Why is the Afrikaans language so similar to english when the Afrikaaners come from Dutchmen rather than the British?
While Afrikaans is indeed a language that evolved from Dutch, it does contain some similarities to English. There are a few reasons for this:

1. Influence of British Colonization: Even though the Afrikaans-speaking population in South Africa descended primarily from Dutch settlers, British colonization of the region played a significant role in shaping the language. Many British words and phrases were adopted into Afrikaans, which led to its English-like qualities.

2. Simplification of Dutch: The Dutch language spoken by the early settlers in South Africa was heavily influenced by a variety of other languages, including Malay, Portuguese, and Bantu languages. As a result, the language became more simplified and easier to learn, which also contributed to its similarity to English.

3. Geographic Isolation: The Afrikaans-speaking population was largely isolated from the rest of the Dutch-speaking world for several centuries, which allowed the language to develop and evolve independently. This isolation, combined with the influence of British colonization, likely contributed to the English-like qualities of the language.

Overall, the similarities between Afrikaans and English are the result of a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and linguistic factors. While the language evolved from Dutch, it was also heavily influenced by other languages, including English, and developed in relative isolation from other Dutch-speaking populations.