A global linguistic database : Query result

Number: 1

Language: Hadza

Location: N Tanzania (Kondoa)

Population: 1,000

Classification: Khoisan

TextBooks: Bleek, D. F. 1931. "The Hadzapi or Watindega of Tanganyika Territory," Africa 4, ??

Other Sources:

Sands, Bonny, Ian Maddieson and Peter Ladefoged. 1996. "The Phonetic Structures of Hadza," Studies in African Linguistics 25: 171-?.
Sands, Bonny. 1998. Eastern and Southern African Khoisan. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.
Tucker, A. N., M. A. Bryan and James Woodburn. 1977. "The East African Click Languages: A Phonetic Comparison," in Zur Sprachgeschicte und Ethnohistorie in Africa, ed. by W. Möhlig, F. Rottland and B. Heine, Berlin, Dietrich Reimer, 300-22.

Consonant system:

   p p^h (p^ʔ) ^mp^h t t^h ⁿt^h k k^h k^ʔ ^ŋk^h kʷ k^hʷ k^ʔʷ ʔ
b ^mb d ⁿd ɡ ^ŋɡ ɡʷ
    t^s t^sʔ ⁿt^s t^l t^lʔ č č^ʔ
    d^z ⁿd^z ɡ̌ ^ñɡ̌
f s š ɦ
m n ñ ŋ ŋʷ
    l ɬ

Stops: p p^h (p^ʔ) ^mp^h b ^mb t t^h ⁿt^h d ⁿd k k^h k^ʔ ^ŋk^h ɡ ^ŋɡ kʷ k^hʷ k^ʔʷ ɡʷ ʔ

Affricates: t^s t^sʔ ⁿt^s d^z ⁿd^z t^l t^lʔ č č^ʔ ɡ̌ ^ñɡ̌

Fricatives: f s š ɦ

Nasals: m n ñ ŋ ŋʷ

Laterals: l ɬ

Clicks:

(ʘ^ʔ)
/ /^ʔ /^h n/ n̥/
|| ||^ʔ ||^h n|| n̥|| ! !^ʔ !^h n! n̥!
Woodburn describes (ʘ^ʔ) as "archaic, very rare and replaceable by /."

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: ē ō

Syllable: (C)V

Tones: hi mid lo fall ris

Noun Number: s p

Gender: m f

Pronouns:

1 4mfc
2mfc 5mf
3mf 6mf
c=common

Syntax: VSO

Number: 2

Language: Sandawe

Location: N Tanzania (Kondoa)

Population: 40,000

Classification: Khoisan

Other Sources:

Dempwolff, Otto. 1916. Die Sandawe, linguistisches und ethnographisches Material aus Deutsch-Ostafrika. Hamburg.
Tucker, A. N., M. A. Bryan and James Woodburn. 1977. "The East African Click Languages: A Phonetic Comparison," in Zur Sprachgeschicte und Ethnohistorie in Africa, ed. by W. Möhlig, F. Rottland and B. Heine, Berlin, Dietrich Reimer, 300-22.
Kagaya, Ryohei. 1993. A Classified Vocabulary of the Sandawe Language. Tokyo: Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa.
Sands, Bonny. 1998. Eastern and Southern African Khoisan. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.

Consonant system:

   p p^h t̪ t̪^h k k^h k^ʔ ʔ
b d̪ ɡ
    t^sʔ t^l t^lʔ č č^h
    d^l ɡ̌
f s̪ x h
m n̪ ŋ
    l ɬ
    r

Stops: p p^h b t̪ t̪^h d̪ k k^h k^ʔ ɡ ʔ

Affricates: t^s^ʔ t^l t^l^ʔ d^l č č^h ɡ̌

Fricatives: f s̪ x h

Nasals: m n̪ ŋ

Laterals: l ɬ

Vibrants: r

Clicks:

/ /^h /^ʔ n/ ɡ/
|| ||^h ||^ʔ n|| ɡ||
! !^h !^ʔ n! ɡ!

