Seminar paper from the year 2009 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 3,0, University of Trier, language: English, abstract: South Africa in the year 2009 represents the home of approximately 45 million people of different origin, religions, cultures and languages. Its population is, consequently, anything but homogenous neither from a cultural nor, and especially, from a linguistic point of view. In order to understand how these exceptional diversities could develop, it is absolutely essential to review the country's history first. Like many African countries, South Africa is exceedingly characterized by the colonial times as well as the apartheid era. Major influence derives from Dutch and British colonies, which is still reflected in contemporary daily routine. Furthermore, several wars and changes of government result in a country of little economic power and discordance about major governmental issues.