Do you think Afrikaans and Dutch speakers could hold a conversation together? We run this language challenge to find out.

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, and it is one of the official languages of South Africa. It is believed to be mutually intelligible with other Germanic languages, such as Dutch and Flemish. Due to its origins in Dutch, Afrikaans has similarities in vocabulary and grammar with these languages. However, Afrikaans has also developed its own unique features over time, such as simplified grammar and a distinctive pronunciation. Can speakers of Dutch and Afrikaans understand each other despite these differences? Do let us know in the comments about your own experience with Afrikaans.

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language primarily spoken in South Africa but it's also spoken in Namibia, with smaller communities of speakers in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and other neighboring countries. It originated from the Dutch dialects spoken by the Dutch settlers who arrived in southern Africa in the 17th century. Over time, the language evolved and incorporated words and influences from other European languages, such as Portuguese, English, and German, as well as African languages like Khoisan and Bantu.

The Germanic language family is a branch of the larger IndoEuropean language family, and it includes languages spoken primarily in Northern, Western, and Central Europe. The Germanic languages are traditionally classified into three main groups: West Germanic, North Germanic, and East Germanic. However, the East Germanic languages, which included Gothic, are now extinct.

Big thanks to the participants of this video!

Jaco translator and interpretor, the Afrikaans speaker from Such Africa
Esther Bevers writer, editor and writing teacher from the Nedherlands → www.terratekst.nl
Stijn a journalist, editor and podcaster from Flanders
Sebastian videographer and tech YouTube from the Netherlands @RedFrameTech

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