Abstract
M.A. (Afrikaans)
Newspaper style books prescribe language usage in newspapers across the Western world. Their influence is also apparent in the language usage of Afrikaans daily newspapers. In order to establish the distinguishing characteristics of newspaper Afrikaans the language prescribed by the style books of Die Burger, Die Volksblad, Beeld, Die Vader/and and Die Transvaler was investigated. The register newspaper Afrikaans, as determined by the newspaper style book, displays distinct characteristics usually associated with the standard variety of a language. The establishment of those Afrikaans newspapers investigated resulted from the nationality aspirations of those then regarded as Afrikaners. Those newspapers have been closely involved in the creation, introduction and standardization of Afrikaans. Language standardization, in tum, is often implemented in unifying a community. Grammarians and language autocrats officially involved in standardizing the eventual standard variety (L.W. Hiemstra as member of the Taalkommissie and J.J. Smith as first editor-in-chief of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taa/) also held senior positions in the newspaper hierarchy.
Newspaper Afrikaans, like standard Afrikaans, aims through standardization to maximize
the communication potential of the language and to minimize the threat of ambiguity.
Language standardization also results in prescriptive ness and language purism. These
elements are inherent characteristics of the register newspaper Afrikaans. The register manifests itself in the medium where a standard language usually enjoys its most successful manifestation: written language. Beyond these similarities between the register newspaper Afrikaans and the standard variety, the register displays several unique characteristics distinguishing it from other registers in the Afrikaans language. These characteristics can be classed in two main sections. Although the aims of newspaper Afrikaans are in many respects similar to those set by international newspaper practice, care should be taken not to disregard the inevitability of language change as it could prove to be detrimental to the very existence of Afrikaans.