The Influence of English on Afrikaans

7.4 Competition between indigenous and international vocabulary

As mentioned on p. 160, Afrikaans often shows a preference for an indigenous word over an international synonym. Although the list below contains the occasional Afrikaans neologism (e.g. beeldradio, rolprent), most of the indigenous words are known to Dutch but are used less frequently in that language than in Afrikaans. The Afrikaner's desire to use a puristic alternative in such cases has led to the loss of the semantic distinction that often (but not always) exists between the two in Dutch, for example: ernstig/serieus, oorspronkelijk/origineel, although Schutte (cf. p. 151) proves conclusively that the two are not always completely synonymous in Afrikaans either De Villiers (Die Huisgenoot 2/12/49) also warns against the dangers of the vervangoefeninge involving such couplets which have unfortunately been far too common in Afrikaans schoolbooks.

[p. 194]

There are cases, which are not listed here, where Dutch prefers to use an English loanword but where Afrikaans only uses a Diets synonym, for example: onderhoud (interview), vermaaklikheid (entertainment).

It should be noted that several of the words below have derivative forms which also contrast with each other, for example: vasteland/kontinent - vastelands/kontinentaal, geesdriftig/entoesiasties - geesdrif/entoesiasme.

aandag	-	attensie
aandenking	-	soewenier
aanhaal	-	siteer
aantreklikheid	-	attraksie
amptelik	-	offisieel
bedrywig	-	aktief
beeldradio	-	televisie
beheer	-	kontrole(er)
behoudend	-	konserwatief
bestanddele	-	ingrediënte
bevrediging	-	satisfaksie
brandstof	-	petrol
breukdeel	-	fraksie (van 'n sekonde)
beslis	-	definitief
doeltreffend (-heid)	-	effisiënt (-iënsie)
drukgroep	-	pressiegroep
eenparig	-	unaniem
eerbiedig	-	respekteer
ernstig	-	serieus
geesdriftig	-	entoesiasties
gehalte	-	kwaliteit
geldelik	-	finansieel
geskiedkundig	-	histories
inlig	-	informeer
klavier	-	piano
leerplan	-	sillabus
loods	-	piloot
mededingend	-	kompeterend
meeding	-	kompeteer
nywerheid	-	industrie
nyweraar	-	industrialis
omgewing	-	milieu
onderskeidelik	-	respektiewelik
onregstreeks	-	indirek
oordragtelik	-	figuratief
oorspronklik	-	origineel
openbaar	-	publiek
peil	-	nivo
rolprent	-	film
room	-	crème
sielkundig	-	psigologies
speurder	-	detektief
staatkundig	-	polities
stelsel(matig)	-	sisteem(aties)
stiptelik	-	punktueel
stoflik	-	materieel
swartgallig	-	pessimisties
teenkanting	-	opposisie
tydgenootlik, eietyds	-	kontemporêr
tydperk	-	periode
uitslae	-	resultate
uitstappie	-	ekskursie
uitwerking	-	effek
vasteland	-	kontinent
veldtog	-	kampanje
veralgemeen	-	generaliseer
verskeidenheid	-	variëteit
verskoning	-	ekskuus
verteenwoordig	-	representeer
vlak	-	nivo
vraagstuk	-	kwessie
waarborg	-	garandeer, garansie