Author Archive

  • I’m no fundi, but jislaaik – all those loan words!

    Posted by Kerry Maxwell on June 23, 2010

    It wasn’t until I recently researched the fascinating details about the lexicon of South African English that I realized just what a fantastic example it is of the linguistic concept of borrowing. There can’t be many language varieties that have the influence of such a broad range of languages – European, Asian and African, often [...]

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  • Get your paddles off my honk!

    Posted by Kerry Maxwell on February 22, 2010

    As a freelance editor and mother of two, I don’t get out much. Sad, but true – I’m usually tucked up in a cubby-hole with my laptop and dictionaries, or performing my motherly duties (for the uninitiated that currently includes sandwich making, a taxi service and washing boxer shorts!). Imagine my delight then when I [...]

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