alternative, adjective

Forms:
Also with initial capital.
Origin:
EnglishShow more Special sense derived from general English alternative ‘purporting to represent a preferable or equally acceptable alternative to that in general use or sanctioned by the establishment’ (OED).
In the noun phrases alternative Afrikaans, alternative Afrikaner, alternative Afrikanerdom: of or pertaining to a way of life opposed to the perceived traditional values of Afrikaans society, especially regarding apartheid attitudes and policies.
1988 ‘K. De Boer’ in Frontline Apr.–May 34The last year or so the whole movement towards Alternative Afrikaans has gained momentum, an exciting baken in the life of a language that is the home language of millions, of which more than half is not classified as white.
1989 ‘A. Letoit’ in Weekly Mail 27 Jan. 23I’m tired of the label ‘alternative Afrikaners’. It doesn’t mean anything any more.
1989 Style Feb. 36The term Alternative Afrikaners is apparently too provocative, too Engelse Pers and too glib. However, until someone comes up with something better — Reborn Afrikaners? — there’s a lot of moving and shaking going on among the volk.
1989 Style Feb. 45He’s one of those in the Outer Siberia of Alternative Afrikanerdom, who are seen as having gone rotten.
1989 Weekend Post 30 Dec. (Leisure) 5Alternative Afrikaans music also made its mark during the year, with artists like Johannes Kerkorrel and Andre Letoit ruffling a few establishment feathers.
1990 B. Ronge in Sunday Times 16 Dec. (Mag. Sect.) 6Will the boere-yuppies of tomorrow be hanging the hats and veldskoens of Johannes Kerkorrel or Joos Tonteldoos and other ‘alternative Afrikaner’ icons on the walls?
In the noun phrases alternative Afrikaans, alternative Afrikaner, alternative Afrikanerdom:of or pertaining to a way of life opposed to the perceived traditional values of Afrikaans society, especially regarding apartheid attitudes and policies.
Derivatives:
Hence alternative  noun, an Afrikaner open to new ways of thinking and living. See also New Afrikaner (Afrikaner noun sense 2 b).
1989 Style Feb. 38I discover that even Alternatives grow up with a feeling of always having to compete with the English. ‘You have to show them,’ is an expression I become familiar with.
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19881990

Derivatives

alternative, n.
already, adverbadv.altydbos, nounn.
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