What language did the Dutch bring to South Africa?
The Dutch Language in South Africa: Influence and Legacy
The Language brought to South Africa by the Dutch is Dutch. Over time, Afrikaans developed from it, which is now recognized as one of south Africa's eleven official languages. When the Dutch East India Company established the Cape of Good Hope as a supply station for their ships on the way to India in the 17th century, Dutch Language and culture came to South Africa with the settlers. Over time, elements of Dutch mixed with the languages and dialects of the indigenous population as well as the slaves and workers brought from Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world. This merging of various Language influences led to the creation of Afrikaans, which differs from Dutch through simpler grammar and a different vocabulary. While Dutch is increasingly less spoken in south Africa, Afrikaans has a strong presence in the Country and is used as a mother tongue by a significant portion of the population.