Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of a multilingual language policy for Higher Education in South Africa (2002) requires the teaching and learning of different languages as a second or additional language – also the teaching of Afrikaans for specific purposes to students as adult learners. The teaching of Afrikaans for specific purposes to students as adult learners has not received much attention in the South African context, especially research on the learning and teaching of Afrikaans for specific purposes in a university context. This research on Afrikaans as a second language has as framework the theory of Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching. The research focuses on issues relating to complexity in task-based challenges which await students in a multilingual university context and the way in which a task-based teaching syllabus contributes to these needs and challenges. The main focus of this study is to explore the possibilities of a multiperspective approach to the analysis of complexity in the design of a task-based syllabus for university students. The aim of such a multiperspective approach is to research the full spectrum of approaches which is available to research task complexity. The adequacy of the different approaches lies in the architecture of the compositionality and combination of the individual researchers’ frameworks, which each on its’ own has elements of incompleteness regarding the development of students’ interlanguage. There can be argued that the multiperspective approach to complexity in task-based syllabus design is beneficial to task design for an Afrikaans task-based syllabus at university level because each approach promotes the development of an interlanguage. The central purpose of this study is to investigate the nature and properties of communication tasks employed in generic social and academic communication in Afrikaans on a university campus in South Africa within the framework of task-based language learning and teaching, as well as syllabus design. This study analyses the communication tasks in accordance with the needs of second language learners of Afrikaans in the context of campus communication. For the purpose of the research, a needs analysis was conducted through the use of a questionnaire and interviews with university students. This needs analysis shows that students whose first language is not Afrikaans, have the need to acquire communicative skills in Afrikaans to communicate effectively with fellow students and lecturers at the university. As a result of the needs analysis ten student-student-dialogues and ten student-lecturer-dialogues were constructed to simulate campus communication. The study researches the various cognitive and linguistic taskelements.The purpose of this research is to to examine the cognitive and structural properties in a task design which address the communication needs of students and lecturers for learning generic Afrikaans for communicating on campus. A framework for the analysis of complexity in the development of a task-based syllabus for a teaching and learning program for the teaching and learning of Afrikaans as a second language in the multilingual university context of a South African university campus will be proposed. The study examines the different components of tasks and the components of designing a syllabus, and how they influence the teaching and learning of the second language. This study analyses various complexity properties of the twenty Afrikaans dialogues in order to determine criteria for syllabus designers on how tasks can be graded and sequenced within a task-based language learning and teaching syllabus for second language learners of Afrikaans. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van ’n meertalige taalbeleid vir Hoër Onderwys in Suid-Afrika (2002) vereis die leer en onderrig van verskillende tale as ’n tweede of addisionele taal – ook wat die onderrig van Afrikaans vir spesifieke doeleindes aan studente as volwasse leerders betref. Hierdie onderrig van Afrikaans vir spesifieke doeleindes aan volwassenes het nog nie veel aandag binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks ontvang nie, veral wat betref navorsing oor die leer en onderrig van Afrikaans vir spesifieke doeleindes binne ’n universiteitskonteks. Die navorsing wat vir hierdie proefskrif onderneem is, val binne die teorie van taakgebaseerde leer en onderrig. Dit fokus op die aspekte wat verband hou met taakgebaseerde kompleksiteitsuitdagings wat vir studente binne ’n meertalige universiteitskonteks voorlê en die wyse waarop ’n taakgebaseerde leer- en onderrigprogram voldoen aan hierdie behoeftes en uitdagings. Die sentrale fokus van hierdie proefskrif behels ’n ondersoek na die moontlikheid van ’n multiperspektiefbenadering tot die analise van kompleksiteit by die ontwerp van ’n Afrikaanse taakgebaseerde sillabus op universiteitsvlak. Die doel van so ’n multiperspektiefbenadering is om die volle spektrum van oorwegings wat ter sprake is in taakkompleksiteit te ondersoek. Die toereikendheid van dié spesifieke benadering lê in die