Here's why:
* Origin: Afrikaans originated from the Dutch language spoken by European settlers in South Africa during the 17th and 18th centuries. It evolved independently from Dutch, influenced by other languages spoken in the region.
* Pronunciation and Grammar: While sharing many similarities, Afrikaans has a distinct pronunciation and grammar compared to Dutch. For example, Afrikaans uses a more simplified grammar system and has a different pronunciation of vowels and consonants.
* Vocabulary: Afrikaans has borrowed words from other languages, including Malay, Portuguese, and indigenous languages of South Africa, resulting in differences in vocabulary.
* Mutual Intelligibility: While speakers of Dutch and Afrikaans can often understand each other to a degree, especially in written form, there are significant differences in both spoken and written communication.
Think of them as siblings: They share a common ancestor (Dutch) but have developed their own distinct personalities and characteristics over time.