The Afrikaans Language Monument, or Afrikaanse Taalmonument, stands on a hill overlooking Paarl in the Western Cape. Jan Van Wijk designed it. It was officially opened on October 10, 1975. It marks fifty years since Afrikaans was declared an official language of South Africa, separate from Dutch. It was also raised on the hundredth anniversary of the Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners, founded in Paarl.
The monument is a group of tapering structures, some convex and some concave. They stand for Clear West, the European heritage of the language, and Magical Africa, its African influences. A Bridge links the two continents. The remaining forms represent Afrikaans itself, the Republic declared in 1961, and Malay language and culture.
An open stadium at the base hosts concerts and events. A plaque at the entrance quotes the poets N.P. van Wyk Louw and C.J. Langenhoven. The phrase "DIT IS ONS ERNS" is inscribed on the path up.
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