View source for Afrikaans Language Monument

[[File:AfrikaanseTaalmonumentObelisks.jpg|thumb|Obelisks of the Language Monument in [[Paarl]], [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]].]]

The '''Afrikaans Language Monument''' ({{lang-af|Afrikaanse Taalmonument}}) is the only [[monument]] in the world dedicated to a [[language]]. It is on a hill overlooking the Teachers' Training College in [[Paarl]], [[Western Cape Province]], [[South Africa]]. Completed in [[1975]], it was built to [[celebrate]] the 100 years birthday of Afrikaans being declared as a different language from [[Dutch language|Dutch]].

The monument is made of [[taper]]ing [[structure]]s of a [[convex]] and [[concave]] nature. They show the [[influence]]s of different languages and [[culture]]s on Afrikaans itself. They are also a [[symbol]] of [[Politics|political]] developments in South Africa, as follows:
* Clear West - the [[Europe]]an source of the language
* Magical Africa - the [[Africa]]n influences on the language
* Bridge - between Europe and Africa
* Afrikaans - the language itself
* [[Republic]] - declared in [[1961]]
* [[Malay language]] and culture

[[File:AfrikaanseTaalmonumentEnscriptions.jpg|thumb|Inscription showing two quotes from Afrikaans poets]]
== Inscriptions ==
On a large [[inscription]] at the entrance, two quotes from important Afrikaans [[poet]]s are written.
=== van Wyk Louw inscription ===
* ''{{lang|af|Afrikaans is die taal wat vir Wes-Europa en Afrika verbind... Dit vorm 'n brug tussen die groot helder Weste en die magiese Afrika... En wat daar groots aan hulle vereniging kan ontspruit – dit is miskien wat vir Afrikaans voorlê om te ontdek. Maar wat ons nooit moet vergeet nie, is dat hierdie verandering van land en landskap as't ware aan die nuwe wordende taal geslyp, geknee, gebrei het... En so het Afrikaans in staat geword om hierdie nuwe land uit te sê... Ons taak lê in die gebruik wat ons maak en sal maak van hierdie glansende werktuig...}}'' -- [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]]
: "Afrikaans is the language that connects Western Europe and Africa... It forms a bridge between the large, shining West and the magical Africa... And what great things may come from their union – that is maybe what lies ahead for Afrikaans to discover. But what we must never forget, is that this change of country and landscape sharpened, kneaded and knitted this newly-becoming language... And so Afrikaans became able to speak out from this new land... Our task lies in the use that we make and will make of this gleaming tool..."

=== Langenhoven inscription ===
* ''{{lang|af|As ons nou hier in die saal af 'n ry pale sou plant, tien pale, om die laaste tien jaar voor te stel, en aan elke paal 'n merk sou maak op 'n hoogte van die vloer af ooreenkomende met die betreklike skryfgebruik van Afrikaans in die respektiewe jaartal, en 'n streep deur die merke trek van die eerste af hier naby die vloer tot by die laaste daar anderkant teen die solder, dan sou die streep 'n snelstygende boog beskryf, nie net vinnig opgaande nie, maar opgaande na 'n vinnig vermeerderende rede. Laat ons nou in ons verbeelding die boog verleng vir die tien komende jare van nou af. Sien u menere waar die punt sal wees, daar buite in die bloue lug hoog oor Bloemfontein, in die jaar 1924.}}'' -- [[C.J. Langenhoven]]
: "If we plant a row of poles down this hall now, ten poles, to represent the last ten years, and on each pole we make a mark at a height from the floor corresponding to the relative written use of Afrikaans in the respective year, and we draw a line, from the first here near the floor to the last over there against the loft, then the line would describe a rapidly rising arc, not only quickly rising, but rising in a quickly increasing manner. Let us now, in our imagination, extend the arc for the ten coming years from now. See you, sirs, where the point shall be, outside in the blue sky high over [[Bloemfontein]], in the year [[1924]]."

[[File:AfrikaanseTaalmonumentSlogan.jpg|thumb|The path leading up to the monument.]]
== Dit Is Ons Erns ==
The phrase ''"DIT IS ONS ERNS"'' ("we are [[earnest]] [about this]", or "this is our earnestness") is inscribed on the pathway leading up to the monument.

[[Category:Monuments and memorials in South Africa]]
[[Category:Afrikaans]]