Afrikaans is a West Germanic language that evolved from the Dutch spoken by settlers in South Africa during the 17th century. It is one of the official languages of South Africa and is primarily spoken by the Afrikaner community, as well as other groups in the country. The language has a rich literary tradition and is known for its unique vocabulary and grammar, which differ from standard Dutch. Afrikaans is also spoken in Namibia and has influences from various languages, including Malay, Portuguese, and indigenous African languages, reflecting the diverse cultural history of the region.