| Afrikaans Language Monument |
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The Afrikaans Language Monument (, Western Cape Province , South Africa . Completed in 1975 , it commemorates the centenary of Afrikaans being declared a separate language from Dutch . The monument consists of various tapering structures of a Convex and Concave nature, symbolising influences of different languages and cultures on Afrikaans itself, as well as political developments in South Africa, as follows:
On a large Plaque at the entrance, two quotes from prominent Afrikaans poets are enscribed:
: "Afrikaans is the language that connects Western Europe and Africa... It forms a bridge between the large, shining West and the magical Africa... And what great things may come from their union – that is maybe what lies ahead for Afrikaans to discover. But what we must never forget, is that this change of country and landscape sharpened, kneaded and knitted this newly-becoming language... And so Afrikaans became able to speak out from this new land... Our task lies in the use that we make and will make of this gleaming vehicle..."
: "If we plant a row of poles down this hall now, ten poles, to represent the last ten years, and on each pole we make a mark at a height from the floor corresponding to the relative written use of Afrikaans in the respective year, and we draw a line, from the first here near the floor to the last over there against the loft, then the line would describe a rapidly rising arc, not only quickly rising, but rising in a quickly increasing manner. Let us now, in our imagination, extend the arc for the ten coming years from now. See you, sirs, where the point shall be, outside in the blue sky high over Bloemfontein , in the year 1924 ." The phrase ''"DIT IS ONS ERNS"'' (roughly "we are earnest this ", or "this is our earnestness") is emblazoned on the pathway leading up to the monument. |
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