Afrikaans Language Monument

About

The Afrikaans Language Monument was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Afrikaans being acknowledged as its own language, and erected on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Real Afrikaners in Paarl. Afrikaans, Dutch for “African”, is a fusion of the Hollandic dialect spoken by Dutch settlers and the languages spoken by other demographics spoken in South Africa. Formerly called ‘Cape Dutch’, the language monument is a testament to the complex political history of the language. The sweeping concave and convex shape of the obelisk represents the exponential growth of the language’s use, while the columns represent the diminishing influence of European languages. The monuments connection to the country is solidified by the sweeping panoramic views offered by its hilltop position.