Variasie binne Oranjerivier-Afrikaans

Abstract

A sociolinguistic approach, taking into account geographical and situational factors, was followed in this multidialect-research. Variation, as manifested in the variety Oranjerivier-Afrikaans (OA), was researched to determine: - the characteristics of a “standard” Oranjerivier-Afrikaans in order to distinguish, and to establish the differences between Oranjerivier_Afrikaans and other varieties (such as Kaapse-Afrikaans and Van Der Merwe Afrikaans): - whether the sub-varieties Griewa-Afrikaans, blanke Oranjerievier-Afrikaans, Riemvasmaakafrikaans, Richtersveld-Afrikaans, Rehoboth-Afrikaans and Kharkam-Afrikaans belong to the variety Oranjerivier-Afrikaans (as maintained in each of the previous investigations into language varieties); - whether there is a difference between the language used in the eastern part of the Orange River area and that used in the western part where Nama is still known; - whether the varieties of Afrikaans spoken in southern Namibia and in Botswana could be typified as sub varieties of Oranjerivier-Afrikaans, as research on all language levels regarding varieties had not previously been undertaken in these two speech communities.