Wat die foutkode betref, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.

In this sentence, wat die foutkode betref is a fixed expression meaning as far as the error code is concerned, regarding the error code, or with regard to the error code.

Here wat does not function like the normal English question word what. The whole pattern wat ... betref works idiomatically.

So:

• wat die foutkode betref = regarding the error code
• not a question
• not literally what the error code concerns in normal English

This is a useful formal or semi-formal structure in Afrikaans.

Betref is a verb meaning concern, relate to, or pertain to.

Examples:

• Dit betref my nie. = It does not concern me.
• Die probleem betref die battery. = The problem concerns the battery.

In your sentence, it appears in the expression wat ... betref, which is very common for introducing a topic.

This is because Afrikaans uses verb-second word order in main clauses.

The phrase Wat die foutkode betref has been moved to the front of the sentence for topic emphasis. When something other than the subject comes first, the finite verb usually comes next, and then the subject follows.

So the structure is:

• Wat die foutkode betref, = fronted topic phrase
• lees = finite verb in second position
• ons = subject

That is why you get:

• Wat die foutkode betref, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.

If you started with the subject instead, you would get normal order:

• Ons lees die gebruikershandleiding wat die foutkode betref.

But that version does not mean exactly the same thing structurally, and it sounds less like the original topic-introducing sentence.

The comma separates the introductory topic phrase from the main clause.

So:

• Wat die foutkode betref, = introductory phrase
• lees ons die gebruikershandleiding. = main clause

This is similar to English punctuation in sentences like:

• As for the error code, we read the user manual.
• Regarding the error code, we read the user manual.

The comma helps show that the first part sets the topic.

Both dies are the definite article, equivalent to English the.

• die foutkode = the error code
• die gebruikershandleiding = the user manual

A very important point for English speakers: Afrikaans uses die for:

• singular nouns
• plural nouns
• all genders

So unlike languages such as German or Dutch, Afrikaans does not have several different definite articles depending on gender or case.

No. In Afrikaans, verbs usually do not change form for different subjects in the present tense.

So you get:

• ek lees = I read
• jy lees = you read
• ons lees = we read
• hulle lees = they read

This is much simpler than English, which has a special form like he reads.

In your sentence, lees stays the same with ons.

They are both compound nouns, which are very common in Afrikaans.

• foutkode

  • fout = error / fault
  • kode = code
  • together: error code

• gebruikershandleiding

  • gebruiker = user
  • handleiding = manual / guide
  • with the linking -s-: gebruikershandleiding = user manual

English often writes these as separate words, but Afrikaans very often joins them into one word.

That -s- is a linking sound/letter often found in Afrikaans compounds.

So:

• gebruiker
  • handleiding
• becomes gebruikershandleiding

You cannot always predict these linking elements perfectly from English, so it is often best to learn compounds as whole words. You will also see similar linking letters in many Dutch- and Afrikaans-style compounds.

It sounds a bit more formal or written than the most everyday spoken Afrikaans, mainly because of wat ... betref.

In ordinary speech, people might more often say something like:

• Oor die foutkode lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.
• Wat die foutkode aanbetref, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.
• Vir die foutkode lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.
  depending on the exact context

But wat die foutkode betref is completely correct and natural, especially in writing, instructions, explanations, or formal discussion.

Yes. Common alternatives include:

• oor = about
• aangaande = concerning
• rakende = regarding
• wat ... aanbetref = as for / concerning

For example:

• Rakende die foutkode, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.
• Aangaande die foutkode, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.
• Oor die foutkode lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.

These are close in meaning, but the tone changes slightly:

• oor is usually simpler and more everyday
• aangaande and rakende are more formal
• wat ... betref is a common neat written way to introduce a topic

Yes. In this sentence, die gebruikershandleiding is the direct object of lees.

The basic action is:

• ons lees die gebruikershandleiding
  = we read the user manual

The opening phrase Wat die foutkode betref just sets the topic or frame. It does not replace the object.

So the core clause is still:

• subject: ons
• verb: lees
• object: die gebruikershandleiding

Yes, that is a very useful way to understand it.

The core clause is:

• Ons lees die gebruikershandleiding.

Then Afrikaans adds a topic-setting phrase at the front:

• Wat die foutkode betref, ...

After that fronting, the verb must stay in second position, which gives:

• Wat die foutkode betref, lees ons die gebruikershandleiding.

That is a good general strategy when reading Afrikaans sentences with unusual word order: identify the fronted element, then find the main verb, then the subject.