argitektuur van die samehang en kombinasie van die verskillende navorsers se raamwerke wat elk op sigself tekens van onvolledigheid toon ten opsigte van die optimale ontwikkeling van die studente se intertaal. Daar word betoog dat dat hierdie multiperspektiefbenadering tot kompleksiteit in taakgebaseerde sillabusontwerp voordelig is ten opsigte van sillabusontwerp vir Afrikaans op universiteitsvlak aangesien intertaalontwikkeling optimaal binne elk van die benaderings verantwoord kan word. Die sentrale fokuspunt van die proefskrif is om ondersoek in te stel na die aard en eienskappe van kommunikasietake wat gevind word in generies sosiale en akademiese kommunikasietake in Afrikaans by ’n universiteitskampus in Suid-Afrika. Dit vind plaas binne die konteks van hedendaagse tweedetaalteorieë oor taakgebaseerde taalleer en -onderrig, sowel as sillabusontwerp. Hierdie studie analiseer die kommunikasietake aan die hand van die behoeftes van tweedetaalstudente van Afrikaans binne die konteks van kampuskommunikasie. Dié behoeftes is bepaal na aanleiding van behoefte-analises wat onder universiteitstudente onderneem is. Die behoefte-analises toon dat studente wie se eerste taal nie Afrikaans is nie, die behoefte het om Afrikaans te verwerf ten einde suksesvol te kan kommunikeer met medestudente en dosente. Na aanleiding van die behoefte-analises is tien student-student-dialoë en tien student-dosent-dialoë gekonstrueer wat verteenwoordigende kampuskommunikasie simuleer. Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die verskeie kenmerke van take wat verband hou met kognitiewe en linguistiese kompleksiteit in ’n taakgebaseerde ontwerp te ondersoek. Die doel hiervan is om onder meer ’n raamwerk vir die analisering van kompleksiteit in ’n taakgebaseerde sillabus vir leer en onderrig van generiese Afrikaans vir kampuskommunikasie voor te stel. Saam met die ondersoek na kognitiewe en linguistiese kompleksiteit, ondersoek die proefskrif die kenmerke van sillabusontwerp om te bepaal hoe dit die leer en onderrig van Afrikaans as ’n tweede taal beïnvloed. Die insigte wat sodoende oor die kompleksiteit van die take verkry word, skep verskeie moontlikhede vir die ontwikkeling van take binne die konteks van ’n universiteitskampus met betrekking tot die leer van Afrikaans as ’n tweede taal. Voorts verskaf die studie ook ontledings met betrekking tot die kompleksiteitskenmerke van die twintig dialoë in Afrikaans sodat kriteria vir sillabusontwerpers geskep kan word waarvolgens hulle take binne die taakgebaseerde leer en onderrig kan gradeer en orden om ’n sillabus vir tweedetaalstudente van Afrikaans te ontwerp.

Text in Afrikaans / Because of the variety of relationships which exist between transitive verbs and their objects, all direct objects are not comparable with one another. One class of object, however, which stands by itself and which is of considerable interest, is the OBJECT OF RESULT. Because of the particular relation which exists between object and transitive verb in resulting constructions, we have here an unique class of direct object. The resulting construction is therefore, in the first instance a relation construction. This specific relation between transitive verb and object is mainly determined by the presence of or absence of certain inherent distinctive characteristics by transitive verbs and which play a determining role in identifying OBJECTS OF RESULT. From this study it is also clear that there is a semantic value present in transitive verbs (that can combine with objects of result) which has not been observed or distinguished by lexicographers and grammarians until recently. / Omdat voorwerpe van sinne in 'n verskeidenheid van betrekkinge met (oorganklike) werkwoorde kan staan, is alle direkte voorwerpe nie almal in alle opsigte vergelykbaar met mekaar nie. Waarskynlik die interessantste voorwerp in hierdie verskeidenheid is die RESULTATIEWE VOORWERP. As gevolg van die besondere verhouding wat daar bestaan tussen hierdie voorwerp en die HW, het ans hier te make met 'n unieke tipe direkte voorwerp wat kan aanspraak maak op 'n eie bestaansreg as 'n subkategorie van die hoofkategorie: Direkte Voorwerpe. Die resulterende konstruksie is dus, in die eerste plek, 'n verhoudingskonstruksie. Hierdie spesifieke verhouding tussen die HW en die voorwerp word grootliks bepaal deur die aan- of afwesigheid van sekere inherente distinktiewe kenmerke wat by oorganklike werkwoorde voorkom en wat 'n bepalende rol speel by die ontstaan van en identifisering van RESUL TATIEWE VOORWERPE. Uit hierdie ondersoek sal verder blyk dat daar 'n semantiese waarde by oorganklike werkwoorde is wat tot dusver nag nie deur taalkundiges/woordeboekmakers of woordverklaarders onderskep en onderskei is nie. Oorganklike werkwoorde kan dus fyner gedefinieer word ten opsigte van hul verbindbaarheid, al dan nie, met resultatiewe voorwerpe. / Language Education, Arts and Culture / M.A. (Afrikaans)

