Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, modelleer ons dit.

This is a common Afrikaans pattern meaning however ... or no matter how ....

So:

• Hoe sag ... ook al is = However soft ... is
• More naturally in English: No matter how soft ... is

The words ook al do not translate very literally here. Together with hoe, they create a concessive idea: something is true despite that condition.

A few similar patterns:

• Hoe moeilik dit ook al is = However difficult it is
• Waar hy ook al gaan = Wherever he goes
• Wat jy ook al sê = Whatever you say

Because Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is is a subordinate clause, and in Afrikaans subordinate clauses normally send the finite verb to the end.

So the order is:

• Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is
  • literally something like: however soft potter’s clay also all is

That final is is completely normal in this kind of clause.

Compare:

• Main clause: Die klei is sag. = The clay is soft.
• Subordinate clause: ... omdat die klei sag is. = ... because the clay is soft.

This is because Afrikaans main clauses follow the verb-second rule.

The whole first clause, Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, takes the first position in the sentence. After that, the finite verb of the main clause must come next.

So the structure is:

1. Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is = fronted subordinate clause
2. modelleer = finite verb
3. ons = subject
4. dit = object

That gives:

• Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is, modelleer ons dit.

This is very similar to other Afrikaans sentences with something placed first:

• Vandag werk ek.
• In die tuin speel die kinders.
• As dit reën, bly ons binne.

It is a compound noun, which Afrikaans often writes as a single word.

It breaks down like this:

• pottebakker = potter
• klei = clay

So pottebakkersklei means potter’s clay, pottery clay, or clay used by a potter.

The -s- in the middle is a linking sound/letter that often appears in compounds. It is not the same as an English apostrophe.

Afrikaans loves compounds, so one long word is very normal.

Because sag is being used predicatively, not attributively.

Here it is part of the structure:

• pottebakkersklei is sag = potter’s clay is soft

After is, Afrikaans normally uses the basic adjective form:

• Die klei is sag.
• Die water is koud.
• Die kind is gelukkig.

But before a noun, Afrikaans often uses the inflected form:

• sagte klei = soft clay
• koue water = cold water
• gelukkige kind = happy child

So:

• sag = after the verb, as in is sag
• sagte = before the noun, as in sagte klei

Because the sentence is talking about pottery clay in a general or material sense, not a specific piece of clay.

Afrikaans often leaves out the article with general materials or substances:

• Water is belangrik.
• Goud is duur.
• Klei is nat.

So pottebakkersklei here means pottery clay in general.

If you were talking about a specific clay, you could say:

• die pottebakkersklei = the pottery clay

But in this sentence, the article is not needed.

Yes, it is closely related. Modelleer means to model, to shape, or to mould.

With clay, it means shaping it by hand into a form.

So in this context, modelleer ons dit means:

• we model it
• we shape it
• we mould it

Depending on context, English might choose different words, but model is a good direct match.

Because dit is the direct object of modelleer, and the normal order in this main clause is:

• verb
• subject
• object

So:

• modelleer = verb
• ons = subject
• dit = object

That gives:

• modelleer ons dit

This is a neutral, normal word order after the fronted clause.

The comma separates the fronted subordinate clause from the main clause.

So the sentence has two parts:

1. Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is
2. modelleer ons dit

The comma helps show that the first part is a dependent clause setting up the idea, and the second part is the main statement.

This is very common in Afrikaans when a subordinate clause comes first:

• As dit reën, bly ons binne.
• Omdat hy moeg is, slaap hy vroeg.

Yes, that would also be grammatical, but it is not exactly the same emphasis.

• Hoe sag pottebakkersklei ook al is focuses on the degree of softness: however soft
• Al is pottebakkersklei sag means more generally although potter’s clay is soft

So the original sentence highlights no matter how soft it may be. It is stronger and more specific than a simple although clause.

It is grammatical and natural, but the hoe ... ook al pattern can sound a little more formal, careful, or written than everyday speech.

In normal speech, people might still use it, but they might also choose simpler alternatives depending on the situation.

So a learner should recognize it well, because it is a very useful and standard structure, especially in writing and formal spoken Afrikaans.