Page Type: languageNorthwestern !Kung | Ethnologue

VAJ ISO 639-3

Northwestern !Kung

A language of Angola

ISO 639
vaj
Alternate Names
!’O!Xun, !O!kung, !O!ung, !Xun, Maligo, Northwestern !Xun, Sekela, Vasekela Bushman, Vasekele
Population
9,200 in Angola (2015 L. Jordan). Ethnic population: 10,000 (2015 L. Jordan). Total users in all countries: 14,200.
Location:
Cunene province: border area, surrounded by Oshiwambo [kua] language area, at least 8 communities; Huambo province; Kuando Kubango province: 3 enclaves, one between Mbwela [mfu] and Kwangali [kwn] language areas, another northeast on Kuando river.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Kx’a, !Kung
Language Use
Home. Some young people, all adults. Mixed attitudes. Many also use Luchazi [lch]. Many also use Nyemba [nba]. Many also use Oshiwambo [kua].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Under 5%. No orthography, literacy, or language development. Radio.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Northwestern !Kung
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Northwestern !Kung
User Population
1,300 in Namibia (Brenzinger 2013b).
Location
Kavango East and Zambezi regions; Otjozondjupa region: southeast of Omataku river.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Large numbers migrated to Namibia and South Africa due to war in Angola, and now it appears that many of them have returned to Angola.
View other languages of Namibia
Language Name
Northwestern !Kung
User Population
3,700 in South Africa (Brenzinger 2013b).
Location
Northern Cape province: Diamondfields district, Kimberley, Schmidtsdrift military base.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Some speakers left Namibia at Namibian Independence to continue their employment with the South African defence force in South Africa.
View other languages of South Africa

Map

Location: Cunene province: border area, surrounded by Oshiwambo [kua] language area, at least 8 communities; Huambo province; Kuando Kubango province: 3 enclaves, one between Mbwela [mfu] and Kwangali [kwn] language areas, another northeast on Kuando river.