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: v̄ all

Nasal Vowels: v̄̃ all

Modified Vowels: i̥ u̥

Syllable: (C)V(C) [no VC]

Tones: hi lo ris fall

Stress: usually root initial

Noun Number: s p

Gender: m f n

Demonstratives: 2

Pronouns:

1 4
2 5
3mf 6

Syntax: SOV NA GN DN POSS-N

Prep/Post: POST

Number: 3

Language: Qxû

Alternate Name: !Kung

Location: NE Namibia

Population: 30,000

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Grammar:

Snyman, J. W. and ||Wãnasi /X'aeše. 1969. !Xʋ̃. Namibia: Admistration of South West Africa.
Snyman, J. W. 1970. An Introduction to the !Xũ (!Kung) Language. Cape Town: A. A. Balkema.

Consonant system:

   p p^h p^ʔ t t^h t^ʔ k k^h k^ʔ
b d ɡ
    t^s t^sh t^sx t^sʔ t^x t^xʔ č č^h č^x k^xʔ d^zɣ d^ɣ ɡ^ɣ
    s š x ɦ
β z ž
m m^ʔ n ŋ
    ɾ̣

Stops: p p^h p^ʔ b t t^h t^ʔ d k k^h k^ʔ ɡ

Affricates: t^s t^s^h t^sx t^sʔ d^zɣ t^x t^xʔ d^ɣ č č^h č^x ɡ^ɣ k^xʔ

Fricatives: β s z š ž x ɦ

Nasals: m m^ʔ n ŋ

Vibrants: ɾ̣

Clicks:

/ /^h /^ʔ /^ʔh ɡ/ ɡ/^x ɡ/k^xʔ ɡ/^ʔh /^x /^xʔ n/ n̥/^hn/^ʔh
ǂ ǂ^h ǂ^ʔ ǂ^ʔh ɡǂ ǂ^x ɡǂk^xʔ ɡǂ^ʔh ǂ^x ǂ^xʔ nǂ n̥ǂ^h nǂ^ʔh
|| ||^h ||^ʔ ||^ʔh ɡ|| ɡ||^x ɡ||k^xʔ ɡ||^ʔh ||^x ||^xʔ n|| n̥||^h n||^ʔh
! !^h !^ʔ !^ʔh ɡ! ɡ!^x ɡ!k^xʔ ɡ!^ʔh !^x !^xʔ n! n̥!^h n!^ʔh

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: v̄ all but e

Nasal Vowels: ṽ all but e (v̄̃)

Modified Vowels:

v̰ æ ɔ
v̰̄ æ ɔ
ṽ̰ æ ɔ
(ṽ̰̄)
(v̰ are 'pressed' vowels produced with pharyngeal friction.)

Diphthongs: diphthongs

Tones: hi-lev mid-lev lo-lev ris fall

Demonstratives: 2

Pronouns:

1 4d 4
2 5d 5
3mfn 6dmfn 6mfn

Syntax: SVO NA

Number: 4

Language: Qxû

Alternate Name: !Kung

Dialect: Dz̪u/'oãsi

Location: NE Namibia

Population: 30,000 (400)

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

TextBooks: Maingard, L. F. 1958. "Three Bushman Languages," African Studies 16: 37-71 & 17: 100-15.

Other Sources: NBL

Consonant system:

    t k k^h ʔ
b d ɡ
    t^sʔ č^ʔ k^xʔ d^zʔ
β s š x h
    z ž
m n ñ ŋ
    ɾ̣

Stops: b t d k k^h ɡ ʔ

Affricates: t^sʔ d^zʔ č^ʔ k^xʔ

Fricatives: β s z š ž x h

Nasals: m n ñ ŋ

Vibrants: ɾ̣

Clicks:

/ /^h /^ʔ ɡ/ /^x /^xʔ n/
ǂ ǂ^h ǂ^ʔ ɡǂ ǂ^x ǂ^xʔ nǂ
|| ||^h ||^ʔ ɡ|| ||^x ||^xʔ n||
! !^h !^ʔ ɡ! !^x !^xʔ n!

