BOERS AND THEIR LANGUAGE

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 18 November 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

BOERS AND THEIR LANGUAGE

SOME OF THEIR WORDS THAT WE . SEE OFTENEST IN PRINT.

The- language of the Boers in South Africa is grammatically, the language of the people of Holland." vThey speak Dutch as their, forefathers in -Holland spoke it and speak it now! They are cajled Boers because that is a Dutch -word which describes them. It, means a farmer, ana agriculture: is the main pursuit of the compatriots-of Oom Paul. A knowledge of Dutch would supply, an explanation of the odd-looking vfor&s that are used now and then in the news reports from the Republic. It would also enable one to pronounce these words as they should be enunciated.', . ■

Dutch diphthongs are not given the same sounds as their equivalents in English. The double' "o" for instance in Dutch has the same sound as *'o" in Rome,while the diphthong "be" is pronounced by the Dutch as we pronounce "oo" in boot. The English pronunciation of these two diphthongs is the reverse of that given them by those who speak. Dutch. And "ou" baa [the sound of "ow" in owl. The sound of "vi" is. nearly like that of the English "oy" in boy. The Dutch double "aa" is the .same as the. English "a" in war. As there is no "y" in Dutch its place is taken by "ij," which is sounded as "y" in defy. If one therefore would pronounce Oom Paul properly he would say it as if it were spelled "Ome Powl." The family came of General Joubert would, for the same reason, be pronounced as if it were spelled "Yowbert." The word Boer is Pronounced by the Afrikander as if it were of two syllables; the first longr-and the second' short, thus: "800-er." The plural ■is not "Boers." It is "Boeren," and it is Pronounced "80-er-eh," because the final "n"; is-, slurred.

Here are some of the Dutch words that are oftenest in print in connection with the news of the Transvaal and their pronunciation and meaning:—

Bloemfontein (bloom-fon-tine)—Flower fountain. Boer (boo-er) — Farmer. Buitenlander (boy-ten-lont-er)— Foreigner. Burgher (buhr-ker)—Citizen. Bnrgerregt (buhr-ker-rekt)— Citizenship. Burgerwacht (buhr-ker-vokt)—Citizen soldiery. ' ' Jonlfrerr (yunk-hare)- r Member of the Volkraad; gentleman o°in0 °in (ome)—Uncle. Baad: (rah d)— Senate. * Siadsheer (rahds-hare)—Senator. Eaaatiuis (rahd-hoys)—Senate house. Ra n<l (rahnt)—Margin; edge. s 'aat (staht)—State.

Staatkuhnde (staht-kuhn-de)—Politics. s 'aatsraad (stahts-rahd)—Council of state Stl<3 (stot)—City. Summer (stemmer)—Voter; elector. "anavaal (trons-fahl)—Circular valley. ™rek (tfeck)—Draught; journey, (treck-eh)—To draw; to travel, fr&paard (treckpahrd)—Draught horse. wt(oyp_o u t; out of. „ Mlander (oyt-lont-er)—Foreigner. (fahl)-Valley. "aderlandsliefde (fah-ter-lonts-leef-te)— ;,Love of one's'country; patriotism. 1^ (felt)-Field; open lands, nldheer (felt-hare)— General; commandant,';

Veldwachter (felt-vock-ter)—Rural guard. Vo'feraad (fulks-rahd)— Lower House of

Congress. Voorregt (fore-rekt)—Franchise; privilege (frame-da-ling)— Stranger. "Itwatersrand vit-vot-ters-ront)— Margin M the white wateri Pretoria, the of the South Af rlJ*n Republic, is named in honour of its •"st. president, Pretorius, who led the in the great trek, or journey, out ■°f Cape Colony, 60 years ago, and into the •"ansvaal to escape the dominion of Engaa <l. "Johannesburg is easily translated «% English as Johnstown. The term Afrikander" is used to designate 'the jpteh* from the other white people of %th Africa.—"Toronto Globe."