7.22.2 Formation of the comparative and superlative
If one consults the rules for the use of meer and meest in the comparative and superlative in the Algemene Nederlandse Spraakkunst (Geerts i.a. 1984: 334-5), one sees that although their use is limited, there are more cases in Dutch where such analytical constructions are permitted than in Afrikaans. (cf. Basson i.a. 1982: 57) The following comment is made after enumeration of the rules in ANS:
‘Het gebruik van omschreven trappen van vergelijking in andere dan de hier vermelde gevallen is niet voor iedereen acceptabel, bijv. Zelfs de meest ingewikkelde problemen kan hij oplossen.’
I dwell on the use of meer en meest in Dutch because Basson (1982: 57), Botha and Van Aardt (1978: 27) and Van der Merwe and Ponelis (1982: 127), to name but a few, are quick to condemn the use of this form of comparison outside a very few limited cases (far fewer than Dutch) as an anglicism. There is presumably little doubt that English has contributed to the practice but the situation in Dutch perhaps indicates that the issue is not as straightforward as has usually been assumed in South Africa. Ponelis (1979: 279), where one might have expected a more thorough discussion of the matter, does not unfortunately really tackle it head on, but he also refrains from mentioning English influence. Ponelis is altogether rather wary in his Afrikaanse Sintaksis of postulating English influence.
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