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Constraints on Language Variation and Change in Complex Multilingual Contact Settings
Edited by Bertus van Rooy and Haidee Kotze
[Contact Language Library 60] 2024
► pp. 29–57

Chapter 2
Afrikaans influence on genitive variation in South African English?

A comparative diachronic study of Afrikaans and White South African English

| North-West University
| North-West University

This chapter focuses on the historical development of genitive variation in White South African English (WSAfE), taking into consideration the longstanding English–Afrikaans contact situation in South Africa and the similarities between the constructions in English and Afrikaans. On the basis of a diachronic comparative study of WSAfE and Afrikaans (with British English functioning as a baseline) we aim to assess if and how the close contact between these two languages in South Africa has constrained the choice of genitive construction with non-animate possessors in WSAfE over the past 100 years. Overall, our analysis suggests that the development of genitive variation has run in tandem in the two languages, with both languages affecting each other over time. We also find that these cross-linguistic influence effects are mediated by register.

Keywords: genitive variation, English genitives/possessives, Afrikaans genitives/possessives, language contact, animacy, register
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Diachronic comparative corpus analyses
    • 2.1Corpora/datasets
    • 2.2Comparing genitive variation in WSAfE and BrE
    • 2.3Comparing genitive variation in WSAfE and Afrikaans over time
    • 2.4Zooming in on inanimate possessors
  • 3.Discussion
    • 3.1Convergence of WSAfE and BrE?
    • 3.2Levelling of colonial lag?
    • 3.3Additional constraints on genitive choice?
    • 3.4Americanisation of WSAfE?
  • 4.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 20 June 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/coll.60.02ros
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