Work
C.J. Langenhoven's most famous work is the original South African Anthem Die Stem (i.e., "The Voice / The Call of South Africa") which he wrote in 1918. Parts of this anthem have been worked into the new national anthem since apartheid was abolished.
Aside from this, his writing career spanned almost every genre, from poetry to ghost and alien stories. Langenhoven also translated several works into Afrikaans, amongst these was the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. He created new Afrikaans proverbs and even wrote a love poem (albeit in nonsense verse) to his dog.
Langenhoven was instrumental in the movement for the acceptance of Afrikaans as a language, in general and as the first language in schools, instead of Dutch. This culminated in the language officially being used in parliament in 1925, and by 1927 was recognised as an official language of South Africa, together with English.
Read more about this topic: Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven
Famous quotes containing the word work:
“Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work, and there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, majesty?”
—Peter Shaffer (b. 1926)
“All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world.”
—John Milton Hay (1838–1905)
“Enough if the work has seemed,
So did she your strength renew,
A dream that a lion had dreamed
Till the wilderness cried aloud.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)