multinational, adjective
- Origin:
- AfrikaansShow more Translation of Afrikaans veelvolkig, veelvolkige consisting of many peoples (or ‘nations’). In Afrikaans, volk means both ‘people’ and ‘nation’ (although nasie is increasingly used for the latter).
1. Applied to South Africa and to South African society: composed of several peoples or ‘nations’. See also nation.
- Note:
- Often used (especially in the past) to justify apartheid as an appropriate policy for the country, the term has encountered much resistance.
1964 H.H.W. De Villiers Rivonia 31The..exhibits produced..gradually high-lighted the significance and gravity of a plot which aimed at the destruction of the centuries-old and normally peaceful and democratic way of life in South Africa’s multi-national society.
1983 F.E.O’B. Geldenhuys in Optima Vol.31 No.3, 156One example comes from the official reply of the Swiss Federation of Protestant churches: ‘...Every page evidences [their] concern to examine critically the problems presented..by the relations between the “population groups” in the “multinational South African state”.’
2. In historical contexts. Applied to sport and to sporting events, teams, and policies.
a. Of sport and sporting events: involving the participation of people from all ethnic groups in South Africa, each group being represented by its own team.
1971 Rand Daily Mail 5 Apr. 1The newspaper’s top sportswriter..suggested that it could concern the introduction of ‘multinational’ (veelvolkige) sport at an international level in South Africa.
1980 E. Prov. Herald 27 Sept. 1Saru stressed that they would not participate in what they called multinational rugby until the laws prohibiting non-racial rugby were repealed.
b. Of sports policies: based on the concept that South Africa is comprised of several nations, each having its own sports teams.
1972 Evening Post 29 Jan. 2 (letter)Nothing shows up the hypocrisy and opportunism of the Government’s race policies more than its new so-called ‘multinational’ sports policy.
1973 Argus 16 June 4The sports policy is an extension of the policy of multinational development, and not an example of ‘multiracialism,’ ‘mixed sport’ or ‘multicoloured sport’.
c. Of sports teams: multi-racial; including representatives of more than one South African ethnic group.
1972 Sunday Times 29 Oct. 10Keep the Springbok title for White teams and build a new tradition..of a multi-national touring team.
1975 S. Afr. Panorama Sept. 19As far as variety was concerned, the multi-national South African team scored a huge success.
composed of several peoples or ‘nations’.
involving the participation of people from all ethnic groups in South Africa, each group being represented by its own team.
based on the concept that South Africa is comprised of several nations, each having its own sports teams.
multi-racial; including representatives of more than one South African ethnic group.
- Derivatives:
- Hence multinationalism noun, a euphemism for separate development.
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