khoisan
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Definition
Proper noun A family of languages spoken primarily in southern Africa, characterized by the use of click consonants. This language family includes languages spoken by the Khoikhoi (Khoekhoe) and San peoples.
Usage
The term "Khoisan" is used primarily in linguistic and anthropological contexts to classify a group of African languages. It is a compound term derived from the names of two groups: the Khoikhoi (or Khoekhoe) and the San.
Examples
- Linguists study the unique click sounds found in Khoisan languages.
- The Khoisan language family is one of the oldest in the world.
- Several Khoisan languages are endangered today.
Advanced Usage
- The term "Khoisan" is sometimes used to refer collectively to the Khoikhoi and San peoples themselves, though this grouping is more anthropological than linguistic.
- In historical contexts, Khoisan peoples were often referred to by the now-offensive terms "Hottentots" (for Khoikhoi) and "Bushmen" (for San).
Variants and Related Words
- Khoikhoi (n): A member of a group of peoples in southern Africa, traditionally pastoralists; also called Khoekhoe.
- San (n): A member of a group of peoples in southern Africa, traditionally hunter-gatherers.
- Click consonant (n): A type of speech sound, used distinctively in Khoisan languages, produced by creating a vacuum in the mouth and then releasing it.
Synonyms
- Khoesan (n): An alternative spelling.
- Click languages (n): A descriptive, non-technical term sometimes used to refer to Khoisan languages, though not all click languages are Khoisan.
Notes
- The Khoisan language family is not believed to be related to the major African language families like Niger-Congo (which includes Bantu languages) or Afroasiatic.
- Some scholars argue that "Khoisan" may not represent a single genetic language family but rather a grouping based on the shared typological feature of click consonants.
Noun
- a family of languages spoken in southern Africa