The first memorial lecture for Prof Christo van Rensburg was recently presented with great success on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom.

Prof Van Rensburg was one of the most well-known Afrikaans language experts and received the CJ Langenhoven prize for language science in 2018 for his work in identifying, noting and analysing of language varieties, among others.

With his death, he left a great void in the Afrikaans language world, and to commemorate his contribution, it was decided to introduce an annual memorial lecture.

Prof Hans du Plessis addressed the audience, and with the title of “Taalverskeidenheid en die dekolonisering van Afrikaans (Language diversity and the decolonisation of Afrikaans),” introduced a weighty topic that enjoys increasing attention in various circles.  

The lecture focused on the work done by Prof Van Rensburg for and about the Afrikaans language during his lifetime.

Prof Du Plessis confirmed that his insights into the origins of Afrikaans play an important role in the renewal of our thoughts on the indigenising of our knowledge about Afrikaans.

“The roots of Afrikaans are to a great extent indigenous, even though the language was largely Europeanised in the course of the twentieth century, which led to the colonisation of Afrikaans,” explained Prof Du Plessis.

“In my opinion, his most significant inheritance is that our knowledge of Afrikaans is being indigenised and that the language is therefore being decolonised.

“His contribution over many years has already had a positive influence on the renewal of all the chapters of the story of Afrikaans, and will continue this influence for a long time,” Prof Du Plessis said.

After the lecture, Prof Bernard Odendaal recited three poems: Transformasioneel-generatiewe gedig (Transformational-generative poem) by Prof Hans du Plessis, Die grammatika van liefhê (The grammar of loving) by JC Steyn, and a poem by himself, which he dedicated to Prof Van Rensburg, Die dood van ʼn reisgenoot (The death of a fellow traveller).

Prof Hans du Plessis addresses the audience during the first Christo van Rensburg memorial lecture.