NAQ ISO 639-3
Khoekhoe
Khoekhoegowab Autonym
A language of Namibia
- ISO 639
- naq
- Alternate Names
- Bergdamara, Damara, Hai||’om, Khoekhoegowap, Maqua, Nama, Namagowab, Namakwa, Naman, Namaqua, Tama, Tamakwa, Tamma, “Hottentot” (pej.)
- Autonym
- Khoekhoegowab
- Population
- 279,000 in Namibia (2018). Total users in all countries: 281,200.
- Location:
- Erongo, Kunene, and Otjozondjupa (Otiwarongo area) regions; south central near ||karas and Hardap regions.
- Language Status
- 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2009, National Curriculum, Basic Education, Sections 4.1.5.1 and 5.5), mainly used as education medium in primary grades.
- Classification
- Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Khoekhoe, Nama
- Dialects
- Sesfontein-Dama (Sesfontein Damara), Namidama, Central Damara (Central Dama), Central Nama (Nama), Bondelswarts-Nama (Bondelswarts), Topnaar-Nama (Topnaar). Lexical similarity: Sesfontein Damara over 80% with central dialects, 80% with Haiom [hgm] (Haacke 2008).
- Typology
- SOV; postpositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/common); dual number; strongly suffixing; verb affixes mark person, number, object; passives; tense and aspect; 31 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes (including 20 clicks); tonal (3 tones: high, mid, low); inclusive/exclusive pronouns.
- Language Use
- Can be studied up to doctoral level at University of Namibia, also used in administration. Used as L2 by Hai|ǁom [hgm], Xiri [xii].
- Language Development
- Taught in primary and secondary schools. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1966.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Khoekhoe
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn].
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Ghanzi district: villages along Ghanzi-Mamuno road; Kgalagadi district: Makopong, Omaweneno, Tsabong, and Tshane.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Botswana
Language Name
Khoekhoe
User Population
200 in Botswana (2003 J. Leclerc).
- Location
- Northern Cape province.
- Dialects
- Gimsbok Nama.
- Language Status
- 5 (Dispersed)
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of South Africa
Language Name
Khoekhoe
User Population
2,000 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b).
Map
Location: Erongo, Kunene, and Otjozondjupa (Otiwarongo area) regions; south central near ||karas and Hardap regions.
Size and Vitality
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