Afrikaans Language Monument
| Afrikaanse Taalmonument | |
Obelisks of the Language Monument
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| Coordinates | 33°45′57″S 18°56′33″E / 33.76576°S 18.94257°ECoordinates: 33°45′57″S 18°56′33″E / 33.76576°S 18.94257°E |
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| Location | Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Designer | Jan Van Wijk |
| Type | Monument |
| Completion date | 1975 |
| Dedicated to | Afrikaans Language |
The Afrikaans Language Monument (Afrikaans: Afrikaanse Taalmonument) is located on a hill overlooking Paarl, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Officially opened on 10 October 1975, it commemorates the semicentenary of Afrikaans being declared an official language of South Africa separate from Dutch. Also, it was erected on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners (the Society of Real Afrikaners) in Paarl, the organisation that helped strengthen Afrikaners' identity and pride in their language.
The monument consists of various tapering structures of a convex and concave nature, symbolising influences of different languages and cultures on Afrikaans itself, as well as political developments in South Africa, as follows:
(There is also an open stadium at the bottom of the structure where concerts and events are held)
On a large plaque at the entrance are two quotations from prominent poets writing in Afrikaans:
The phrase "DIT IS ONS ERNS" (roughly "we are earnest [about this]", or "this is our earnestness") is emblazoned on the pathway leading up to the monument.
The first monument to commemorate Afrikaans was the monument in Burgersdorp, which was built in 1893, although it refers to the Hollandse taal or the Dutch language. It depicts a woman pointing her finger at a book in her hands.
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