Cape Winelands Attractions
Afrikaanse Taalmonument (Afrikaans Language Monument) and Museum
The Afrikaans Language Museum pays tribute to a unique language
that is only 300 years old, created from the melting pot of
nationalities and languages in the Cape. The Dutch settlers, French
Huguenots, slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar and West
Africa and the local Khoi people all needed to communicate, and so
was born the language that could be used by all. The struggle to
gain recognition of Afrikaans as an official language was carried
out from Paarl, and the museum commemorates the people that played
an important role in the process, as well as exploring the language
in its diversity and learning about the people who speak it today.
Conspicuously absent from the material is the integral role
Afrikaans played as the language of the Apartheid oppressors. The
Language Monument on Paarl Mountain was erected in 1975 to honour
the Afrikaans language and is the only language monument in the
world. The supposed contribution to Afrikaans from the Western
world, as well as from Africa, are represented by the three linked
columns and three rounded shapes respectively, while the 187-foot
(57m) pillar symbolises the growth of the language.
Address: Museum: Gideon Malherbe House, 11 Pastorie Avenue, Paarl. Monument: Paarl Mountain;
Website: www.taalmuseum.co.za;
Telephone: 021 872 3441;
Opening time: Museum: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm. Monument: Daily 8.15am to 5pm;
Admission: Museum: R10 (adults), R2 (children). Monument: Adults R10, R2 for children
