikekos)
Remember that adjectives can be used attributively or predicatively (reread Learning
unit 6 if you are unsure about these terms). In the examples above, the adjectives are
placed before the noun (i.e. they are used attributively). The -e inflection tells you that
you are dealing with an adjective and a noun, and these words should therefore be written separately.
858
ACTIVITY 9.3
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Should the following words in brackets be written as one word or two separate words?
9.3.1 ’n Mens moet (voedsame + kos) eet om gesond te bly.
9.3.2 Diabete se risiko op (hart + siektes) en (allergiese + reaksies) is hoër as gemiddeld.
9.3.3 Die (regte + kos) sal ’n mens se (energie + vlakke) verhoog.
9.3.4 Jy moet die (honde + kos) gaan koop en dan vir die (honde + kos) gee.
9.3.5 Daar is ’n (griep + epidemie) in die stad; baie van my (personeel + lede) is siek.
You have reached the end of Learning unit 9. We hope you have enjoyed this learning
unit and will use your newly acquired knowledge to communicate in Afrikaans. If you
have any questions about this learning unit, please contact your lecturer.
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9.5
SUMMARY
The learning unit was an extension of Learning unit 8. It explained how to disagree politely,
how to apologise and how to offer excuses. We also looked at common forms of address
in Afrikaans. These are all very important aspects of communication that are often used
in all languages, especially in Afrikaans. Remember to be as polite as possible when you
speak Afrikaans, especially when you talk to older people. We also discussed relative and
demonstrative pronouns in Afrikaans, and explained when and how to use them. Finally,
we included some notes about the spelling of compound words in Afrikaans. Afrikaans
spelling can be tricky, but with frequent practice your spelling will improve in no time.
859
REFERENCE LIST
Beter Afrikaans. 2021. Verbindingsklanke. Aanlyn: https://www.beterafrikaans.co.za/website/index.php?pag=133 (Toegang verkry: 10 November 2021).
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
grammar for English speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
SELF-EVALUATION
860
Answers to activities in Learning unit 9
Starter
861
862
Feedback provided in the relevant quiz.
863
Activity 9.1
864
Feedback will be provided on Flip.
Activity 9.2
865
866
867
9.2.2 Die seun aan wie hy ’n geskenk gegee het, is siek.
868
869
870
9.2.1 Die kinders wat in die veld speel, is my niggies.
9.2.3 Die trein waarmee ons reis, is groot.
Explain what is wrong with each of the following sentences:
9.2.4 *Die beker in wat die tee is.
In this sentence the use of wat and a preposition (in) is incorrect. In Afrikaans you cannot use wat plus a preposition as a relative pronoun. The correct sentence would be: Die
beker waarin die tee is.
871
872
9.2.5 *Die vrou wie die geld gesteel het, is tronk toe.
150
In Afrikaans you can only use wie with a preposition or the word se if it is used as a relative
pronoun. In this case the correct relative pronoun is wat, which is used to refer to people
and objects: Die vrou wat die geld gesteel het, is tronk toe.
873
Activity 9.3
874
9.3.1 ’n Mens moet voedsame kos eet om gesond te bly.
875
876
9.3.2 Diabete se risiko op hartsiektes en allergiese reaksies is hoër as gemiddeld.
877
878
9.3.3 Die regte kos sal ’n mens se energievlakke verhoog.
9.3.4 Jy moet die hondekos gaan koop en dan vir die honde kos gee.
879
9.3.5 Daar is ’n griepepidemie in die stad; baie van my personeellede is siek.
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Learning unit 10
Making plans
LEARNING UNIT NUMBER
10
TITLE OF LEARNING UNIT
Making plans
STUDY HOURS
This learning unit will take approximately two hours
to complete.
NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES
3
OVERVIEW
This final learning unit consists of three sections that focus on how to tell someone
about your plans, how to use adverbial modifiers and the structure of these modifiers in
Afrikaans. We end this learning unit with a discussion on nasalisation and diacritical marks.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After you have worked through this learning unit, you should be able to
y tell others about your plans
y explain the structure of adverbial modifiers in Afrikaans
y explain what nasalisation is and how it is used
y explain how and when to use diacritical marks
152
880
Figure 10.1: A visual overview of Learning unit 10
881
STARTER
This is an informal starter activity that will take about five minutes to complete.
Please complete the informal starter quiz, Quiz: LE 10_Starter, on the module page.
This quiz focuses on diacritics. You do not need to read the rest of this learning unit in
order to complete this quiz.
10.1 INTRODUCTION
Congratulations! You have reached the final learning unit for the module AFK1505. By now
you should be able to communicate (in a basic way) in Afrikaans. If not, don’t be alarmed –
learning a language can take a long time. Just keep practising and re-read the content of
this module if you are unsure about a grammar rule or if you have forgotten something.
