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What’s with this “Wren” thing?
The oldest extant version of the fable
we
are presenting here appeared in 1913 in the first volume of a two-volume anthology
of Low
Saxon folktales (Plattdeutsche
Volksmärchen “Low German Folktales”)
collected by Wilhelm Wisser (1843–1935). Read
more ...
Gariep-Afrikaans / Griekwa-Afrikaans
Afrikaans
(Garib/Griqua/Orange River Variety)
Nicholas
Waterboer, who was Griqua leader
from 1852 until 1871
and died in 1896
Language information: Afrikaans began in the 17th century as a language variety then referred to
as “Cape Dutch.” It developed essentially from Dutch, Zeelandic and other Low
Franconian varieties with influences from Low Saxon, Malay, Khoi-San and Bantu
languages, French, English and many others, creating a language that is uniquely
suited for life in Southern Africa. Contrary to common belief, Afrikaans is
not only used by “Whites” but is used by even more people of part European
and part African descent, also by people of other ethnic backgrounds, such
as descendants of “Malay” slaves and formerly Khoi-San-speaking aboriginal
Nama (Khoekhoe, formerly “Hottentot”) and Khoe (Kxoe, formerly “Bushmen”). Afrikaans is currently used by close to six million people,
the vast majority of them in South Africa.
Garib Afrikaans (Gariep-Afrikaans)
or Orange River Afrikaans, also known as Griqua Afrikaans (Griekwa-Afrikaans),* is predominantly used in the Orange (!Garib) River region (Oranjerivier-gebied) in the Northern Cape (Noord-Kaap). It has probably been influenced by Khoi languages. It is primarily used
by people of mixed European and indigenous descent. The Bible has been translated
into Garib Afrikaans, and Garib Afrikaans has been used in literature and plays
for some time now.
_________
* Not to
be confused with the Nama variety known as Griqua, Khiri and Xiri, formerly as
“Cape Hottentot.”
Genealogy: Indo-European > Germanic > Western > Low German > Low Franconian > Dutch > Afrikaans
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