Afrikaans
Although the United States has not declared an official language, the predominate language is English. All official documents are available in English and it is the dominant language of the media and society.
The second most commonly spokent language is Spanish. Knowing Spanish fluently can be a plus, especially if you are considering living in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas or Florida. In some cases, you may not be able to get a job if you are not fluent in both English and Spanish. This is especially true for many health care and civil service jobs. Other languages such as Vietnamese, Chinese and some Native American dialects are spoken in smaller areas, but knowledge of these languages is usually not necessary unless you intend to work among and with these groups.
Some Differences between South African English and American English
If you've seen any American movies or television shows, you know there are differences between the way South African English and American English sound. There are also a number of differences in common terminology. What you may not know is that these differences can be sufficient to cause confusion and embarrassment! Below are some suggestions to avoid these pitfalls:
- Resist the temptation to say "ach, shame!" if you see an adorable American child. His or her parents may wonder why you consider their child shameful.
- If you need a diskette for your computer, be sure to ask for a "floppy" and not a "stiffy" as the latter carries a strong sexual connotation--few Americans would have any idea what you really want!
- "So long" means "goodbye" not "in the meantime."
- If you mention "nappie rash," you will not be understood. "Nappy" in the U.S. refers to the natural, tightly-curled African hair type and sometimes the term carries racist undertones. American babies get "diaper rash."
- Be very careful if you mention "coloured people." Before the Civil Rights Movement, African-Americans were called "colored." Now, the term is considered racist and antiquated. "People of color" is acceptible, but usually refers to anyone who is not white. "Negro" is also a by-gone term and "black" is on its way out. Most Americans are hyphenated now: African-American for black, Asian-American for most Asians and some Pacific Islanders, Mexican-American for people of Mexican origin, Native-American for American Indians, European-American for whites, and so on. These terms are subject to change without notice.
- If American want to see a robot, they'll watch Lost in Space. The thing that keep cars from ramming into each other (sometimes) is a traffic light or signal.
A Comparison of Words and Spellings
| South African version |
American version |
| bakkie | pick-up truck |
| bath (verb) | bathe |
| candy floss | cotton candy |
| cooldrink | soda, pop or cola |
| mielie | corn |
| swimming costume | swimming suit |
| bonnet (auto) | hood |
| boot (auto) | trunk |
| braai | bar-b-que (BBQ) |
| colour, honour, odour, etc. | just remove the "u" |
| flicker (auto) | blinker or turn signal |
| maths | math |
| nappie | diaper |
| pancake | crepe |
| robot (traffic) | traffic light or signal |
| stiffy (disk) | floppy |
| takkies | sneakers |
| tyre | tire |
An Overview of American Slang
American slang can change as quickly as the weather in Texas. It is wiser to avoid using much slang since many terms and phrases can quickly become hackneyed from overuse. For example, uttering an emphatic not at the end of an affirmative phrase to negate it (i.e., "I like your shirt. NOT!") had been used to death long before Wayne's World hit the video shops. Popular media, especially advertising, is usually the culprit, as is the case with the more recent wazzuuup! from a popular beer commercial. Some slang, however, has managed to endure. Cool has been around since the fifties while dude and bummer have managed to outlive surfer chic. Other surfer slang, such as tubular and wicked, however, have long lost thier mass appeal. Hip hop lingo still appeals to a young, urban crowd, but sounds silly coming from anyone else.
Accents and Dialects
Get used to saying that you're not from England or Australia. Most Americans are not familiar with a South African accent, although many people will find it appealing.
American accents do differ somewhat from region to region, but, in most cases, even thick accents should not impede understanding. Differences in dialect have virtually disappeared in the last century due to the influences of mass media and frequent relocation. For example, while it used to be said that a vessel for carrying water was a pail in the north and a bucket in the south, this distinction has blurred considerably. These days, one could use either term anywhere without sounding strange.
