Toe in the Water

Aardvarks

Aardvarks

Afrikaans is the language of the Dutch settlers in South Africa, the people known as the Boers (which means "farmers"). You may not realise it, but you actually know some Afrikaans. Everyone knows the word "aardvark," because it's so useful in word games (it's that double-A that does it). And "aardvark" is an Afrikaans word meaning "ant-pig." The language is very descriptive, as you can see. Aardvarks look like pigs but they eat ants.

Then there is the aardwolf - no prizes for translating that one. And yes, it looks like a wolf but eats ants (termites actually but who cares?). Its closest relative is the hyena but it has the most amazing mane. There's a photo below to support that.

There are other words too. Any fan of Star Trek knows one - "trek" is an Afrikaans word meaning to take a long journey. And many of us have a stoep (Afrikaans word meaning "porch") attached to our houses. These are just a few that come to mind without doing any research.

I find it interesting to know something about the many languages that have infiltrated and affected English. And if I need an excuse to write about it in my blog, shouldn't all writers be interested in words and where they come from?

QED (Quite Easily Done)

Word count: 219