A Closer Look at the Many Voices Within South African English

---

While Part 1 introduced the unique blend of British English and local languages that shaped South African English (SAE), this second part zooms in on SAE as a family of dialects — a vibrant mosaic shaped by history, race, region, and identity.

SAE isn’t one voice — it’s many. Each dialect reflects a distinct social, cultural, and linguistic background, making SAE one of the most multifaceted varieties of English in the world.

---

1. The Triglossic Model of South African English

Linguists often categorize SAE into three broad sociolects, known as a triglossic system:

• Cultivated SAE: Most closely aligned with British Received Pronunciation (RP). Spoken mainly by older, upper-class white South Africans, especially in formal settings and elite schools.
• General SAE: The most neutral and widespread variety, used in education, media, and public discourse. Considered the “standard” form of SAE.
• Broad SAE: Informal and marked by greater influence from Afrikaans or indigenous languages. Typically associated with working-class speakers.

Example (hypothetical):

• Cultivated: “I shan’t be attending the meeting.”
• General: “I won’t be at the meeting.”
• Broad: “I’m not coming to the meeting, neh.”

These are not rigid categories — they exist on a spectrum and may shift across contexts, age groups, or settings.

---

2. White South African English (WSAE)

Subtypes:

• Cultivated WSAE – British-influenced, non-rhotic, with vowels close to RP.
• General WSAE – More relaxed pronunciation and occasional local idioms.
• Broad WSAE – Heavily Afrikaans-influenced; more guttural and staccato.

Linguistic Features:

• Final /r/ is generally non-rhotic, similar to RP: “car” → /kɑː/
• Vowel flattening: trap–bath split results in “bath” pronounced /bɑːθ/
• Diphthong smoothing: “face” → /feːs/

Lexicon:

• Frequent use of Afrikaans borrowings (e.g., braai, bakkie, ja, lekker)
• British lexis retained (e.g., boot, petrol, holiday)

Note: Cultivated WSAE is declining in use among the youth, who favor General SAE with a more informal tone.

---

3. Black South African English (BSAE)

BSAE is spoken as a second or additional language by Black South Africans who learned English in school rather than at home. It’s influenced by indigenous languages like Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, and Tswana.

Phonology:

• Rhoticity: Often rhotic (pronounces the /r/), unlike WSAE.
• Syllable-timed rhythm: Less stress-timed than WSAE or British English, similar to Bantu languages.
• Vowel length reduction: Less contrast between long and short vowels (e.g., ship vs. sheep may be closer in sound).

Syntax:

• Simplified verb structures: “He go work” instead of “He goes to work.”
• Lack of tense marking in casual speech: “Yesterday he come late.”
• Frequent use of topic-comment structure: “This problem, I don’t like.”

Example:
“This weekend we are going to the rural areas, neh. Yoh, I can’t wait!”

Despite once being stigmatized, BSAE is increasingly accepted as a legitimate variety with its own norms and expressive power.

---

4. Indian South African English (ISAE)

ISAE developed among descendants of Indian immigrants who arrived in the 19th century, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. It blends elements of Indian English, South African English, and languages like Tamil, Hindi, and Gujarati. While older speakers may retain more Indian phonetic features, younger generations often speak a variety closer to General SAE, with occasional code-switching and unique lexical items reflecting their cultural heritage.

---

5. Cape Flats English (CFE)

Spoken by working-class Coloured communities around Cape Town, especially in the Cape Flats region. It is strongly influenced by Afrikaans and local creole patterns.

Features:

• Heavy Afrikaans syntax and lexis: “He must go fetch her” is common.
• Distinctive intonation: Rising patterns used in statements.
• Code-switching with Afrikaans is common and fluent.
• Tense marking may differ from standard: “He didn’t came” instead of “He didn’t come.”

Vocabulary:

• Bergie (street person), dop (alcoholic drink), gatvol (fed up)

Example:
“Sho, that place was full, hey! I’m so gatvol of waiting.”

CFE is widely represented in South African music, television, and stand-up comedy.

---

6. Features Across Dialects: What Unites Them?

Despite the variation, SAE dialects share some unifying features:

• Borrowings from Afrikaans and Bantu languages
• Use of discourse particles like neh, hey, just now, eish
• Frequent use of shortened expressions: “Come, let’s go” becomes “Come, we go.”
• Casual tag questions: “You know what I mean, neh?”

---

7. SAE in the Media and Literature

SAE dialects are increasingly present in:

• Soap operas and TV shows (7de Laan, Skeem Saam)
• Stand-up comedians who switch between dialects and languages for humor and commentary
• Writers like Zakes Mda, Lauren Beukes, and Antjie Krog, who integrate local English with indigenous expression

These voices help normalize SAE’s internal variation and assert its cultural identity on a global stage.

---

One Language, Many Identities

South African English is not a monolith. It’s a vibrant constellation of dialects, each rooted in the country’s rich linguistic and social history. Whether in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or the rural Eastern Cape, English adapts, blends, and reflects the community it serves.

In South Africa, English is more than communication — it’s a canvas for identity.

---

If you’ve read everything, please consider leaving a like, sharing, commenting, or all three!

---

YOU WILL ALSO LIKE: