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I wrote a blog recently about immigrants, and it became obvious to me that some people don’t always understand when to use the word “emigrant” and when to use the word “immigrant”. One person can be both. When you leave Russia to come to South Africa you are an emigrant from Russia but you are an immigrant to South Africa. So you have emigrated from Russia and immigrated to South Africa.
Either way, if we are sensible, we will welcome you into our society. Most countries have in fact at some stage or other either been developed or considerably influenced by the immigrants into their country. The best examples would of course be Australia or the USA, but of course the original people of those countries may not agree.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 20-Oct-17
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Comments
Cornelie said:
on Thursday 02-Nov-17 09:41 AM
Something to learn everyday never knew how the 2 came together.
Sinead said:
on Wednesday 01-Nov-17 09:18 AM
How is it so easy to be an immigrant in South Africa?? Yet when trying to migrate, it's so difficult to be another country's immigrant...
Did I use that correctly? =''D
tersia said:
on Wednesday 01-Nov-17 07:23 AM
That is something I definitely forgot how to use. My sisters recently emigrated from South Africa to New Zealand. They are apparently not the most welcoming people, very rude and arrogant, But I have noticed that a lot of South Africans emigrate to New Zealand. Must say it is a beautiful country.
Liesl said:
on Monday 30-Oct-17 03:56 PM
It's interesting and a subject that often comes up, especially lately. A topic that seems to reach peaks when it's leaked that more money has been embezzled or mismanaged etc.
Suzanne said:
on Monday 30-Oct-17 12:23 PM
I think this reflects a general language / grammar issue. Although English is my 2nd language, I cringe when I see others using words or phrases incorrectly.
Liz said:
on Monday 30-Oct-17 09:05 AM
My primary school English teacher was quite pedantic about the distinction of these two words and I am glad that as a result the different meaning of the two words won't be easily forgotten.
Nicolle said:
on Friday 27-Oct-17 04:49 PM
Emigrant versus immigrant is a lesson that my Grade 12 teacher placed a great deal of emphasis on. I think it was one of her pet peeves.
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 27-Oct-17 12:39 PM
Interesting. I never took note of the difference in the two words.
Helen said:
on Friday 27-Oct-17 08:40 AM
You all can call me both!!! Not an easy journey to become one, specially if sometimes new country can make you feel that you are not really welcome here, but maybe it can happen in any country you would "immigrate" to!
Prishani said:
on Friday 27-Oct-17 08:20 AM
I think immigrants can have a positive influence on a country, many have different skills and they can expose our citizens to these unique skills, they are also culturally different and we can learn about their cultures and festivities in this way to! I have also learnt a trick on how to always know the difference!
Zindy said:
on Friday 27-Oct-17 08:18 AM
I love the way Anna puts it. Easy way to remember it. I don't think I would emigrate maybe if the possibility had to present itself it would depend but I still love SA. Ever country has problems.
Angelique P said:
on Thursday 26-Oct-17 07:55 AM
I know a lot of people confuse these two with each other. One of my teachers also said to me Emigrant is to exit. That’s how I remember the difference. I think it’s really difficult to leave your country to go to another country. With everything that’s going on in South Africa I will always choose this country..
Joyce said:
on Wednesday 25-Oct-17 04:59 PM
I think immigrants have lots of good skills and think that their countries did well to give them education. Thank you for the clarification of the difference between the two words and when to use them. I think it would be nice if South Africans were to just never go back to hatred and think about if they one day emigrated from South Africa and became immigrants to other countries how would they like to be treated.
Michelle said:
on Monday 23-Oct-17 07:36 AM
I remember learning this in school. A lot of people get confused with the different meaning and when to use it, even in Afrikaans. I still think it’s not easy to adjust to a new country and leave everything behind you already knew your whole life. So much respect for people who succeed staying in a new country!
Daniella said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 04:30 PM
Its actually so hard for people to get the papers to live in South Africa legally. My boyfriends friend is from Serbia and has lived here for most of his adolescent life and was living her on a student visa, and now that he is working he is struggling to get his papers to become a citizen as there are so many scams of people stealing their money and never actually applying etc. his parents have been deported back to Serbia and I think people don't see how difficult it is for immigrants( i hope i used that correctly). They just see the problem they have with it, until they in a foreign country trying to make their way.
Mathilda said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 02:51 PM
Always good to learn something new
Anna such a good way of remembering the difference :)
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 11:53 AM
I never really though how easy it would be to remember it. Thanks for teaching us something new Anna.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 11:33 AM
I have learned something new today! And Anna's way of remembering it will remind me!
Jadine E said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 11:21 AM
I never knew how to distinguish between the two :-) Always good to learn.
Anna said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 10:43 AM
You can remember which is which very easily - you are an emigrant from a country if you exit a country - e for emigrant and e for exit.
Lucretia said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 08:34 AM
I have noticed South Africans don't like foreigners in the country because it means they will have to work to keep their positions. It always amazes me that years ago other countries accepted South Africans in their country because we were considered a hard working nation, I wonder why then in our own country people can be so lazy - it is definitely the protection of the labour laws that has caused this. Even if a person is lazy, you have to have a very good reason why you want to dismiss them - why not create competition, you will always then have the best man for the job.
Alexis said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 08:34 AM
Good to know the difference if one does not know - so thank you for the clarification in that regard
Jessica M said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 08:29 AM
Well now we have too many immigrants in general here is S.A. Which I was glad to see Mayor Mashaba is going to court to fight that people who do not have legal documentation, will then be deported back to their own country. It will give our own a fighting chance if this does happen.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Friday 20-Oct-17 07:49 AM
The subtlety of a prefix within the English language. When the discussion of immigrants comes up, we cannot overlook Donald Trump's somewhat questionable reaction thereto? His offensive comments are unpaletable yet he continues to defend them.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
