View source for H. van der Merwe Scholtz

There are two [[Afrikaans]] academics by this name, father and son. 

=H. van der Merwe Scholtz (Snr, 18*-19*)= 

Academic, critic, translator. 

==Biography ==


Studied at the University of Utrecht, 

He joined the staff of the then [[Grey University College]] in 1927,  and after the institution became the [[University College of the Orange Free State]] ([[UKOVS]]) in 1935. Van der Merwe Scholtz was professor of [[Dutch]] language and literature from 1931 to 1945. From 1946 to 1958 he was Rector of the university. 

He was the father of the academic, translator, critic and cultural leader [[H. van der Merwe Scholtz (Merwe) Scholtz]].

== Contribution to South African theatre and performance ==

He was involved with the [[Grey University Kollege Toneelvereniging]], taking the students on  tour in the Orange Free State with plays in 1929 and 1930. He also translated some plays from the [[Dutch]] for them to use, including the [[Dutch]] play  ''[[Die Parlementslid]]'' ("The Member of Parliament") by **. 

In 1937 he became the convenor of the [[Toneelburo]] ("theatre bureau") of the [[F.A.K.]].

=H. van der Merwe Scholtz (Jnr, 1924 - 2005)= 

[[Afrikaans]] academic, linguist, translator, critic and cultural leader. 


== Biography ==


The son of H. van der Merwe Scholtz, he was born Hendrik van der Merwe Scholtz on 8 July, 1924 at Utrecht, Holland, and is mostly referred to as  [[H. van der Merwe Scholtz]] in publications (or more often in informal situations,  simply as [[Merwe Scholtz]]) 

He studied at Unisa (BA), and at the universities of Potchefstroom (MA) and Amsterdam (obtaining a D. Litt. et Phil. degree in 1950.

In 1950 he became a senior lecturer (and later Associate Professor) at the University of Pretoria. In 1959 he was appointed Professor of Afrikaans Linguistics, Culture and History at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1966 returned to become Professor of Afrikaans Linguistics at the University of Capetown and finally Professor at the Department Afrikaans and Dutch, Stellenbosch University (1979 - 1986).

In addition to his work on literary theory,  Merwe Scholtz compiled poetry collections (e.g. of Opperman,Totius, Leipold and A G Visser). 
 
He was the Chairman of the Linguistic Committee of the SA Academy for many years. 

== Contribution to South African theatre and performance  ==

He and his wife were both members of the Publications Committee (1963-1977) and he was a member of the control boards of both [[NTO]] and [[CAPAB]]. He also wrote reviews and articles on cultural matters for [[Die Burger]] newspaper

 
He also translated some Greek plays into [[Afrikaans]], including Aristophanes' ''[[The Frogs]]'' (as ''[[Die Paddas]]'') and Aeschylos's ''[[The Oresteia]]'' (1981).


= Sources =

http://litnet.co.za/Article/merwe-scholtz-1924-2005

http://humanities.ufs.ac.za/content.aspx?id=32

http://www.stellenboschwriters.com/scholtzhw.html

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]


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