Young white Afrikaans speakers in South Africa: A case of liminal identity?

Abstract

Studies on post-apartheid South Africa have revealed the persistence of important social challenges in this country. From a sociolinguistic viewpoint, the ethnic diversity and the co-existence of the eleven official languages seem to play an important role in the identity formation of South Africans and the development of intergroup relations. Against the background of key socio-historical events, this article investigates the situation of young white Afrikaans South Africans. It is hypothesized that individuals belonging to this particular ethno-linguistic group represent a case of liminality or liminal identity. Data from two recent research projects on social categorization and language preferences (2012–2014) together with the results of an ongoing study on the role of social distance in the South African context (2014–present) are used to illustrate the current social situation of the young white Afrikaans group and analyse implications for its identity.