Ethnologue 14 report for language code:XUU

KXOE: a language of Namibia

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: XUU

ISO 639-2: khi

Population

4,000 in the Caprivi Strip, including 3,600 in West Caprivi, and 400 in East Caprivi. Population total all countries 8,000 or more.

Region

West Caprivi in Namibia is recognized as the 'core land' of the Kxoe people by the Kxoe and the Namibian government. They also live in East Caprivi. Also spoken in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia.

Alternate names

KXOEDAM, KHOE, XUN, 'WATER BUSHMEN', 'MBARAKWENA', 'BARAKWENA' 'BARAKWENGO'

Dialects

[[XO-KXOE, [[XOM-KXOE, BUMA-KXOE, BUGA-KXOE.

Classification

Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest.

Comments

Minor dialect differences within Kxoe. Many young people in West Caprivi claim not to understand Mbukushu at all. English, Afrikaans, and Kxoe used for oral teaching in schools, textbooks are in English. Vigorous. Kxoe speakers want Kxoe teachers and learning materials used in schools. Many non-Kxoe learn Kxoe for interaction with Kxoe. Dictionary. Grammar. Hunter-gatherers; fishermen: they still get 25% to 50% of their food this way; agriculturalists.

Also spoken in:

Angola

Language name	KXOE
Population	500 to 700 in Angola (1998 Brenzinger).
Alternate names	XUN, HUKWE, !HUKWE, XUHWE, XU, ZAMA, VAZAMA, CAZAMA, 'MBARAKWENGO', 'MBARAKWENA', GLANDA-KHWE, BLACK BUSHMAN, WATER BUSHMEN, SCHEKERE
Dialects	BUMA-KXOE.
Comments	Traditional religion, Christian. See main entry under Namibia.

Botswana

Language name	KXOE
Population	1,700 to 2,000 or more in Botswana (1998 Brenzinger).
Alternate names	KHOE, XUN, 'WATER BUSHMEN', 'MBARAKWENA'
Dialects	BUGA-KXOE (BOGA, BUGA-KHWE, BUKAKHWE, 'RIVER BUSHMAN', [[ANIKXOE, //ANI-KHOE, TANNEKWE, GANI-KHWE).
Comments	Related to //Ani and /Anda. Investigation needed: intelligibility with related varieties. Literacy rate in second language: Buga: 15-29 years 70% Tswana, 50% English; 30-54 years 40% Tswana, 10% English. Hunter-gatherers, fishermen. Traditional religion, Christian. See main entry under Namibia.

South Africa

Language name	KXOE
Population	1,600 (1998 Brenzinger).
Alternate names	KHOE, XUN, WATER BUSHMEN, MBARAKWENA, MBARAKWENGO
Dialects	//ANI.
Comments	Kxoedam is the language used. Refugees from Caprivi since 1991 living in tents. See main entry under Namibia.

Zambia

Language name	KXOE
Population	100 (1998 Brenzinger).
Alternate names	XUN, HUKWE, !HUKWE, XUHWE, XU, ZAMA, VAZAMA, CAZAMA, MBARA KWENGO, MBARAKWENA, GLANDA-KHWE, BLACK BUSHMAN, WATER BUSHMEN, SCHEKERE
Dialects	[[XO-KXOE.
Comments	Few speak Lozi, the lingua franca of the area. Many in Zambia have given up Kxoe to speak the language of their partners and parents. See main entry under Namibia.