Thesis (MA (Afrikaans and Dutch))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The purpose of this thesis is to highlight the importance of a consistent translation strategy in the translation of proper names. Coupled with this is the importance of translators having a sound theoretical knowledge that serves as a foundation for the translation of any given text. These aspects are central to the successful realisation of cultural communication seeing that proper names are one of the most important cultural indicators. First, we looked at the first book in the Harry Potter series as to determine the number of proper names that were translated and how many were not translated. Different translation strategies were then looked at to determine whether there was a purposeful and logical explanation, and motivation behind the manner and degree of translation of the proper names. This was followed by a close comparison between book one and book five as to determine whether the inconsistent use of translation strategies, was consistently applied throughout the series. Central to this study is the necessity of successful cultural communication and how the inconsistent use of certain elements can have a negative impact on the cultural communication in any literary work. To establish successful cultural communication, every translator needs a clear skopos/brief for the target text. As a point of departure I will look at certain concepts such as translation norms, culture and translation as well as various translation strategies. The impact of inconsistent translation strategies on texts will be highlighted throughout this thesis.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus in this paper is on terms of endearment, and initially linking it with love, affection and care, which prominently feature in the oldest ancient languages. Users of dictionaries are motivated by finding and understanding the unbelievable variety of words in languages. In many faiths/religions people give credence to a perception that love and understanding of one another's needs and aspirations form the true basis of successful interpersonal relationships but as yet no consensus has been reached. The data was empirically collected through personal conversations with local people, including children, the young generation, parents and grandparents, staff of banks, supermarkets and bookshops. A distinction is made between terms generally used for kids, adults, men and women according to context in usage and the meanings thereof as reported by respondents, varying from seriously meant (dearest), to affectionate (darling, beloved) to mere superficial friendship (pal, love). As the focus was on Afrikaans which is the home language of the most residents in the Western Cape, according to information received from Statistics South Africa, and the knowledge as well as present usage of the word 'troetel' as a term of endearment, the English equivalents and additional similar terms are not of importance here. The impression is, however, that a special nuance of emotion is attached to the usage of the mentioned examples. Dictionaries should include terms of endearment known in the colloquial language at the time of their compilation and must be reliable sources of information regarding vocabulary, ways to address people and the varying degrees of communication in the wide distinguishable variety of contexts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Woordeboekverklarings vir die woord troetel sluit onder meer in met liefde behandel, liefkoos, streel en versorg. Hierdie besonder positiewe konnotasie het gelei na ʼn soekroete in die oudste antieke tale as vertrekpunt om die ontstaan, bekendheid en gebruik van hierdie woordjie in Afrikaans te probeer vasstel. Omdat liefde in verskeie gelowe as basis vir suksesvolle menseverhoudinge deur die eeue aanbeveel, uitgeleef of geopponeer is, en tog nog geen algemeen aanvaarde konsensus, ten spyte van al die slim argumente en beredenerings deur briljante geleerdes bereik is nie, kan troeteltaal wat meestal met ʼn ondertoon van ʼn nuanse van liefde gepaard gaan, gebruikstaal positief beïnvloed. Deur middel van onoffisiële proefvraelysies aan die publiek plaaslik en op die platteland en deur persoonlike empiriese navorsing in gemeenskappe is die verlangde inligting by oud en jonk versamel, bank-, supermark- en boekwinkelpersoneel se menings is ingewin. Daar is onderskei tussen troetel- of troetelverwante name vir babas tot jongmense en seniors, mans en dames, met betekenisse volgens konteks soos deur respondente verstrek. Alhoewel troetel as sulks nie by die jonger geslag juis algemeen, soos vroeër, bekend is nie, veral in dorpsgemeenskappe, kom dit nog redelik wyd in die Wes-Kaap, streek- en gesinsgebonde voor. Daar word probeer om leksikograwe te beïnvloed om meer aandag aan troetelwoordjies soos bokkie, dingetjie, kleintjie en pikkie in woordeboek te gee en die gebruik daarvan en krag daarin opgesluit by gebruikers te laat ervaar en weer in gebruik te laat herlewe, veral by ouers en jongmense. ʼn Doel van woordeboeke vir die algemene taalgebruiker is in hoofsaak om ʼn data-aanbod daar te stel wat verteenwoordigend is van die gewone omgangstaal in die tydsgewrig van samestelling, maar om verder ook as interessante inligtingsbronne van data in gebruikstaal te dien.

Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))—University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / At present there is an extreme shortage in the publication of Afrikaans children’s books. Although revised publications of popular, classic series, such as the Maasdorp-, Trompie- and Saartjie-series can help fill the void in the market, the contribution made by translations of children’s books should not be underestimated: Afrikaans translations of popular children’s books, such as the Harry Potter- and Narnia-series are well-liked and can even encourage young readers to develop an Afrikaans reading culture. Young readers throughout the world get pleasure from the books written by the renowned German author Cornelia Funke. Funke is viewed as an influential author of children’s books and this is largely due to her popular fantasy-adventure Tintenherz; the extremely original plot of this fantasy-adventure, which forms part of a trilogy, persuades young readers to change their unenthusiastic approach towards reading by showing them that reading can be a pleasant, thrilling experience. This study attempts to prove that an Afrikaans translation of Tintenherz can make an important contribution to fill the void in the Afrikaans children’s literature, as well as encourage young readers to read more. Critics fear that translations of popular children’s books might flood the market with books that might be cheaper, but that are second-rate versions of the original texts since the translations fail to achieve the same literary standards as the original texts. This study attempts to prove that knowledge of theoretical translation strategies, such as George Steiner’s hermeneutic motion, Lawrence Venuti’s approaches of foreignisation and domestication, as well as André Levere’s approach of rewrite as a form of translation do in fact make it possible to produce an Afrikaans translation of Tintenherz which not only meets the requirements of the target-culture and satisfies the wants of the target-readers, but also upholds the literary standard of the original German text.

Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006). / Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, ‘Long walk to freedom’, can be viewed as a milestone in South African history. Although it is not necessarily significant in a literary sense, it played an important role in making many South Africans aware of another side to their country’s history, and introduced them to a man who, besides being the world’s most famous political prisoner and a respected statesman, is also an ordinary human being. The Afrikaans translation of the autobiography, Lang pad na vryheid, formed part of a project to translate the original document into all the languages of South Africa (three other translations have been completed thus far). This project is discussed in relation to the ideological motive for it, and also in relation to the ideological position of Afrikaans in South Africa and the ideology and poetics of the translator. The study is based on a descriptive approach, specifically as manifested in the manipulation theory of André Lefevere. It attempts to place the translation of autobiography as a genre within translation theory, and suggests that the translator of autobiography has little ‘leeway’ with regard to the application of translation strategies, specifically those that change the original narrator’s ‘voice’. The various ways in which the text has been ‘manipulated’ in the production of its translation, both to make it function as a text in the target language and in ways that cannot always be justified on that basis, lead to the conclusion that it is very difficult to translate autobiography without interfering with the very personal telling of a person’s life story by that person, and without modulating the narration in a way that cannot always be reconciled with the autobiographer’s ideology. The modulation of the autobiographer’s voice, whether this takes place consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously, is finally argued to produce a translation that can no longer be viewed as the autobiography of Nelson Mandela in the strict sense.

