Afrikaans Language

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

A query about suggested languages cooperation has come to the Celtic League from South Africa and the Afrikaans language society at Stellenbosch University.

The approach from Frederik R. van Dyk, the bodies Executive Director, is set out below:

"I write to you as a representative of an Afrikaans language society, Adam Tas Students' Society, from Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape of the Republic of South Africa.

Our society aims to actively promote the Afrikaans language through cultural events, as well as actively engaging in intellectual activism to protect and develop the status of the language in terms of the South African Constitution's guarantees (in terms of languages and the National Language Act).

We are intrigued by the efforts of representatives of the Celtic nations to promote and develop the ancient Celtic languages. It is an inspiration to us as a society, who are also faced with government policies which gives unconstitutional preference to English, despite the fact that our country has 11 official languages; Afrikaans being one of them.

The aim of our making contact with you is to suggest closer relations between our efforts and representatives, as we believe that we can learn a lot from each other with regard to language development and preservation.

In fact, if all goes well, my colleagues and I wish to extend an invitation to youth (student) delegates of the six Celtic nations to come visit us in Africa for a conference on minority languages. However, this can be discussed on a later stage.

For now, I hope to come into close contact with the League and its members, in an effort that entails taking hands across borders and supporting one another in keeping safe the languages which we love so dearly.

Kind regards,

Frederik R. van Dyk
BA.Regsgeleerdheid/Law (II)”

The query has been forwarded to Rhisiart Talebot the Celtic League General Secretary to be progressed but I thought I would post an item on the CL Mannin site as I am aware there is a fairly large expatriate South African community in Mann these days.

Photograph: Stellenbosch University

BERNARD MOFFATT

Issued by: The Celtic News

07/02/16

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The Celtic League established in 1961 has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It promotes cooperation between the countries and campaigns on a range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, military activity and socio-economic issues

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