What goals did the First Afrikaans Language Movement pursue after 1875?

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Following its establishment in 1875 by the Association of True Afrikaners, the First Afrikaans Language Movement pursued several key goals aimed at elevating the status of the language. Led by figures such as Stephanus Jacobus du Toit, the movement sought to:1

  • Establish Independence: The primary objective was to distinguish Afrikaans as a language separate from Dutch.21
  • Promote Legitimacy: Through propagandist writings, the movement aimed to break down existing prejudices against Afrikaans and demonstrate that it could serve as an effective, functional medium of communication.1
  • Foster Literacy and Media: The movement worked to create a written tradition for the language, which included the publication of the first newspaper, Die Patriot, in 1876, as well as the first magazines and literary texts in Afrikaans.21

These efforts laid the foundational groundwork for the language's later development and its eventual recognition as an official language in 1925.1