Thesis (MPhil (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is an analysis of The True Story of Ah Q in English translation (in Chinese-English bilingual format). By applying new translation theories, specifically those of Christiane Nord and Lawrence Venuti, and by demonstrating their applicability it is hoped that this research project will contribute to these theories becoming more accepted in China. The skopos theory and the concepts domestication and foreignisation are the main translation theories utilised in this thesis. The research was begun with the hypothesis that the translators domesticated the English target text, based on Venuti’s belief that the majority of English translations domesticate the original. The two main research questions are: What is the dominant translation strategy utilised by the translators? Does this strategy fulfil the skopos (i.e. the aims of the translation)? The research will also give suggestions for an improved translation and a more effective translation strategy in light of the skopos. In addition, the study will determine whether the bilingual format is suited for the fulfilment of the current skopos. As pointed out in the publisher’s note, this Chinese-English bilingual version of The True Story of Ah Q is intended to exhibit this modern Chinese classic as a great piece of Chinese literature. The primary aim of the translation is to give readers a real experience of the depth and the heights of Chinese culture. The secondary aims of the translation focus on language learning as well as the function for translators (namely to use this translation as an example for future translations). This research project will determine if the translation has fulfilled these aims. The translation theories on which the analyses in this thesis are based are presented in the literature study (chapter 2). This provides the foundation for the comparison between the Chinese ST and the English TT, the evaluation of the translation, and subsequent conclusions. Chapters 3 and 4 present the application of the theory, divided into an analysis of the macro and microstructures respectively. Translation decisions are analysed on these two levels within the theoretical insights presented in chapter 2. It will be these chapters that provide the foundation for the research findings of this thesis. In cases where improvements of the translation are proposed, suggestions will be made and motivated by theoretical insights. The final chapter (chapter 5) will answer the research questions in detail, based on the individual analyses made in chapters 3 and 4 and motivate these answers based mainly on the translation theories of Nord and Venuti. These answers as well as the suggestions for an improved translation are the main contributions that this thesis makes to translation studies. Lastly, suggestions for further research are made in order to stimulate further research on English translations produced in China. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die Engelse vertaling van The true story of Ah Q geanaliseer. Met die studie word daar onder meer gepoog om, deur die toepassing van nuwe vertaalteorieë soos dié van Christiane Nord en Lawrence Venuti, en deur die illustrasie van die teorieë se toepasbaarheid, daartoe by te dra dat dié teorieë meer in China aanvaar word. Die skoposteorie en die konsepte domestikering (‘domestication’) en vervreemding (‘foreignisation’) verteenwoordig die vernaamste vertaalteorieë waarop hierdie tesis berus. Ter aanvang van die studie word die hipotese gestel dat die vertalers ’n domestikerende inslag aan die Engelse teks gegee het. Dit word gebaseer op die mening van Venuti wat glo dat die meerderheid Engelse vertalings ’n domestikerende weergawe van die oorspronklike teks verteenwoordig. Die twee primêre probleemstellings wat in hierdie studie gestel word, lui soos volg: Wat is die dominante vertaalstrategie wat deur die vertalers aangewend word? Vervul hierdie strategie die skopos (met ander woorde die doelstellings van die vertaling)? Die studie doen voorts ook voorstelle vir ’n verbeterde vertaling aan die hand en stel ook ’n meer effektiewe vertaalstrategie op grond van die skopos voor. Verder stel die studie ook vas of die tweetalige format inderdaad gepas is om die bestaande skopos te verwesenlik. Volgens die nota van die uitgewer, is die doel van hierdie Chinees-Engelse weergawe van The true story of Ah Q om dié moderne Chinese klassieke werk as ’n belangrike Chinese literêre teks daar te stel. Die primêre doelstelling van die vertaling is om lesers ’n ware ervaring te gee van