Op pad van ’n verdeelde na ’n gedeelde toekoms in die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap: die rol van die Afrikaanse taalraad in die proses van versoening
Abstract
This article deals mainly with the issue of reconciliation in Afrikaans. What does it entail and how should one go about it when approaching this complex process? The role of the Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) is described in the process currently developing in Afrikaans. The article approaches the "problem of Afrikaans" from an angle not yet developed in Afrikaans, namely from the perspective of Afrikaans as an inclusive language. The premise is that the future of Afrikaans as a language among languages in South Africa can be assured by "opening" the language "open" to all the speakers of the language and also by including the total Afrikaans community in the process of reconciliation.
History teaches us that the politics around Afrikaans (especially with reference to Soweto 1976 and the issue of Afrikaner nationalism) lead to people seeing Afrikaans as the "language of the oppressor" and this in turn has caused huge divisions among the speakers of Afrikaans, quickly becoming an issue of white versus black. Only people can bridge this divide, as the language itself cannot do it. This entails that the speakers of Afrikaans as a community must be involved in making Afrikaans a language of reconciliation. We know that many speakers of Afrikaans have migrated to English due to the politics surrounding Afrikaans, and this can be rectified only by starting a process of reconciliation among the speakers of the language. This article therefore focuses on the role the ATR has played since 2003 in trying to make this possible.
The ATR started with a process which had as its aim the long-term involvement of the inclusive Afrikaans community. The process since 2003 is described and the various phases in the course of the process outlined. It is clear that a process in a divided language community does not "just happen" - rather serious interventions must be undertaken by people speaking the language. There must be a driving force behind the process and the persons involved must be dedicated to making it work in the long run. There must also be an intention from all sides of the language spectrum to become involved and to reach out to one another as the process proceeds. A prerequisite is that relations between the various groups speaking the language must be mended. OPSOMMING: Gesprekke oor die "toekoms van Afrikaans" in Afrikaanse publikasies is nie vreemd nie. So dikwels neem dit egter 'n wroegende, verbitterde en verwytende toon aan. In hierdie artikel kom die toekoms van Afrikaans ook ter sprake, maar wel vanuit 'n ander hoek, naamlik hoe die taal se toekoms verseker kan word deur die inklusiewe Afrikaanse gemeenskap hierby te betrek. In watter mate die Afrikaanse Taalraad (ATR) hierdie rol kan vervul, en die werk wat hierdie liggaam sedert 2003 gedoen het, word hier bespreek. Die belang van versoening in die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap word oorkoepelend bespreek en toegelig aan die hand van gebeure die afgelope nege jaar. Daar bestaan nog steeds groot afstande tussen sprekers van die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap wat deur versoening oorbrug sal moet word. Versoening gebeur nie net sommer so nie; dit is 'n proses wat bewustelik bestuur moet word. Dit verg ook toewyding van die betrokkenes om dit te laat slaag en seker te maak dat dit deurgevoer word. Dit is ook nie 'n gegewe nie, maar word bepaal deur die herstel van die verhoudinge tussen die sprekers (wit, bruin en swart) van Afrikaans. Apartheid het 'n groot seer gelaat, maar die gewilligheid van die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap om aktief by die proses van versoening en heelmaking betrokke te raak is die voorvereiste vir wat bereik moet word. Riglyne vir versoening word ook aangegee en dit blyk daaruit dat veral die menslike kant hier van belang is, omdat versoening tussen mense moet gebeur - tussen individue, maar ook in groepsverband. Die skrywer se gevolgtrekking is dat die Afrikaanse taalgemeenskap in die belang van sy eie voortbestaan nie 'n ander keuse het as om onderling te versoen nie. Eers dan kan saam 'n toekoms gebou word.
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