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: v̄

Nasal Vowels: ṽ

Tones: tones

Pronouns:

1 4d 4
2 5d 5
3 6d 6

Syntax: SVO

Number: 5

Language: Qxû

Alternate Name: !Kung

Dialect: Ju/'hoan

Location: NE Namibia

Population: 30,000

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Dictionary: Dickens, Patrick. 1994. English-Ju/'hoan Ju/'hoan-English Dictionary. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag.

Consonant system:

   p p^h ^bp^h t t^h t^x t^xʔ ^dt^h k k^h k^{xʔ ɡ}k^h ʔ
b d ɡ
    t^s t^sh t^sx ^dt^sh ^dt^sʔ č č^h č^x č^ʔ ^dč^ʔ ^ɟč^{ʔ ɟ}č^h f s š x
v z ^dz^xž ^dž^{h d}ž^x ɦ
m n
    l
    r

Stops: p p^h b ^bp^h t t^h t^x t^xʔ ^dt^h d k k^h k^{xʔ ɡ}k^h ɡ ʔ

Affricates: t^s t^sh t^sx ^dt^sh ^dt^sʔ č č^h č^x č^ʔ ^dč^ʔ ^ɟč^{ʔ ɟ}č^h

Fricatives: f v s z ^dz^xš ž ^dž^{h d}ž^x x ɦ

Nasals: m n

Laterals: l

Vibrants: r

Clicks:

/ /^h /^x ɡ/ ɡ/^x ɡ/k^xʔ /^xʔ n/ n̥/^h /^ʔǂ ǂ^h ǂ^x ɡǂ ɡǂ^x ɡǂk^xʔ ǂ^xʔ nǂ n̥ǂ^h ǂ^ʔ! !^h !^x ɡ! ɡ!^x ɡ!k^xʔ !^xʔ n! n̥!^h !^ʔ|| ||^h ||^x ɡ|| ɡ||^x ɡ||k^xʔ ||^xʔ n|| n̥||^h ||^ʔ

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: v̄ all

Nasal Vowels: ṽ all

Modified Vowels:

v̤ (breathy) all
v̰ (creaky) all
ṽ̤ all
ṽ̰ all

Syllable: N̩

Tones: (very-hi) hi lo very-lo

Noun Classes: 5

Syntax: SVO

Number: 6

Language: Qxû

Alternate Name: !Kung

Dialect: Dikundu

Location: NE Namibia

Population: 30,000

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Grammar: Köhler, Oswin. 1981. "Les langues khoisan," in Les langues dans le monde ancien et moderne, ed. by Jean Perrot, Paris, Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 455-615.

Consonant system:

   p p^h p^ɦ t t^h t^ɦt^x t^xʔ k k^h ʔ
b d ɡ
    t^s t^sh t^sɦt^sx t^sʔč č^h č^x č^ʔ k^xʔ
    d^z d^zɦ
    s s^hš š^h x h
β z z^ɦž ž^ɦ ɦ
m m^ɦ m^ɒ ^ʔm ^mb n n^ɦ ñ ŋ ^ʔŋ
    ṛ

Stops: p p^h p^ɦb t t^h t^ɦt^x t^xʔ d k k^h ɡ ʔ

Affricates: t^s t^sh t^sɦt^sx t^sʔ d^z d^zɦč č^h č^x č^ʔ k^xʔ

Fricatives: β s s^h z z^ɦš š^h ž ž^ɦ x h ɦ

Nasals: m m^ɦ m^ɒ ^ʔm ^mb n n^ɦ ñ ŋ ^ʔŋ

Vibrants: ṛ

Clicks:

/ /^ʔ /^ɦ /^h /^x /^xʔ ɡ/ n/^ɦ ɡ/n
ǂ ǂ^ʔ ǂ^ɦ ǂ^h ǂ^x ǂ^xʔ ɡǂ nǂ^ɦ ɡǂn
! !^ʔ !^ɦ !^h !^x !^xʔ ɡ! n!^ɦ ɡ!n
|| ||^ʔ ||^ɦ ||^h ||^x ||^xʔ ɡ|| n||^ɦ ɡ||n

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: ı̃ ã ũ

Modified Vowels:

ḭ ḛ a̰ ṵ o̰
i̤ a̤ ṳ o̤
a^ɒ o^ɒ
ã^ɒ õ^ɒ
ã̰ õ̰

Diphthongs:

ia ei au ao ai ae oi oe oa ui ua
ḛḭ a̰ṵ a̰o̰ a̰ḛ o̰ḛ o̰a̰ ṵḭ
ao^ɒ ae^ɒ oi^ɒ
ãũ ãı̃ õã ũã ũı̃
ã̰ṵ̃ ã̰ı̰̃ õ̰ã̰
ãũ^ɒ ãı̃^ɒ õı̃^ɒ

Syllable: (C)V(N)

Tones: hi mid lo lo-ris mid-ris mid-fall

Noun Number: s p

Noun Classes: 4

Demonstratives: 2

Pronouns:

1 4die 4mie 4fie 4cie
2 5d 5mfc
3 6dmfc 6mfc

Syntax: SVO NA GN(inalienable)/NG(alienable) ND POSS-N(inalienable)/N-POSS(alienable)

Prep/Post: POST

Number: 7

Language: ǂAu.||eı̂

Alternate Name: Auen

Location: Namibia

Population: 5,000

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Other Sources: NBL

Consonant system:

Pronouns:

1 4d 4
2 5d 5
3fc 6dfc 6fc
c=common

Syntax: SVO

Number: 8

Language: Maligo

Location: South Angola

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Consonant system:

Syntax: SVO

Number: 9

Language: Ekoka

Location: Namibia

Population: 5,000

Classification: Khoisan: Northern

Consonant system:

Syntax: SVO

Number: 10

Language: Proto-Central Khoisan

Location: Southern Africa

Classification: Khoisan: Central

Other Sources: Baucom, Kenneth L. 1974. "Proto-Central Khoisan," in Third Annual Conference on African Linguistics, ed. by E. Voeltz, Bloomington, Indiana University Publications, pp. 3-37.

Consonant system:

   p t t^h k k^h
b d ɡ
    t^s d^z
    s x h
m n
    r

Stops: p b t t^h d k k^h ɡ

Affricates: t^s d^z

Fricatives: s x h

Nasals: m n

Vibrants: r

Clicks:

/ /^ʔ /^x /^h /k^xʔ n/
! !^ʔ !^x !k^xʔ n!
+ +^ʔ +^x +k^xʔ n+
|| ||^ʔ ||^x ||k^xʔ n||
ǂ ǂ^ʔ ǂ^x ǂk^xʔ nǂ
+ is a front lateral click; || is a back lateral click. According to Baucom, "it should be noted that the distinction between front lateral and back lateral clicks does not occur in any modern Central languae. But the evidence demands a fifth click position in the proto-language. The Southern languages have a fifth labial position, and a few of the Northern languages appear to have the front lateral/back lateral contrast given here. The choice of a front lateral position over a labial position is somewhat arbitrary. It might well be that the empty front lateral with pharyngeal release will prove to be filled by the aspirated dental click." (pp. 4-5) There is no IPA symbol for a front lateral click.

Modified Consonants: c^ɒ t d h k^x m

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Long Vowels: v̄ all ṽ all

Syntax: SOV

Number: 11

Language: Nama

Alternate Name: Khoekhoe

Location: South Africa

Population: 234,000

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Nama

Grammar: Hagman, R. 1977. Nama Hottentot Grammar. Bloomington: Indiana Univ.

