The Khoisan languages

The Khoisan languages are a distinct group of African languages known for their unique feature of click consonants. These languages were once classified together due to shared phonetic traits, but modern research has shown they belong to three separate language families and two language isolates. Despite this, they still form a linguistic group characterized by their phonetic complexity and historical significance.

Most Khoisan languages are spoken in southern Africa, specifically in regions of Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, with a few languages found in central Tanzania. These languages are primarily associated with the Khoikhoi and San (Bushmen) peoples, though other groups, such as the Sandawe and Hadza of Tanzania, also speak languages once classified as Khoisan. The languages are predominantly oral, with very few written records, which makes their preservation more challenging.

The most widely spoken Khoisan language is Khoekhoe (also known as Khoekhoegowab, Nàmá, or Damara), spoken by around 250,000 people. Other languages, such as Sandawe in Tanzania and ǃKung in the Kalahari Desert, have smaller speaker populations, with some of these languages facing the threat of extinction. The Naro language, with approximately 20,000 speakers, is also still in use, but many Khoisan languages are endangered or moribund.

A defining feature of Khoisan languages is their use of click consonants, which are produced by creating two articulations of the tongue. These clicks form a crucial part of the phonetic inventory, with some languages having as many as 48 click consonants. The Juǀʼhoan language, for example, is known for its complexity, with numerous click and non-click consonants, as well as tones and specialized vowels. These languages are among the most phonologically intricate in the world.

Although the Khoisan languages have faced decline, efforts to preserve them are ongoing, given their cultural and linguistic importance.