Zuid-Afrikaansche Taalbond

The Zuid-Afrikaansche Taalbond was a national cultural society founded in 1890.

Also known as the Z.A. Taalbond or most often referred to simply as Die Taalbond.

It was originally founded at the Cape in 1890 and its aims were the promotion of a knowledge of the "Volkstaal" ("language of the Afrikaner nation") and the acquisition of a developed feeling of nationalism" ("Bevordering van de kennis der Volkstaal en aankweking van een ontwikkeld nationaliteitsgevoel" in the original Dutch.)

Amongst the figures associated with the executive over the years were D.S. Botha, G.G. Cillié, P.J.G. de Vos, J.M. Hoffman, J.H. Hofmeyr (Jan Hofmeyr), C.P. Hoogenhout, F.S. Malan, George Malan, Prof. Mansvelt, J.I. Marais, Adriaan Moorrees, M.J. Stucki, W.J. Viljoen, and L.P. Vorster. ,

The term Volkstaal was much debated from the start and at the founding meeting, with many suggesating that Afrikaans (also known as Cape Dutch at the time) be promoted to Volkstaal, rather than Dutch.. However, a vote was finally taken on the matter and Dutch won by 47 votes to 36, and was thus designated the Volkstaal of the Afrikaners. besluit dat die 'volkstaal' van die Afrikaners, Nederlands is..

Within three years from its founding 30 branches of the organization had been established in the country.

The Taalbond was most famous for the leading role it played in the reform of the written Dutch language as used in South Africa. It is also well known for the so called Taalbond Eksamens (i.e. annual exams in Nederlands (Dutch) and history. There were three levels: the "Laer Taalbondeksamen", "Hoër Taalbondeksamen" and the "Hoogste Taalbondeksamen" (i.e. Lower, Higher and Highest levels), taken by pupils who had not yet completed standerd 7 schooling, standerd 10 or a B.A. respectively. The exams were aimed at the the neglect of Dutch and South African history in the locval schools and the Suid-Afrikaanse Kollege (South African College).

The Taalbond published three journals over the years, Het Zuid-Afrikaansche Tijdschrift, Jong Zuid-Afrika and Ons Tijdschrift.