Other Sources:

Beach, D. M. 1938. The Phonetics of Hottentot Language. Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons.
DKS

Consonant system:

   p t̪ (c) k ʔ
    t̪^sh k^xh
(f) s x h
(v)
m n̪
    (l)
    r

Stops: p t̪ (c) k ʔ

Affricates: t̪^s^h k^x^h

Fricatives: (f) (v) s x h

Nasals: m n̪

Laterals: (l)

Vibrants: r

Clicks:

/ /^h /^ʔ/^x n/ ǂ ǂ^h ǂ^ʔǂ^x nǂ ! !^h !^ʔ!^x n! || ||^h ||^ʔ||^x n||

Vowel system:

i u
e (ǝ) o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: (ǝ) a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: ı̃ ã ũ

Diphthongs:

ai ae ao au oe oa ui
ãı̃ ãũ õã ũı̃

Syllable: (C)V(C) N̩

Tones: hi-ris hi-fall mid-ris mid-fall lo-mid-lev lo-ris

Pronouns:

1 4dmie 4dfie 4dcie 4mie 4fie 4cie
2mf 5dmfc 5mfc
3mfc 6dmfc 6mfc
c=common

Syntax: SOV AN GN DN NUM-N POSS-N

Prep/Post: POST

Number: 12

Language: Dama

Alternate Name: Damara

Location: Namibia

Population: 105,000

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Nama

Consonant system:

Syntax: SOV

Number: 13

Language: !Ora

Alternate Name: Korana

Location: S South Africa

Population: extinct

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Nama

Grammar: Maingard, L. F. 1962. Korana Folktales. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand Univ. Press.

TextBooks: Beach, D. M. 1938. The Phonetics of the Hottentot Language. Cambridge: W. Heffer & Sons.

Other Sources: DKS

Consonant system:

   p t̪ t̪^h k k^h ʔ
b d̪ ɡ
    (t^sʔ) k^xʔ
    s x h
m n̪
    ɾ

Stops: p b t̪ t̪^h d̪ k k^h ɡ ʔ

Affricates: (t^sʔ) k^xʔ

Fricatives: s x h

Nasals: m n̪

Vibrants: ɾ

Clicks:

/ /^h /^ʔ/^x n/ ǂ ǂ^h ǂ^ʔǂ^x nǂ ! !^h !^ʔ!^x n! || ||^h ||^ʔ||^x n||

Glides: j w

Vowel system:

i u
e (ǝ) o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: (ǝ) a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: Ĩ ã ʋ̃ õ

Diphthongs: ai ei au oa ou oe ue

Syllable: (C)V(C) N̩

Tones: hi-lev hi-ris mid-lev lo-mid-fall

Noun Number: s d p

Gender: m f c (common)

Demonstratives: 3

Pronouns:

1mf 4dmie 4dfie 4dcie 4mie 4fie 4cie
2mf 5dmfc 5mfc
3mfc 6dmfc 6mfc

Syntax: SOV AN GN DN NUM-N POSS-N D-Num+A+N

Prep/Post: POST

Number: 14

Language: Xiri

Location: South Africa

Population: extinct

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Nama

Consonant system:

Syntax: SOV

Number: 15

Language: Hai.n||um

Location: Namibia

Population: 16,000

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Hai.n||um

Consonant system:

Syntax: SOV

Number: 16

Language: Kwadi

Location: South Angola

Population: 15,000

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Kwadi

Consonant system:

Syntax: SOV

Number: 17

Language: G||abake

Dialect: Kua

Location: EC Botswana

Population: 9,360

Classification: cKhoisan: Central: Tshu-Khwe: Northeast

Grammar: DKS

Other Sources:

