Page Type: languageTshuwau | Ethnologue

HIO ISO 639-3

Tshuwau

A language of Botswana

ISO 639
hio
Alternate Names
Chirechire, Chuwau, Chware, Gabake-Ntshori, Gǁabake, Haitshuari, Hietshware, Hiochuwau, Hiotshuwau, Kalahari Khoe, Kwe, Kwe-Etshori Kwee, Kwe-Tshori, Masarwa, Sesarwa, Tati, Tati Bushman, Tshwa, Tshwao, Tsoa, Tsua, “Sarwa” (pej.)
Population
2,000 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b). Total users in all countries: 5,540.
Location:
Central district: especially Mahalapye and Serowe subdistricts; Kweneng district: Ghanzi and Kgatleng districts’ border areas; primarily cattleposts and settlements.
Language Status
7 (Shifting).
Classification
Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Kalahari Khoe, Northeast
Language Use
Adults only. Shifting to English [eng]. Shifting to Setswana [tsn].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 15–29 years: 25% in Setswana [tsn], 20% in English [eng]; 30–54 years: 2% in Setswana, 2% in English; 55 and older: 0%. Agency: Toraa Dao Association.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tshuwau
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments
Nomadic. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Tsoa
User Population
3,540 in Zimbabwe (2000).
Location
Matabeleland North province: Hwange and Tsholotsho districts; Matabeleland South province: Bulilimamangwe district; Botswana border.
Language Status
7 (Shifting)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Nomadic. Traditional religion, Christian.
View other languages of Zimbabwe

Map

Location: Central district: especially Mahalapye and Serowe subdistricts; Kweneng district: Ghanzi and Kgatleng districts’ border areas; primarily cattleposts and settlements.