Afrikaans and Language Monument fascinate Australian
2010-05-27
"LANGUAGE is an emotional and political issue, especially in South Africa - even more so than I expected.” These are the words of Stephen Smith an Australian who has spent the past three months in Paarl doing research for a doctorate in Language Tourism through Southern Cross University. Smith did lots of research about languages in different countries as background work prior to his coming to Paarl, but has seen nothing like the Language Monument anywhere else in the world. “This prompted me to come to Paarl and do research about the monument, the Language Museum and the Afrikaans language.” “This is the only place in the world where a Monument was designed and built solely to honour a language,” says Smith. He is at the Monument almost every day, to study visitors’ behaviour and to hear what they think about the Monument. “I look at their body language, what they look at, whether they touch the Monument and what their comments are about the Monument and the surrounding area. I want to learn more about people’s total experience at the Monument.” He said some of the words that he heard often from visitors to the Taalmonument were “trots Afrikaans”, “pragtige uitsig” and “rustig en veilig”. He said that he found that the majority of people visiting the monument go there out of curiosity and that in general their overall experience is a very positive one. “For me as an Australian the Monument has one of the most beautiful views in the world - there is nothing like it in Australia.” Smith said that he however still needs more information to complete his study. “I would like to find people with different views and people who may not like the Monument or what they perceive it stands for, to approach me and tell me why they don't like the Monument and how they feel about it.” According to him there has been little written academic attention given to the Monument or the Museum, specifically from an international point of view. “I feel that with this research I can give the ‘Taalmonument’ some degree of publicity and acknowledgement internationally. “Afrikaans is unique, reflecting its European, Afrian and Asian roots - a vibrant, modern language with a rich and continuing literary heritage. While many fear that the lanugage is currently under some strain, there exists a real determintation that it will overcome any threats and continue to thrive.” Smith will be leaving South Africa on 2 June, but he hopes to come back next year. Contact him on stephen.smith@scu.edu.au.
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