CTIL 7, 404.
CBH

Consonant system:

   p t t^h t^ʔ t^x c c^h c^ʔ c^x k k^h k^ʔ k^j q ʔ
b d d^j ɟ ɡ ^ŋɡ
    t^s t^sh t^sʔ t^sx
    d^z
    s x h
m n ñ ŋ

Stops: p b t t^h t^ʔ t^x d d^j c c^h c^ʔ c^x ɟ k k^h k^ʔ k^j ɡ ^ŋɡ q ʔ

Affricates: t^s t^sh t^sʔ t^sx d^z

Fricatives: s x h

Nasals: m n ñ ŋ

Clicks:

/ ɡ/ n/ ɡ/n /^x ɡ/^x /^h /^ʔ n/^x
ǂ ɡǂ ǂ^h
! n! !^x !^h !^ʔ
|| ɡ|| n|| ɡ||n ||^x ɡ||^x ||^h ||^ʔ n||^x
[n/x is prenasalized]

Glides: j ^ʔj w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: ı̃ ã ũ

Diphthongs:

ai ae ao au oi oe oa ui ue ua
ãı̃ãũ õã ũı̃

Tones: hi-lev lo-lev hi-fall lo-ris

Pronouns:

1 4dmfc 4mfc
2mf 5dmfc 5mfc
3mfc 6dmfc 6mfc

Syntax: SOV

Number: 18

Language: G||abake

Dialect: Tsua

Location: EC Botswana

Population: 9,360

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Tshu-Khwe: Northeast

Grammar: DKS

Other Sources:

CTIL 7, 404.
CBH

Consonant system:

   p t t^h t^ʔ t^x c c^ʔ c^x k k^h k^ʔ k^j q ʔ
b d d^j ɟ ɡ
    t^s t^sh t^sʔ t^sx
    d^z
    s x h
m n ñ ŋ

Stops: p b t t^h t^ʔ t^x d d^j c c^h c^ʔ c^x ɟ k k^h k^ʔ k^j ɡ ^ŋɡ q ʔ

Affricates: t^s t^sh t^sʔ t^sx d^z

Fricatives: s x h

Nasals: m n ñ ŋ

Clicks:

/ ɡ/ ɡ/n q/ /^x ɡ/^x /^h /^ʔ
ǂ ǂ^x ǂ^h
! !^x !^h !^ʔ
|| ɡ|| n|| ɡ||n ||^x ɡ||^x ||^h ||^ʔ

Glides: j ^ʔj w

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: ı̃ ã ũ

Diphthongs:

ai ae ao au oi oe oa ui ue ua
ãı̃ãũ õã ũı̃

Tones: hi-lev lo-lev hi-fall lo-ris

Pronouns:

1 4dmfc 4mfc
2mf 5dmfc 5mfc
3mf 6dmfc 6mfc

Syntax: SOV

Number: 19

Language: G||abake

Dialect: Cua

Location: EC Botswana

Population: 9,360

Classification: Khoisan: Central: Tshu-Khwe: Northeast

Grammar: DKS

Other Sources:

CTIL 7, 404.
CBH

Consonant system:

    t c c^h c^ʔ c^x k k^h k^ʔ
b d ɡ
    t^s t^sʔ t^sx
    s h
    z
m n n^j ŋ
    r

Stops: b t d c c^h c^ʔ c^x k k^h k^ʔ ɡ

Affricates: t^s t^sʔ t^sx

Fricatives: s z h

Nasals: m n n^j ŋ

Vibrants: r

Clicks:

/ ɡ/ /^x /^ʔ
|| ||^x ||^ʔ

Glides: j

Vowel system:

i u
e o
a

Front Vowels: i e

Central Vowels: a

Back Vowels: u o

Nasal Vowels: ı̃ ã ũ

Diphthongs:

ai ao au oe ui
õã ũı̃

Tones: hi-lev lo-lev hi-fall lo-ris

Pronouns:

1 4dmfc 4mfc
2mf 5dmfc 5mfc
3mf 6dmfc 6mfc

Syntax: SOV