Learn what topics you should avoid during small talk in Afrikaans
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Intro |
|---|
| Antoni: What topics are taboo in South Africa? |
| Dewan: And what are some things you should avoid doing? |
| Antoni: At AfrikaansPod101.com, we hear these questions often. Karen Lee and Rita Dexter are having a nice chat while drinking coffee when Karen asks an uncomfortable question. She asks, |
| "How much do you earn?" |
| Karen Lee: Hoeveel verdien jy? |
| Dialogue |
| Karen Lee: Hoeveel verdien jy? |
| Rita Dexter: Dit is nie eintlik iets waaroor ek praat nie. |
| Antoni: Once more with the English translation. |
| Karen Lee: Hoeveel verdien jy? |
| Antoni: "How much do you earn?" |
| Rita Dexter: Dit is nie eintlik iets waaroor ek praat nie. |
| Antoni: "That's not really something I talk about." |
Lesson focus |
| Antoni: In this lesson, you will be learning about what topics and practices are taboo, and what is considered good social practice in South African culture. To begin with, it must be pointed out that there is no single South African culture. The country has eleven official languages for a reason! South Africans from all walks of life live in harmony, for the most part, but the different cultures are quite distinct. |
| Don’t worry though — once a South African person finds out that you are a foreigner or |
| Dewan: buitelander |
| Antoni: as they say in Afrikaans, then you will be forgiven for not knowing the etiquette of their specific culture. A good, general rule to follow when you are in the country is to adhere to the same rules of social good practice that most modern, westernized countries follow. You will also find that, on the whole, South Africans tend to be warm and friendly and, as long as you aren’t guilty of crossing any of the taboo lines we are about to discuss, your experience in the country is likely to be a pleasant one. |
| [Recall 1] |
| Antoni: Let’s take a closer look at the dialogue. |
| Do you remember how Karen asks "How much do you earn?" |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Dewan as Karen Lee: Hoeveel verdien jy? |
| [Recall 2] |
| Antoni: Now let’s take a look at our second sentence. |
| Do you remember how Rita says "That's not really something I talk about."? |
| (pause 4 seconds) |
| Dewan as Rita Dexter: Dit is nie eintlik iets waaroor ek praat nie. |
| Antoni: Here, Rita has replied to the question about her |
| Dewan: salaris |
| Antoni: or “salary”, in a way that one might expect from any person living in a modern, westernized society. As mentioned before, the general rules for etiquette in South Africa don’t differ that much from the rules you might find in the UK, America, or Germany, for instance. |
| Some people may associate South Africa mainly with wild animals and safaris, even though it’s not that different from European countries. South Africa is a leading economic power in Africa and many people traveling from Europe, for instance, say that aspects of life there remind them of home. Just as the topic of a person’s salary is not a good one to bring up in most European countries, so it is in South Africa. In fact, it can be considered an even more sensitive topic in South Africa because of the great disparity in wealth among different cultures. |
| Other topics that you should probably steer clear of are “religion and politics” or, in Afrikaans — |
| Dewan: godsdiens en politiek. |
| Antoni: While these are not necessarily taboo subjects, it is advisable to avoid them, especially if your own views are very different. Unless you want to risk the possibility of getting into a heated debate, the best course of action would be only to listen. |
| Another politically-sensitive topic is the cruel and discriminatory regime that was |
| Dewan: Apartheid. |
| Antoni: The country has been a true democracy for less than thirty years, and there are many who still remember and are affected by the atrocities of the previous dispensation. For instance, there is still great inequality along economic and race lines in the country and this is, in part, due to the persistent legacy of Apartheid. If there were a list of the most taboo subjects in South Africa, then this aspect of politics would probably top it. |
| Another topic that you would be well-advised to stay away from is “sexism” or |
| Dewan: seksisme. |
| Antoni: Because of the variety of cultures in South Africa, attitudes towards women can differ vastly. This is quite ironic, if you consider that the South African constitution has among the most liberated and progressive regulations about gender equality and women's rights in the world. However, should you express your views on the topic and the person you are talking with disagrees with you, you might find that they feel you are threatening to undermine their cultural values. For this reason, it would be wise to remain circumspect and sensitive when discussing anything related to sexism. |
| That said, on the whole, South African mainstream culture is quite modern, especially in the more urban areas. It is a society where gay people are allowed to marry, the cannabis laws permit for personal and medicinal use, and where freedom of religion and expression is encouraged. |
| [Summary] |
| Antoni: In this lesson, you learned that, in South Africa, it is not a good idea to bring up the topics of salary, religion, politics, race, and sexism. You also learned that the most sensitive topic to discuss is probably that of the legacy of the Apartheid system. |
| Expansion/Contrast (Optional) |
| Antoni: Up to this point you have been learning about topics that should probably be avoided if you want to maintain a level of pleasant sociability in South African society, but body language or |
| Dewan: liggaamstaal |
| Antoni: is also an area that is important to discuss when considering the question of what constitutes good social practice. |
| As has been mentioned previously, South African society consists of a number of cultures. There are the English-speakers, the Afrikaans-speakers, the Zulus, the Xhosas, and the Sotho-speaking people, to name just a few. If you are interacting with someone from a more traditional African culture, for instance, it would be best not to use your index finger when pointing. Instead, you should use your open hand. It’s also not considered polite to have your hands in your pockets while talking to someone. |
| A hand gesture or |
| Dewan: handgebaar |
| Antoni: that is definitely considered rude in South Africa, is the backward-facing peace sign. Making a V shape with your index and middle fingers is fine, as long as your hand is facing palm outward, but if the palm is facing towards you, it is considered extremely vulgar and insulting. Hopefully, you will not have the opportunity to witness or use this gesture during your stay in South Africa. |
| Cultural Insight/Expansion (Optional) |
| Antoni: While it’s good to know what not to talk about and what not to do in a certain country, it also helps to have some idea of what you can do and say to make your social interactions go smoothly. |
| One tip is to maintain eye contact with people you are talking to. This makes you seem honest and open. That said — in certain remote rural areas of the country, eye contact is still considered rude among certain cultures, especially when addressing the elderly. |
| You can also acquaint yourself with the country’s sporting accomplishments. Some of the teams, like the rugby and cricket teams, or |
| Dewan: rugby en krieketspanne |
| Antoni: are among the top in the world. Mentioning this and talking about sports is often a good way to break the ice with South Africans. Also, conveniently, the Afrikaans words for these sports are not that different from the English. If sports are not your thing you could talk about the natural beauty of the country, of which there is an abundance. South Africans will also, on the whole, be interested to hear a little about your own country. |
| If you are lucky, and your social interactions go well, you might find yourself invited to a |
| Dewan: braai |
| Antoni: which is the local equivalent of a barbecue, but is a tradition and source of pride among South Africans who consider these |
| Dewan: braais |
| Antoni: to be far superior to a simple barbecue. |
Outro |
| Antoni: Do you have any more questions? We’re here to answer them! |
| Dewan: Totsiens! |
| Antoni: See you soon! |
| Credits: Dewan (Afrikaans, Pietermaritzburg), Antoni (English, synthetic voice) |
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