882
We conclude the module by explaining how you can tell someone about your future
plans, and we consider some more pronunciations and spelling conventions in Afrikaans.
883
Learn the new words in the following core vocabulary table and watch the video to learn
how these words are pronounced:
884
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q5f5eDchaSrWI4qX7wldYldKUHu1X7Se/view?usp
=sharing]
885
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AFK1505/1
VOCABULARY
Table 10.1: Core vocabulary for Learning unit 10
Afrikaans
English
môre
tomorrow
oormôre
the day after tomorrow
volgende week
next week
volgende maand
next month
volgende jaar
next year
oor ’n week
in a week’s time
oor twee weke
in two weeks’ time
oor ’n maand
in a month’s time
oor twee maande
in two months’ time
oor ’n jaar
in a year’s time
oor twee jaar
in two years’ time
oor die naweek
over the weekend
10.2 TALKING ABOUT FUTURE PLANS
In Learning unit 5, we discussed how to form the future tense in Afrikaans. If you cannot
remember the rules, we can refresh your memory:
886
When we use the future tense in Afrikaans, we add words to a sentence that indicate
future tense. These are the verbs sal, gaan and/or other indicators of a time in the future,
such as volgende week and môre.
887
888
When you discuss your plans for the future, you must obviously use the future tense:
y Ek gaan volgende jaar Londen toe. (I am going to London next year.)
y Ek sal volgende week die dokumente stuur. (I will send the documents next week.)
However, there are also other ways to express what you want to do in the future. In
Afrikaans, we use ek wil (I want to) to say that we want to do something right now or in
the future. When you use ek wil, you should therefore make sure that you specify whether
you mean now or in the future:
889
y Ek wil volgende maand dieretuin toe gaan. (I want to go to the zoo next month.)
154
y Ek wil Maandag werk soek. (I want to look for work on Monday.)
y Ek wil oor ’n week die boek bestel. (I want to order the book in a week’s time.)
Notice that our sentences all start with the subject, then wil in the first verb position and
then the time (when) we want to do something, followed by the object. In the grammar
section we explore the positioning of adverbs in greater detail. Here it is just important
to note the structure as a whole: subject + wil + time + object.
890
ACTIVITY 10.1
This activity will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Use Flip to record yourself talking about three things you want to do in the future. Use
volgende week in your first sentence, oor die naweek in your second sentence and môre
in your third sentence.
GRAMMAR
Syntax: adverbial modifiers
Non-native Afrikaans speakers often find it very difficult to structure sentences with adverbial modifiers. When you want to discuss your plans for the future, you might want to
add details such as the time something will take place, the manner in which it will take
place and the location where it will take place. English speakers often confuse the placement of adverbial modifiers in Afrikaans with their placement in English.
In Afrikaans, the sequence of adverbial modifiers in a sentence is: time, manner, place. In
English, the sequence is: place, manner, time. Time and place switch. This switch is often
not noted by English speakers and as a result they form Afrikaans sentences that are not
grammatically correct:
*Ek gaan (see toe) (volgende week).
Place
Time
Instead of
Ek gaan volgende week see toe.
or
*Die studente ry (met die bus) (Maandag) (dorp toe).
Manner
Time
Place
Instead of
Die studente ry Maandag met die bus dorp toe.
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ACTIVITY 10.2
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Use the adverbial modifiers that are provided to form grammatically correct Afrikaans
sentences that describe your plans for the future:
10.2.1
per motor/volgende week/Rustenburg toe
10.2.2
werk toe/oor die naweek
10.2.3
volgende jaar/VSA
This learning unit focuses on future plans and we have been using adverbial modifiers to
help us describe these plans. However, the sequence of adverbial modifiers also remains
the same in the past tense:
Ek het (gister) (winkel toe) gegaan.
Time
Place
Hy het (verlede jaar) (per trein) (na Durban) gereis.
Time
891
Manner
Place
Spelling: Diacritical marks in Afrikaans
Apart from the specific structure of sentences with adverbial modifiers and the nasalisation
of certain words (see below), Afrikaans also uses diacritical marks in the spelling of words.
In Afrikaans, we can spell words with a diaeresis (reën), circumflex (skêr) and acute or grave
accent (cliché, crèche). While these marks are not used in English, they have to be used
in Afrikaans as they indicate how certain words are pronounced and what those word
mean. For example: The difference in meaning and pronunciation between se (indicating
possession) and sê (to say) is indicated by the circumflex.
893
Sometimes Afrikaans uses punctuation or diacritical marks for the same purposes as other
languages. For example, a hyphen in both Afrikaans and English is used to join parts of
words, such as sosio-ekonomies. In other cases, a punctuation mark has a different function.
