“Ek leer Afrikaans”

[steve white]

Most people in countries outside America speak more and one and often several languages. It is not prioritized here and more's the pity. I struggle with languages.

 

[Green Chile]

Yes, I do this where ever I am traveling to. Dit wys respek.

 

[ThinusS]

Being able to greet someone and thank them in their own language goes a long way. Also important, is the ability to ask for a cold beer. I am trying to learn the basics in Spanish and Hungarian. The first is very difficult, the second much worse. Learning a new language as a kid is much easier than learning it as an older (ok, old) person.
English is my second language, but I picked it up as a kid and I am fairly proficient in it. I mostly hunt with Americans, Hungarians and Mexicans/Mexican Americans. I have a lot of respect for someone who can master a new language as an adult.

 

[Happy Myles]

I spent most of my African time in East African countries . Kiswahili being a trade language helps communication across a variety of areas plus helps with courtesy. English and new twenty dollar bills seems to cover the rest. And smile no matter what happens

 

[TOBY458]

I was in a camp in SA in 2018. My PH had the habit of carrying on full conversations with his other PH buddy while I sat there by myself clueless as to what they were discussing. I felt that was very rude. I’m here paying for a hunt and these guys wouldn’t even include me in their conversation? I feel that if you’re paying for a hunt, they should at least have the common courtesy of including you in their conversation in camp.
I haven’t had this issue in Zimbabwe, as those guys predominately speak English anyway.

 

[ThinusS]

I was in a camp in SA in 2018. My PH had the habit of carrying on full conversations with his other PH buddy while I sat there by myself clueless as to what they were discussing. I felt that was very rude. I’m here paying for a hunt and these guys wouldn’t even include me in their conversation? I feel that if you’re paying for a hunt, they should at least have the common courtesy of including you in their conversation in camp.
I haven’t had this issue in Zimbabwe, as those guys predominately speak English anyway.

That is ill mannered in any situation, but worse if you are with a paying client.

 

[TSIBINDI]

Hunt Anything: The dictionary is by J. D .Bold and it was printed in SA by Central News Agency LTD.

 

[Green Chile]

I was in a camp in SA in 2018. My PH had the habit of carrying on full conversations with his other PH buddy while I sat there by myself clueless as to what they were discussing. I felt that was very rude. I’m here paying for a hunt and these guys wouldn’t even include me in their conversation? I feel that if you’re paying for a hunt, they should at least have the common courtesy of including you in their conversation in camp.
I haven’t had this issue in Zimbabwe, as those guys predominately speak English anyway.

I've seen that and experienced that myself. I think feedback is warranted and fair in those situations.

 

[MS 9x56]

During my lifetime of traveling to foreign lands I have found the natives to be much friendlier to those who take the time to learn at least a modicum of their native language. It is a sign of respect of their culture.

 

[Aaron N]

That was the full scope of my working knowledge as well

Does Foook Sakes count if the accent is heavy enough?

 

[Betterinthebush]

I was in a camp in SA in 2018. My PH had the habit of carrying on full conversations with his other PH buddy while I sat there by myself clueless as to what they were discussing. I felt that was very rude. I’m here paying for a hunt and these guys wouldn’t even include me in their conversation? I feel that if you’re paying for a hunt, they should at least have the common courtesy of including you in their conversation in camp.
I haven’t had this issue in Zimbabwe, as those guys predominately speak English anyway.

Funny you bring that up. Ourselves and the client that was in camp before my wife and I (a fellow AH member) experienced the same thing you mentioned. Overall I had a pretty amazing experience, but the talking past us at the dinner table and while on tour was rude.

I chalked it up to a form of mild social retardation and determined to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

 

[Sarg]

I’m super embarrassed to be a pitiful speaker of Afrikaans & all my friends give me a hard time at Bars & social gatherings.

I just can’t learn stuff easily, being dyslexic I think is the problem, makes life hard when staying for long periods & every one knows you for more than 10yrs !

