Karel Schoeman (26 October 1939 – 1 May 2017) was one of South Africa’s most prolific writers. His idiosyncratic style contributed to a unique form of authorship. Schoeman’s novels were awarded...Show moreKarel Schoeman (26 October 1939 – 1 May 2017) was one of South Africa’s most prolific writers. His idiosyncratic style contributed to a unique form of authorship. Schoeman’s novels were awarded with many prizes and the output of his historical work is unsurpassed. His status however remains relatively unknown in the world outside South Africa. This can be attributed mainly to the fact that most of his work is written in Afrikaans. Schoeman was raised in three languages. His first language was Dutch, which was spoken at home with his mother. Afrikaans was his second and English his third language. His first unpublished novels were in Dutch and English. From his early twenties on he wrote predominantly in Afrikaans. A decade later he distanced himself from the Afrikaner part of the community. This raises the social-linguistic problem of how it is possible for an author to deeply engage in a language and at the same time not be part of its social group. This matter will be discussed in paragraph two where the course of Schoeman’s life and his attraction and aversion concerning the Afrikaners can be followed and in paragraph four which deals with Schoeman’s creative writing. Schoeman’s work has been the subject of several articles, reviews and theses; many of them are of South African origin. A thesis that investigates the problem posed above has not been written yet.Show less
Voortbestaan in Geregtigheid: Afrikaner Identiteit en de Geest van N.P. Van Wyk Louw. Hoe een veranderende Afrikaner identiteit van invloed was op de ondergang van apartheid
This thesis describes the artistic milieu of South Africa and the Netherlands in the 1980s, explaining how the Cultural Boycott of South Africa was perceived and received by both Dutch and...Show moreThis thesis describes the artistic milieu of South Africa and the Netherlands in the 1980s, explaining how the Cultural Boycott of South Africa was perceived and received by both Dutch and Afrikaner writers. Adriaan van Dis was interviewed especially for this thesis, thus adding new historical sources.Show less
Language policy has always been a topic of heated debate in South Africa. In recent months, however, disputes with regards to such specific policy have intensified as the nation witnesses numerous,...Show moreLanguage policy has always been a topic of heated debate in South Africa. In recent months, however, disputes with regards to such specific policy have intensified as the nation witnesses numerous, sometimes even violent, student protests at particular universities across the land. Target universities, such as Stellenbosch University, are those higher education institutions which still practise a bilingual medium of instruction by teaching in both Afrikaans and English. The aforementioned debate is, however, mostly surrounded around the former language rather than the latter. Indeed, the protesters have one specific goal; to remove Afrikaans as a medium of instruction at the few varsities which wholeheartedly try to preserve the academic status of the language.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This study shows that Afrikaans speaking South African immigrants living in the Netherlands create a sense of home and belonging through a variety of products, activities and networks. They do this...Show moreThis study shows that Afrikaans speaking South African immigrants living in the Netherlands create a sense of home and belonging through a variety of products, activities and networks. They do this within the institutional framework, consisting of rules, regulations and constraints of the Netherlands. Like the respondent who smuggles in Grandpa powder, a headache powder used in South Africa, although EU regulations do not allow this. Blockages thus also exist after one has migrated, and are not only of influence during the process of migration from one place to another. Within the institutional framework of the Netherlands, Afrikaans speaking South Africans have found several ways to make use of products, activities and networks in their efforts to feel at ease.Show less
