Teach Yourself Afrikaans, by Helena van Schalkwyk

Teach Yourself Afrikaans, by Helena van Schalkwyk. ISBN 9781432300029 / ISBN 978-1-4323-0002-9

Teach Yourself Afrikaans, by Helena van Schalkwyk. ISBN 9781432300029 / ISBN 978-1-4323-0002-9

Teach yourself Afrikaans, authored by Helena van Schalkwyk, aims at providing a basic conversational vocabulary and language patterns closely related to everyday life.

Helena van Schalkwyk  

We do not live in isolation, but through continuous interaction with other people and life around us. English-speaking newcomers to South Africa are in a fortunate position in that they can use their mother tongue throughout South Africa and be understood. At times, however, they come across mainly Afrikaans-speaking communities and find themselves at a loss. Or many immigrant parents often realize that their children, who study Afrikaans at school, have an advantage over them in that they can express themselves effectively in Afrikaans, which is one of 11 official languages recognised in South Africa. For these people and for unilingual South Africans and foreigners we have compiled this course in communicating in Afrikaans. The language in this book reflects Afrikaans as used by the ordinary person in oral and written communication. We believe that language is meaning-based. The most immediate need is to be able to refer to a core of basics in the real world, that is, for instance, to be able to name things, states, events and attributes, using the words the speaker knows. The learner must also be able to link words together to express propositions - the building blocks of communication. The first task in learning to communicate is to create propositions. But we must go beyond child language where, for a child to make himself understood: 'me hungry' - 'ek honger' is sufficient. We must reach a standard adult syntax where 'Please give me something to eat' - 'Gee my asseblief iets om te eet' is much more acceptable. Furthermore, in studying a new language we must strive to create a feel for the correct word order, mood or register. This can easily be achieved if we approach language from a communicative angle and a natural style. In this conversational speech one becomes familiar with transactional skills, such as how to ask for directions, send an e-mail, etc. Language is influenced by communicative goals and processes. The effects of this interaction between the speaker, the listener and the message influence the communication process, but we are fully aware of the fact that there are many other barriers to communication, such as physical and psychological barriers that arise when the communicators have different values, ages, backgrounds, education, intelligence, interests, needs, occupations, etc. Our main concern in this book, however, lies in the removal of language barriers. If the speaker as well as the listener has a thorough understanding of a language, its structure and its idiom, and if there is proper feedback, language communication will be effective. This book is intended for the individual who wishes to study alone, but can also be used in a class situation. Although the book aims at the adult beginner, it is written in such a way that it could assist every learner to enhance his language communication by increasing his vocabulary and by acquiring language skills. The book is also aimed at the vast number of South Africans who possess only a working knowledge of Afrikaans and who feel that they would like, first, to master Afrikaans so as to communicate effectively both in speech and in writing; secondly, to read daily newspapers and magazines; and thirdly to appreciate literary works. Teach yourself Afrikaans, therefore, aims at providing a basic conversational vocabulary and language patterns closely related to everyday life. […]

This is an excerpt from the guide: Teach Yourself Afrikaans, by Helena van Schalkwyk.

Book title: Teach Yourself Afrikaans
Authors: Helena van Schalkwyk
Type: Afrikaans Guide
Imprint: Lifestyle
Publisher: Random House Struik
Fully revised & updated edition. Cape Town, South Africa 2012
ISBN 9781432300029 / ISBN 978-1-4323-0002-9
Softcover, 13x20 cm, 248 pages

van Schalkwyk, Helena im Namibiana-Buchangebot

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