BETHAL
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
This is a translation of the book
originally written mostly in Afrikaans, with the title: Bethal EEUFEES GEDINK ALBUM 1880 - 1980.
This version is titled: BETHAL CENTENARY MEMORIAL ALBUM 1880 - 1980. The translation has been necessary in order that all
communities in the Govan Mbeki Municipality area should be able to understand its content.
I have witnessed many school children struggling to understand the content of the original book when compiling their school assignments. Therefore, it dawned on me that a translated version, in a language that most communities understand was necessary. I therefore, volunteered to translate the original book from Afrikaans into English, and in some instances; from Dutch into English were, I possibly could.
When translating, the following sources were consulted:- Reader's Digest Afrikaans-Engelse Woordeboek English-Afrikaans Dictionary;
- CAMBRIDGE Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Third Edition;
- Oxford English Dictionary;
- Wikipedia (Internet);
- Variety of computer programs.
Omission signs are indicated thus ... where certain passages have been omitted due to difficulties in translating them. One who feels the need to read those omitted passages, one could consult the Afrikaans version (Bethal EEUFEES GEDINK ALBUM 1880 - 1980). Some of the passages omitted were originally written in Dutch. Not all passages written in Dutch were omitted though, for instance if one looks on page 33; one will see that the passage there have been translated into English, although that OPEN LETTER was written in Dutch. Also, some rough translation was done on the extracts from Dirk Daniel du Plooij's diary (page 37), as well as the National Anthem on page 20 last paragraph, and in several other places. When difficult translation is done, there is always a footnote at the bottom. In places where additional text has been added for readable purpose; the insertion signs [ ] are indicated.
*There are words and terms used in the book that may be unfamiliar to the reader. These words/terms (with their definitions) appear below.
- A Veldkornet was an officer who performed important functions in administrative, judicial and police matters. In other words such officer was empowered to act as a magistrate if necessary;
- Bethallers: Soldiers or people from Bethal area;
- Scorched - earth policy: this is when an army destroys everything in an area such as food, buildings or equipment which could be useful to an enemy;
- Voortrekker. A member of one of the groups of Dutch-speaking people who migrated by wagons from Cape Colony into the interior from 1836 onwards, in order to live beyond the borders of British rule.
***Outlawed terms and words. See HERE