Khoekhoe

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A language of Namibia

ISO 639-3
naq
Alternate Names
Bergdamara, Damara, Hai||’om, Khoekhoegowap, Maqua, Nama, Namagowab, Namakwa, Naman, Namaqua, Tama, Tamakwa, Tamma, “Hottentot” (pej.)
Autonym
Khoekhoegowab
User 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 Maps
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 schools through grade 3. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1966.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Khoekhoe
Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Also spoken in:

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