When I was first working in Outback Aussie my Boss was a exteacher with Aboriginal communities & spoke some of the language, trouble is each tribe has a different dialect, anyway he tried hard to teach & I tried a bit to learn, one day I said something in
Djambarrpuyngu (See !) he then instructs me to never speak to the locals or I’ll end up Speared - side bar our area had some of the most, ,,,,,, let me say aggressive native people & had done some of the last known spearing of colonials !!

 

[Dirtdart]

Lekker.

It is an easy language. I could speak it by the time I turned one.

I was at a gathering with some friends in Namibia once and the most precious little 4 year old started to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for me in Afrikaans. The mother of the child told her that I could not speak Afrikaans so immediately she performed the song in perfect English. I felt like I had just earned my black belt in dumbass.

 

[Nyati]

I have picked up a few words, just for courtesy, and they appreciate it.

 

[Kevin375]

I don't speak Afrikaans, but my ear is used to this language now and I can understand some sentances and of course, one PH learnt me some slangs as well in the past.
He also tried to teach me some Damara words but with this language, you really need to grow up with it, because it's really complicated to get used to the 4 different "clicks".

I was on a farm with a PH and his father several years ago. They mainly speak Afrikaans, except when they have to interfer directly with foreigners like me, because their english remains average. Once, they were talking about the previous customers, who stole the caps on their Swarovski scope, while I was seat a bit further.
They were upset, saying they won't find any of them in their country, or it will be very complicated ! I just replied in English that I will arrive to get such caps when I'll be back at home and I will bring them within 2 weeks, because the father had a trip planned in my country.
They looked at me very surprised and kept speaking, but much quieter. Afterwards, I heard the PH who told to his friends, "Don't say any s*it, that guy understand Afrikaans !".
That's not really true but at least, he believed it.
I would like to speak Afrikaans but at this stage I dont have a big motivation and I prefer to improve my english.
If I had dated the gorgeous Namibian girl I met in 2019, I'm sure she would have taught me her language or maybe I would have done the same with mine ? But her english was excellent.

 

[Field28]

Vuil Coke is the first Afrikaans that I learned!

 

[TnKen]

I've been working on it as well. I can read it well enough to get the gist of the conversation, but it is harder when someone is speaking it. I have used a few different sources, but the free Afrikaans word of the day is sent to my email. This at least keeps me learning something everyday.

 

[BruceS]

I’m learning Afrikaans.

It isn’t, by anyone’s measure, necessary in the least.

Reasons I’m doing this:

1) I’m a nerd and am intrigued by this language spoken in an area of the world I hope to visit and experience with some irregular frequency.

2) respect for my hosts and their culture. Even though nearly everyone speaks English as a necessary part of commerce in southern Africa, Id like to attempt to show my respect by communicating as the locals do.

3) on my first safari there were more than a few times I wished I knew just a few words and phrases. Being the only client in camp and not being able to participate fully or grasping what was being said, whether at the skinning shed, the bakkie, and even the dinner table frustrated me. Plus, this might keep my PH’s from having to constantly repeat and relay to me what is going on.

4) it’s an easy language to learn for a person like me who’s first language is English! No gendered nouns, simple subject-verb-object sentence structure, just like English.

5) enriches the experience of my upcoming 26 day two country safari and adds one more skill that I own and can carry around with me daily as a memory of my time in Africa.

6) it’s cheap! Monetarily it’s $.99/month for an interactive app plus time.

Have any other AHers done this, or is it just me.

Have some basic words but looking for a good app. What are you using?

 

[Betterinthebush]

I’m trying free apps from the Apple Store right now. I’ve not settled yet. When I do I’ll post

 

[TOBY458]

Funny you bring that up. Ourselves and the client that was in camp before my wife and I (a fellow AH member) experienced the same thing you mentioned. Overall I had a pretty amazing experience, but the talking past us at the dinner table and while on tour was rude.

I chalked it up to a form of mild social retardation and determined to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

So far I’ve made sure it doesn’t happen again by hunting in Zimbabwe the last three safaris. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my two hunts is SA/Kalahari, but the hunts with D&Y in Zimbabwe have been a bit better experience for me.