Abstract
The Khoisan (Khoesan) languages are spoken by various indigenous population groups that historically issue from hunter-gather mode of subsistence. In the modern setup, they are talked about under the label San (which translates hunter-gatherer), and this sociocultural label has resulted in their marginalization in contact situation with other languages. Khoisan Southern Africa has essentially two language families, the Khoe (Nama, Naro, Gana, Gui, Shua, Buga, Cua) and the San (ǃxoon, ǃxung, ǂHoan). Generally, Khoisan languages have been under-researched, and this explains some misunderstanding and misrepresentation, and even neglect that is associated with them. Socially, they have been mistreated by their neighbours, and the current situation of marginalization and language endangerment they are experiencing is due to social-cultural domination by their neighbours (Batswana, Bakalanga, Wayeyi, etc.). In contact situation, most Khoisan speakers opt to neglect their languages and cultures and thus bring themselves under subordination of their neighbours. Their languages, which are characterized by click sounds, have been less tolerated by the encroaching settler populations around them. Research in all domains is gaining momentum, but most of it is done by expatriate scientists and rarely empowers the Khoisan to revitalize their languages which also present serious challenges in orthography. The presentation of their language names followed by a brief discussion is important for their identification as speech entities and the linguistic and sociolinguistic situations they are currently experiencing. It is imperative that linguists, anthropologists and language planners appreciate the critical areas of intervention for the preservation of these indigenous languages that are endangered and are not passed on to future generations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Andersson, L. G., & Janson, T. (1997). Languages of Botswana. Gaborone: Longman Botswana.
Barnard, A. (1992). Hunters and herders of Southern Africa: A comparative ethnography of the Khoisan peoples. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Barnard, A. (1988). Cultural identity, ethnicity and marginalisation among the bushmen of Southern Africa. In R. Vossen (Ed.), New perspectives on the study of Khoisan. QuellenzurKhoisan-Forschung (7). Hamburg: Helmut BuskeVerlag.
Batibo, H. M. (1998). The fate of the Khoesan languages of Botswana. In M. Brenzinger (Ed.), The endangered languages in Africa. Cologne: RüdigerKöppe.
Batibo, H. M. (1996). Double allegiance between nationalism and Western modernisation in language choice: The case of Botswana and Tanzania. In M. Pütz (Ed.), Language choices. Conditions, constraints, and consequences. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Cassidy, L., Good, K., Mazonde, I., & Rivers, R. (2001). An assessment of the status of the San/Basarwa in Botswana. Regional Assessment of the Status of the San in Southern Africa. Report Series No. 3 of 5. Legal Assistance Centre (LAC). Windhoek.
Chebanne, A. (2012). Where are the skeletons of dead Khoisan languages (pp. 81–92). Botswana Society.
Chebanne, A. (2008). The language ecology of marginalized ethno-linguistic groups in Southern Africa. In A. Creese, P. Martin, & N. H. Hornberger (Eds.), Encyclopedia of languages and education (2nd ed., Vol. 9, pp. 85–97) Ecology of Language. Springer.
Chebanne, A., & Nthapelelang, M. (2000). The socio-linguistic survey of the Eastern Khoe in the Boteti and Makgadikgadi pans areas of Botswana. In H. Batibo & B. Smieja (Eds.), The future of minority languages in Botswana. Frankfurt am Main/New York: Peter Lang.
Chebanne, A. (1999). Dialects or languages of Eastern Khoe: Can a union form emerge in a dialectal diversity? Paper presented at the Basarwa languages research seminar, held at the University of Botswana, 14–15 October 1999.
Chebanne, A., & Nyati-Ramahobo, L. (2003, September 8–11). Language knowledge and language use in Botswana. In Proceedings of the CSO: 2001 population and housing census dissemination seminar (pp. 284–297). Gaborone.
Du Plessis, M. (2009). A unity hypothesis for the Southern African Khoesan Languages. PhD thesis, University of Cape Town.
Haacke, W. (1999). The tonology of Khoekhoe (Nama/Damara). Research in Khoisan Studies. Koln, Germany.
Hitchcock, R. (1982). Patterns of Sedentism among the Basarwa of Eastern Botswana. In E. Peacock & R. B. Lee (Eds.), Politics and history in band societies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hasselbring, S. (2000). Where are the Khoesan of Botswana? In H. M. Batibo & B. Smieja (Eds.). Botswana: The future of minority languages (pp. 13–32). Duisberg Papers on research in language and culture 40. Frankfurt/New York: Peter Lang.
Hasselbring, S. (2001). A sociolinguistic survey of the languages of Botswana. Sociolinguistic studies of Botswana languages series 2. University of Botswana/University of Tromso Collaborative Basarwa Research Programme. Gaborone: University of Botswana.
Janson, T. (2000). The history of minority-language speakers in Botswana. In H. Batibo & B. Smieja (Eds.), Botswana: The future of the minority languages. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Kilian-Hatz, C. (2003). Khwe dictionary (with Khwe place-names of West-Caprivi by M. Brenzinger). Köln: Rüdiger KöppeVerlag.
Köhler O. (1981). Les Langues Khoisan. In J. Perrot (Ed.), Les Langues dans le monde ancien et moderne. Les Langues de l’Afrique Subsaharienne. (pp. 455–615). Paris: Editions du CNRS.
Köhler, O. (1971). Die Khoe-sprachigen Buschmaenner der Kalahari. Forschugenzurallgemeinen und regionalen Geschichte Festschrift Kurt Kayser. Wiesbaden: F. Steiner.
Mokhtar, G. (Ed.). 1990. General history of Africa (abridged edition): II ancient civilizations of Africa. A James Currey. Berkeley: UNESCO Publication.
Mphinyane, S. T. (2002). Outsider activism on the resettlement issue of Basarwa of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. PULA: BOtswana Journal of African Studies, 16(2), 75–85.
Nyati-Ramahobo, L. (2002). Ethnic identity and nationhood in Botswana. In I. N. Mazonde (Ed.), Minorities in the Millennium: Perspectives from Botswana. Gaborone: A University of Botswana-Lentswe La Lesedi Publication.
RETENG (Multi-Cultural Coalition for Botswana). (2006). www.reteng.org.
Selolwane, O. D., & Saugestad, S. (2002). Basarwa (Khoe and San) studies in Botswana. PULA Journal of African Studies, 16(27). Research and Development Unit, University of Botswana.
Smieja, B. (1996). Language attitudes and language use in three African Countries: Preliminary LICCA tests: Proceedings and results. Duisburg: LAUD (Linguistic Agency of the University of Duisburg), Series B, No. 278.
Snyman, J. W. (2000). Palatalisation in Tsoa and Gǀui languages of Central Botswana. In H. Batibo & J. Tsonope (Eds.), The state of Khoisan Languages in Botswana (pp. 33–43). Mogodithsane: Tassalls.
Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). (2012) (www.SIL).
Traill, A.. (1986). Do the Khoi have a place in the san? New data on Khoisan linguistic relationship. Sprache und GeschiteimAfrika 7.
Vossen, R. (1997). Die Khoe-Sprachen. Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der Sprachgeschichte Afrikas. QuellenzurKhoisan-Forschung (12). Cologne: RdigerKöppe.
Vossen, R. (1988). Studying the linguistic and ethno-history of the Khoe-Speaking (Central Khoisan) peoples of Botswana. Botswana Notes and Records, 16, 16–35.
Webb, V. N. (Ed.). (1995). Language in South Africa: An input into language planning for post-apartheid South Africa. The LiCCA (SA) Report. University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Westphal, E. O. J. (1971). The click languages of Southern and Eastern Africa. In T. A. Sebeok Current trends in linguistics (Vol. 7, pp. 367–420). Linguistics in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Hague: Mouton.
WIMSA (2001). The Penduka declaration on the standardization of Ju and Khoe languages. Windhoek.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chebanne, A., Mogara, B. (2018). Khoisan Languages of Botswana. In: Kamusella, T., Ndhlovu, F. (eds) The Social and Political History of Southern Africa's Languages. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-01593-8_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-01593-8_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-01592-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-01593-8
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)