Khwedam

A language of Namibia

Khoe, Khwe, Khwe-||Ani, Kxoe, Kxoedam, Xun, “Barakwena” (pej.), “Barakwengo” (pej.), “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Water Bushmen” (pej.)

Autonym

Khwedam

User Population

4,000 in Namibia (Brenzinger 2013b). Total users in all countries: 7,860.

Location

Kavango East and Zambezi regions: between Okavango and Zambezi rivers.

Language Maps

5 (Developing).

Khoe-Kwadi, Khoe, Kalahari Khoe, Northwest

Dialects

||Xo-Kxoe, ||Xom-Kxoe, Buma-Kxoe, Buga-Kxoe, ||Ani (||Anikhwe). Minor dialect differences within Khwe. Related to ||Ani [hnh], Naro [nhr], and Khoekhoe [naq] but is quite distinct from each of these and not mutually intelligible.

Language Use

Vigorous. Many non-Khwe learn Khwe for interaction with Khwe. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Afrikaans [afr]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Pidgin Bantu [fng]. Also use Setswana [tsn].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 10%–20%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%–20%. Radio. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2010.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Khwedam

Writing

Latin script [Latn], developed in 2006.

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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Angola

Language NameKhwedam

User Population

200 in Angola (Brenzinger 2013b).

Location

Kuando Kubango province: Huthembo, northeast of Likuwa; Lukanga, west of Rivungu.

Alternate Names

!Hukwe, Black Bushman, Cazama, Glanda-Khwe, Hukwe, Khwe, Kxoe, Kxoedam, Schekere, Vazama, Water Bushmen, Xu, Xuhwe, Xun, Zama, “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Mbarakwengo” (pej.)

Dialects

Buma-Kxoe.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Mbukushu [mhw].

Other Comments

Traditional religion.

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Botswana

Language NameKhwedam

User Population

1,700 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b). Children and elderly are monolingual.

Location

North West district: ǀAo-Kyao, Beyetca, Cadikarauwe, Cauwe, Djaxo, Dungu, Gan, Geixa, Gudigoa, Kangwara, Kaputura, Mohembo, Moxatce, Ngarange, ǁQom-ca, Sekanduko, Seronga, Shakawe, Sicokora, Sikondomboro, Tobere, ‡Umbexa, and Xongoa.

Alternate Names

Khoe, Khwe, Kxoe, Xun, “Basarwa” (pej.), “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Water Bushmen” (pej.)

Dialects

Buga-Kxoe (Boga, Buga-Khwe, Bukakhwe, Gani-Khwe, “River Bushman” (pej.), Tannekwe, ǁAni-Khoe, ǁAnikxoe).

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Used by all. Negative attitudes. Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 15–29 years: 70% in Setswana [tsn], 50% in English [eng]; 30–54 years: 40% in Setswana, 10% in English (Buga dialect).

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

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South Africa

Language NameKhwedam

User Population

1,760 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019).

Location

Northern Cape province: Platfontein.

Dialects

ǁAni, Kxoedam.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Refugees from Caprivi, Namibia; initially lived in tents in Schmidtsdrift (army camp), then relocated to Platfontein in 2004.

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Zambia

Language NameKhwedam

User Population

200 in Zambia (Brenzinger 2013b).

Location

Western province: Shangombo district, Kashesha ki liwanika, Namafumbwana, and Sanze.

Alternate Names

!Hukwe, Black Bushman, Cazama, Glanda-Khwe, Hukwe, Khwe, Kxoe, Mbara Kwengo, Mbarakwena, Schekere, Vazama, Water Bushmen, Xu, Xuhwe, Xun, Zama

Dialects

||Xo-Kxoe.

Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Language Use

Shifting to Lozi [loz].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

View other languages of Zambia

Khwedam

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A language of Namibia

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