“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.

The Persistence of Heritage: New and Recent Words from Afrikaans in SA English (1—T)

Afrikaans is long-standing source of words and phrases for SA English. This new series from GQOM, "The Persistence of Heritage," explores some new and recent informal, colloquial, and slang items in SA English that have come from Afrikaans, starting with the letter T: taalbul, tappet, tekere, tjank, and toeka