die omvattendheid van die Chinese kultuur. Die sekondêre doelstellings van die vertaling fokus op die aanleer van taal, sowel as op die pragmatiese waarde daarvan vir vertalers (naamlik om die vertaling as voorbeeld te neem vir toekomstige vertalings). Hierdie ondersoek sal bepaal of die vertaling wel hierde doelstellings vervul het. Die vertaalteorieë waarop die analise in hierdie tesis berus, word in die literatuurstudie (hoofstuk 2) aangebied. Dit verskaf die basis vir die vergelyking tussen die Chinese .bronteks en die Engelsedoelteks, die evaluering van die vertaling, en die daaropvolgende gevolgtrekkings. Hoofstuk 3 en 4 handel oor die toepassing van die teorie, en is verdeel in die analise van die makro- en mikrostruktuur onderskeidelik. Besluite ten opsigte van die vertaling word op hierdie twee vlakke, en op grond van die teoretiese insigte wat in hoofstuk 2 aangebied word, gëevalueer. Dit is hierdie hoofstukke wat die basis vorm vir die navorsingsresultate van hierdie tesis. In gevalle waar verbeterings vir die vertaling aangebied word, word voorstelle op grond van die relevante teoretiese insigte gegee en gemotiveer. Die slothoofstuk (hoofstuk 5) beantwoord die navorsingsvrae in groter detail en is gebaseer op die afsonderlike analises in hoofstuk 3 en 4. Motiverings vir die antwoorde op hierdie vrae word gebaseer op die vertaalteorieë van veral Nord en Venuti. Hierdie antwoorde, sowel as die voorstelle ter verbetering van die vertaling, is die primêre bydrae van hierdie tesis tot vertaalstudie in die algemeen. Ten slotte word voorstelle vir verdere navorsing gemaak om só verdere ondersoeke oor Engelse vertalings wat in China geproduseer word, te stimuleer.

M.Phil. / With this study the better understanding of the skills in, the background with relation to and the attitude towards communicative Afrikaans of .a specific group of Public Administration students of the Technikon Northern-Transvaal is investigated. The focus is principally on the socio-cultural factors that influence the mastering of Afrikaans. The reseach design, including the problem identification, is vested in the theoretical Vygotskyan concept of zone of proximal development. Founded on the theories of both MM Bakhtin and LS Vygotsky, the researcher establishes an own interpretation of the zone of proximal development, when she proposes an integration thereof with the H-model as thought heuristics (Henning 1996). According to this integrated model, the study of students' zone of proximal development in Afrikaans as foreign language encompasses the study of: their language skills; their knowledge of the language; personal and socio-cultural influences; and their metalinguistic skills. This exposition serves as framework for data gathering, data analysis and chapter division. The format of the study is that of case studies which implies that an in-depth investigation is done of various types of data - obtained from a quantitatively small, but sociologically representative group of Public Adminsitration students, The various types of data which are referred to, are: data from talks delivered; written texts; data from listening and reading protocols; and data from interviews. With the interpretation of the data an attempt is not only made to come to an own understanding ("verstehen" - Weber (1958)) of the community of learners' experience and usage of Afrikaans, but also to cultivate a sensitivity for this with the wider teaching and research community.

Text in Afrikaans / Tradisioneel is aanvaar dat die indirekte voorwerp nie in Afrikaanse stelsinne kan optree sander die voorkoms van 'n direkte voorwerp in dieselfde sin nie. Hierdie ondersoek het aan die lig gebring dat sekere voorwerpe wat voorheen as "direkte voorwerpe" geklassifiseer is, eerder die eienskappe van indirekte Hulle word dus nou geklassifiseer as en die parameters van die indirekte ooreenkomstig uitgebrei. Aangesien daar geen formele merkers vir die uitkenning en onderskeiding van direkte en indirecte voorwerpe bestaan nie, is parameters vir die doel vasgestel. Skoon indireckte voorwerpe (op enkele uisonderings na) verskyn altyd direk na die SPIL-posisie in 'n stelsin toon 'n groot affiniteit vir voorsetsels (versa vir, aan), en kan in die koers van adjunk afgegradeer word, deur me 'n voorsetsel te verbind, en kan sodoende ook na' 'n adjunk verskyn. Direkte voorwerpe kan daarenteen nie met voorset-: sels verbind nie en kan buitendien na enige adjunk verskyn. / Language Education, Arts and Culture / M.A. (Afrikaans)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Children experiencing language disorders have often been noted to have difficulty in comprehending figurative language, to a greater or lesser degree. The present study examined and compared the comprehension of figurative language, namely idioms and similes, in three groups of boys between the ages of 8 and 10. These three groups included (i) typically developing Afrikaans first language speakers, (ii) typically developing Afrikaans second language speakers (L2) and (iii) Afrikaans first language speakers with specific language impairment (SLI). A total of 18 participants were studied. The participants were interviewed individually and tests were conducted verbally. 