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Help[Facts] Re: Annalina
in reply to a message by Dorchadas
When the Cape was colonised in the 17th century, it was purely for commercial purposes so there wasn't much interchange between the Cape and the Netherlands, and Afrikaans developed from a variety of Dutch dialects, each making its contribution. I don't know more than that, but apparently it was the case. In Afrikaans, the -ie- is shorter and higher (articulation point) than -ee-. Ryk would be identical with the English 'rake', except that the r is rolled.
The difference I notice the most is with double vowels: aa, ee, oo. In Dutch they sound like, well, long vowels, but in Afrikaans they are also long vowels but with a schwa at the end so they almost diphthongise. Een isn't een, it's eeƏn.
I must tell you, I've never learnt Dutch. I attended a short course on Middel-Nederlandse poësie, which I loved, and I can read Dutch slowly. Talking is impossible, I just use Afrikaans, which fascinates people! So there's obviously a lot I don't know.
My husband and I took a taxi once from Amsterdam station to our b&b; he took Afrikaans for four years at university and was doing pretty well until we got out and he thanked the driver: "Baie dankie." The driver burst out laughing: he'd been trying to place DH's dialect but couldn't, but of course those two very Afrikaans words were a complete give-away!
The difference I notice the most is with double vowels: aa, ee, oo. In Dutch they sound like, well, long vowels, but in Afrikaans they are also long vowels but with a schwa at the end so they almost diphthongise. Een isn't een, it's eeƏn.
I must tell you, I've never learnt Dutch. I attended a short course on Middel-Nederlandse poësie, which I loved, and I can read Dutch slowly. Talking is impossible, I just use Afrikaans, which fascinates people! So there's obviously a lot I don't know.
My husband and I took a taxi once from Amsterdam station to our b&b; he took Afrikaans for four years at university and was doing pretty well until we got out and he thanked the driver: "Baie dankie." The driver burst out laughing: he'd been trying to place DH's dialect but couldn't, but of course those two very Afrikaans words were a complete give-away!
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