For example, in English an apostrophe is used to indicate possession, while in Afrikaans
we use it to form specific plural forms, such as foto’s.
894
Let’s consider each of the diacritical marks separately.
895
896
Diaeresis (deelteken)
In Afrikaans the diaeresis is mainly used to indicate that vowels belong to different syllables
and should be pronounced separately:
897
reünie (NOT *reunie)
898
finansiële (NOT *finansiele)
899
voël (NOT *voel)
900
156
In other cases, the diaresis indicates that a consonant, usually g, is no longer included in
the Afrikaans form of the original Dutch word. For example, regen (Dutch) has become
reën (Afrikaans). Here the diaresis does not indicate how the word is pronounced; the
Afrikaans word been rhymes with reën. In other cases, two separate syllables can still be
distinguished when the word is pronounced: hoë does not rhyme with hoe. The following
words that require a diaeresis are often used and well known in Afrikaans:
901
asteroïed, beïnvloed, geïnteresseerd
902
903
geleë, moeë, geëet
geëvalueer, geërf, finansiële
904
905
geboë, hiëna, hoë
hoërskool, keel, koeël
906
koördineer, voël, leër
907
oë, poësie, proteïen
908
reël, reëlmatig, seën
909
spieël, voël, uitveër
910
verhoë, verleë, vlieënier
911
REMEMBER:
Not all combinations of vowels belonging to different syllables need diaeresis:
(1)While words like finansiële and diëte use diaereses, their counterparts finansieel
and dieet do not. This is because the second vowel sound in finansieel and dieet
is spelled with two of the same vowel letters: ee. So here, the first vowel i is
followed by a double vowel ee.
(2)Diaereses are not used when e appears after a in the combination ae: maer,
hael, dae. Note that this rule does not apply to words of foreign origin: aërobies.
(3)
The combination eo does not get diaereses: geoefen, deodorant.
(4)The combination ii does not receive diaereses – not even if the first i forms part
of a diphthong: fraiing, draaiing.
Circumflex (kappie)
912
The circumflex generally indicates that a vowel is lengthened when pronounced. The
most common words written with a circumflex in Afrikaans are the following:
913
môre, wêreld, êrens
914
gô, lê, hê
915
157
AFK1505/1
komplementêr, komplimentêr, monetêr
916
primêr, sekondêr, sê
917
brûe, tersiêr, militêr
918
REMEMBER:
(1)All compounds with the verbs lê, hê and sê also take the circumflex: aanlê, inlê,
aansê, aanhê, etc.
(2)The following words do not take a circumflex in standard Afrikaans: kombers,
vlermuis, stert, tert, ster, pers and perd.
(3) The Afrikaanse Woordelys en Spelreëls recognises both ver and vêr (far).
Acute or grave accent (akuut- of gravisteken)
919
These accent signs are often part of the spelling of words borrowed from other languages,
especially from French. As such, they form part of the spelling of the word. They also form
part of the spelling of some well-known Afrikaans (sur)names:
920
921
cliché, appèl (= appeal, to distinguish it from appel = apple)
922
crèche, dè
923
attaché, première
Fouché, Thérèse
924
925
Naudé, Eugène
In addition, the acute accent is used for incidental stress on words, although it does not
normally form part of the word:
926
Dit is háár boek, nie joune nie!
927
Dit is dié beste resep.
928
NOTE:
To distinguish effectively between the acute and grave accent, note that the acute
accent causes an e to be pronounced ei, while the grave accent causes the e to be
pronounced ê sound. Listen to this difference in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F0kUKyznlQGcJ00RqGJxcl1ma2Fg4teB/
view?usp=sharing]
929
The apostrophe (afkappingsteken)
The plural forms of Afrikaans words ending on a single -o, -u or -i require an apostrophe:
930
158
deposito’s, impi’s, balju’s
931
foto’s, alibi’s, buro’s
932
933
radio’s, solo’s
REMEMBER:
(1)When words end with a single -a, an apostrophe is only used when the -a is
stressed: pa’s, ma’s, hoera’s, bra’s. The same is also true for such diminutive forms:
hoera’tjie, pa’tjie.
(2)When the single a at the end of a word is unstressed (which is most often the
cases), no apostrophe is needed: agendas, kommas, babas, oupas, temas, diplomas,
dilemmas.
(3)Please note the use of the apostrophe with the indefinite article ’n, as well as with
s’n and g’n.
(4)The plurals of acronyms, numbers and symbols also take an apostrophe: OTM’s,
1980’s, Boeing 747’s.
934
The hyphen (koppelteken)
A hyphen is used (in both English and Afrikaans) to make words easier to read, but it also
has many other functions.
935
In a compound with a sequence of vowels that might cause confusion when it is read, a
hyphen is used: bo-ent, na-aap, ski-ervaring.