25 idioms and 25 similes obtained from Die Afrikaanse Semantiese Taalevaluering (AST) were used. No contexts were provided for the idioms initially, but if the participant produced an incorrect or literal answer for the idiom, the idiom was placed in context. The use of context proved to be beneficial to all groups. Similes were read to the participant, who had to provide the final word as a response. The similes proved easier for all groups to comprehend, possibly due to their greater explicitness. The data were analysed statistically, but due to the small sample size, the participants were also examined individually as case studies, which provided further insight into the results obtained and revealed the non-homogeneity within the SLI group. The performance of the SLI group proved to be slightly inferior to that of the other two groups, but no statistically significant differences were found among the three groups. The L2 participants were asked to translate the idioms and similes into English. It was found that the Afrikaans idioms and similes were seldom likened to their English equivalents. Idioms which were semantically and syntactically similar or identical to the Afrikaans sentences often incited literal interpretations. Incorrect phonological transfers also appeared to create confusion and to obscure meaning. The L2 speakers’ difficulties possibly arose from (i) a lack of familiarity with figurative language, (ii) an inability to grasp figurative language, and/or (iii) a lack of proficiency in Afrikaans. Pedagogical implications and recommendations are discussed, and comments are made regarding future research on this topic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kinders met taalversteurings blyk dikwels ook tot 'n minder of meerdere mate probleme te hê met die begrip van figuurlike taal. Hierdie studie ondersoek en vergelyk die begrip van figuurlike taal, naamlik idiome en vergelykings, in drie groepe seuns tussen die ouderdomme van 8 en 10 jaar. Hierdie drie groepe sluit in (i) tipies-ontwikkelende Afrikaans eerstetaalsprekers, (ii) tipies ontwikkelende Afrikaans tweedetaalsprekers, en (iii) Afrikaans eertetaalsprekers met spesifieke taalgestremdheid (STG). 'n Totaal van 18 deelnemers is bestudeer. Onderhoude is individueel met elke deelnemer gevoer en toetse is verbaal uitgevoer. 25 idiome van Die Afrikaanse Semantiese Taalevaluering (AST) is gebruik. Aanvanklik is geen konteks gegee nie, maar indien die deelnemer 'n verkeerde of letterlike antwoord vir 'n idioom gegee het, is die idioom in konteks geplaas. Die gebruik van konteks het in alle groepe 'n positiewe effek gehad. Vergelykings is aan deelnemers gelees, waar hulle as respons die laaste woord moes verskaf. Die vergelykings was vir alle groepe makliker vir begrip, moontlik weens hulle hoër vlak van eksplisiteit. Die data is statisties geanaliseer, maar weens die klein aantal deelnemers is elkeen ook individiueel as 'n gevallestudie ondersoek, wat verdere insigte in die resultate gelewer het, en die nie-homogeniteit van die STG groep aangedui het. Die prestasie van die deelnemers met STG was effens onder dié van die ander twee groepe, maar geen statisties-beduidende verskille is onder die drie groepe gevind nie. Die tweedetaal-deelnemers is gevra om die idiome en vergelykings in Engels te vertaal. Daar is gevind dat die Afrikaanse idiome en vergelykings selde aan hulle Engelse ekwivalente gekoppel is. Letterlike interpretasies is dikwels gegee vir idiome wat sintakties en semanties eenders is as die Afrikaanse sin. Verkeerde fonologiese oordragte het ook verwarring veroorsaak en betekenis verduister. Die probleme van die tweedetaal-deelnemers is moontlik as gevolg van (i) onvoldoende vertroudheid met figuurlike taal, (ii) onvermoë om figuurlike taal te interpreteer, en/of (iii) onvoldoende vaardigheid in Afrikaans. Pedagogiese implikasies en aanbevelings word bespreek, en kommentaar word gelewer oor verdere ondersoek op hierdie gebied.