The rich history of Kaaps (also known as Afrikaaps) took centre stage at the University of Michigan in the USA at the recent Linguistics Martin Luther King Colloquium Lecture.
Professor Quentin Williams Professor Quentin Williams is the Director of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research (CMDR) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and is only the second South African invited to deliver the lecture. His lecture was titled How we liberate Kaaps: the history and future of a South African ‘language’.
Prof Williams said: “For quite a number of years, I have wanted to excavate quite clearly the history of Kaaps, better known today as Afrikaaps. I wanted to show that in spite of what the current scientific agreement or position is, there is a very rich and visible history of Kaaps within the archive, that stretches as far back as 1652. An Archive that has never been highlighted to really show the rich Creole history of Kaaps.”
In part, the presentation highlighted the ongoing work of the Trilingual Dictionary of Kaaps, which was launched in 2021 in partnership with Heal the Hood Project.
“I started my talk by relaying the history of Kaaps and how we are seeking to liberate its history so that we can better understand its future,” he said.
“I highlighted important acts of liberation, the dictionary project, developing basic school curriculum material at Grade 6 level and having mathematics and natural science and technology curriculum material.”
In his lecture, Williams stressed that the liberation of Kaaps is ongoing: “In post-apartheid South Africa, we are faced with the fact that we need to raise the functions of Kaaps so that it is used in controlling domains or institutions. The speakers remain disempowered and experience linguistic injury on a daily basis. In order to secure the future of Kaaps, we have begun to develop important linguistic resources or infrastructures to advance the empowerment of Kaaps speakers.”
Prof Williams also confirmed that on 15 and 16 August 2024, at the next Kaaps Symposium, there are plans to establish a Society for the Advancement of Kaaps (SAK).
Watch the Linguistics Martin Luther King Colloquium Lecture HERE