936
In compounds where the first part is a loan phrase, the phrase and the Afrikaans word
are separated by a hyphen: ad hoc-besluit, en suite-badkamer.
937
Compounds that are very long or difficult to read are also hyphenated: beplanningsfase-aktiwiteite.
938
Compounds with figures, amounts and symbols use a hyphen: 2 liter-bottel, R50-noot,
U-draai.
939
Compounds with abbreviations or acronyms often use the hyphen: BA-graad, ESKOMkrag, Sasol-aandele.
940
We also use a hyphen when we repeat words: huil-huil, sing-sing, kou-kou. These are common
in Afrikaans and are called iteratives.
941
Note the use of a hyphen in geographical names consisting of a direction word or an
uninflected adjective and a proper noun: Bo-Kaap, Klein-Karoo, Midde-Ooste, Noord-Amerika.
942
We also use a hyphen in Afrikaans when we form compounds with hulle: Jason-hulle,
Oupa-hulle. This means that you are referring to a person and everyone associated with
them. For example, Jason-hulle refers to Jason and his family or Jason and his friends.
943
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AFK1505/1
ACTIVITY 10.3
This activity will take approximately ten minutes to complete.
Correct the following words or compounds by adding the correct diacritical mark or
punctuation mark to each:
10.3.1
reenboe
10.3.2
naief
10.3.3
bler
10.3.4
mossieeier
10.3.5
Zulus
PRONUNCIATION
Phonetics and phonology: Nasalisation
Nasalisation is a term that you might have come across in other language modules. It
is common in many African languages and it means that the -n sound in certain words
is not clearly pronounced, but the vowel preceding it is nasalised. When we nasalise a
sound, we tend to lower our velum (soft palate) to allow some air to escape through the
nose when we pronounce the sound. This gives the sound an obvious nasal quality. In
Afrikaans, this occurs with words that end on -ns: ons, mens, gans, hans, grens. Listen to
the different pronunciations of -ns in the following sound clip:
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z-mugRwBCd36CDwMDMKACSBIxEY4Loga/
view?usp=sharing]
When you try to hear how sounds are nasalised in Afrikaans, you will realise that happens
very subtly. Try to pronounce the words yourself. You should be able to feel how your
tongue and mouth move when you pronounce the words very slowly. Note that nasalisation does not always occur – some people pronounce the -n in the above examples
clearly, especially when the preceding vowel is e.
CULTURE CHECK
While a compound with hulle in Afrikaans is commonly used to refer to a person and
those associated with them, Afrikaans speakers in some regions tend to use goed instead
of hulle to refer to someone and their associates: Piet-hulle, Piet-goed.
Different methods are used to indicate the same concept in other Southern African languages. In Zulu, for example, the meaning is communicated by changing the class prefix
of class 1a (u) to the plural (o). So, uThoko refers to Thoko, but oThoko means Thoko and
everyone associated with Thoko.
10.3 SUMMARY
You have now reached the end of Learning unit 10. We hope that you have enjoyed this
learning unit and module, and now have enough confidence to communicate with others
in Afrikaans.
944
160
In this final learning unit we focused on how to discuss your future plans in Afrikaans. We
also took a closer look at how to use adverbial modifiers correctly, and we explained how
to pronounce words where nasalisation occurs. Finally, we provided you with information
about the use of diacritical marks in Afrikaans.
945
The rest is up to you. The key to learning any language is listening to the language as
often as possible, and trying to write and speak it whenever an opportunity presents
itself. Communicating in a new language can be intimidating, but it is essential. Remember that native speakers of any language will probably be flattered by your attempts to
learn their language and would not mind explaining words or helping you to pronounce
them correctly.
946
REFERENCE LIST
Ehlers, D. 2013. Basiese kommunikatiewe vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Enigste studiegids vir
AFK1501. Pretoria: Universiteit van Suid-Afrika.
Luther, J, McLachlan, T & Barnby, A (eds). 2011. Longman-HAT: Afrikaans dictionary and
grammar for English speakers. Pinelands: Pearson Education South Africa.
SELF-EVALUATION
Answers to activities in Learning unit 10
947
Starter
948
949
950
Feedback is provided in the relevant quiz.
Activity 10.1
Feedback will be provided on Flip.
951
Activity 10.2
952
953
10.2.1 Ons gaan volgende week per motor Rustenburg toe.
10.2.2 Ek gaan oor die naweek werk toe./Ek moet oor die naweek werk toe gaan.
954
955
10.2.3 Ek en my vriende gaan volgende jaar VSA toe.
Activity 10.3
956
957
10.3.1 reënboë
10.3.2 naïef
958
959
10.3.3 blêr
10.3.4 mossie-eier
960
961
10.3.5 Zulu’s
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