“I know one tappet like that” – Exploring a South African stereotype

The word “tappet” – used to refer to a person or their behaviour or culture – doesn’t have quite the same cachet as that which has been ascribed to “zef” in the last decade and a half. While similar to “zef,” unlike that term, “tappet” is not (yet?) one which people use to construct a self-identity. Initially a designation for petrolkoppe, the targets of the derision involved in the use of the term also include social class, ethnic or language background, and levels of intelligence or social sophistication.

More going on than you think – “dala” in South African English

The isiXhosa verb "dala" is regularly used in South African English these days, having arrived by a somewhat circuitous route. It as a generally agreed upon meaning; yet, looking more closely, one notices that there is a lot more happening under the hood.

All-time most-viewed articles at GQOM: 1–5

A round-up of the most popular articles on GQOM over the last five years. Here's 1-5. Discover amapiano, eish, fong kong, gqwirhiness, kota, msunery, Mzansi, ngudu, quart, skaftin, smallanyana, sterring, umgowo, and Zamalek, among dozens more.

English with African roots: “balance me”—explain to me, help me understand

The phrase "balance me" shows a wholly different kind of use in Africa than it does in the rest of the world, according to the 15-billion word News on the Web (NOW) corpus. Why should this be the case? How is it different? And what does "balance me" even mean in English in South Africa? In this post, I provide answers to these questions based on contemporary data, and then draw conclusions you may consider surprising.

Throwing a zap: how to talk about showing someone the middle finger in South Africa—the zap sign

You know what I mean: the zap sign — a gesture that sends an unequivocal message of "F*** you." Elsewhere referred to as "giving the middle finger" or "flipping the bird." A historical lexicographic treatment of the phrase in South African English

“So paraat he stands at attention all night.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.3

Afrikaans military slang from the bad old days of the 80s. The communists were on our doorstep, after all. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“He murders all his brain cells with the papsak.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.2

Notorious in several quarters for the havoc it plays with mind and health, the South African papsak is peak infamy. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

“Papgeld. Bolova please pay maintenance.” — Persistence/Heritage 2.1

The world over, baby daddies may suddenly get all shy when it's time to go beyond just talking about papgeld. A historical lexicographic treatment of the word in English in South Africa

Persistence/Heritage 2: P—papgeld, papsak, paraat, plak

More new and recent words from Afrikaans in South African English: a tour through papgeld, papsak, paraat, and plak

The mysterious case of toeka | The Persistence of Heritage

Phrases like “van toeka af” have been used in South Africa for a long time to refer to the distant past. How “toeka” came to enter Afrikaans in the first place remains something of a mystery as its origins may be local or it may have been imported during the early colonial era. From the twentieth century, it can be found in English in South Africa, perhaps having taken a detour through Tsotsitaal or Is’camtho.