Merwe Scholtz
(1924-) Afrikaans academic, linguist, translator, critic and cultural leader.
Born Hendrik van der Merwe Scholtz on 8 July, 1924 at Utrecht, Holland. (Best known 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
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).
