xuu ISO 639
Khwedam Autonyms
Khwedam
Visualizations
A language of Namibia
- ISO 639
- xuu
- Alternate Names
- Khoe, Khwe, Khwe-||Ani, Kxoe, Kxoedam, Xun, “Barakwena” (pej.), “Barakwengo” (pej.), “Mbarakwena” (pej.), “Water Bushmen” (pej.)
- Autonym
- Khwedam
- 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
- Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia
- Language Status
- 5 (Developing).
- Classification
- 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.
- Writing
- Latin script [Latn], developed in 2006.
- Other Comments
- Traditional religion, Christian.
- Language Resources
- OLAC resources in and about Khwedam
Also Spoken in
- Location
- Kuando Kubango province: Huthembo, northeast of Likuwa; Lukanga, west of Rivungu.
- Dialects
- Buma-Kxoe.
- Language Status
- 7 (Shifting)
- Language Use
- Shifting to Mbukushu [mhw].
- Other Comments
- Traditional religion. View other languages of Angola
Language Name
Khwedam
User Population
200 in Angola (Brenzinger 2013b).
- 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.
- 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. View other languages of Botswana
Language Name
Khwedam
User Population
1,700 in Botswana (Brenzinger 2013b). Children and elderly are monolingual.
- 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. View other languages of South Africa
Language Name
Khwedam
User Population
1,760 in South Africa (Louw and van Schalkwyk 2019).
- Location
- Western province: Shangombo district, Kashesha ki liwanika, Namafumbwana, and Sanze.
- Dialects
- ||Xo-Kxoe.
- Language Status
- 7 (Shifting)
- Language Use
- Shifting to Lozi [loz].
- Other Comments
- Non-indigenous. View other languages of Zambia
Language Name
Khwedam
User Population
200 in Zambia (Brenzinger 2013b).
