Heritage Day: poet celebrates Kaaps dictionary
The first-ever Kaaps Woriboek was released earlier this year
Award-winning poet Gaireyah Fredericks emphasized the significance of language in shaping one's identity at the Iziko Bo-Kaap Museum's Heritage Day event. Kaaps, a distinct vernacular with roots dating back to the 1500s, emerged through interactions between Khoi, San people, enslaved individuals, and settlers. Although closely tied to Afrikaans, it remains separate.
Fredericks, an advocate for Kaaps and translator, co-authored the Kaaps Woriboek, the first-ever Kaaps dictionary, released earlier this year. The tri-lingual dictionary, spearheaded by UWC linguist Professor Quentin Williams, standardizes spelling and establishes grammatical rules for Kaaps. A favorite phrase of Fredericks' is "ma se kind," which translates to "mother's child," signifying a sense of kinship.
She recited her poem "Kaaps is Hollands," which addresses the perception of Kaaps as a "dumb language" or belonging to the "low class." Initially considered a "dumb language," the word "djy" now appears in a dictionary, marking a milestone for Fredericks. Formalizing the language is crucial for future generations, ensuring young people feel "truly born free."
The dictionary's standardized spelling system will allow individuals to see the audio-language in written form, providing representation and validation that was previously absent.
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