Khwe

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A language of Namibia

ISO 639-3
xuu
Alternate Names
“Barakwena” , “Barakwengo” , Khoe, Kxoe, Kxoedam, “Mbarakwena” , “Water Bushmen” , Xun
Population

2,900 in Namibia (2010 LBT). 3,600 in West Caprivi and 400 in East Caprivi. Population total all countries: 6,790.

Location

West Caprivi is core land of Kxoe people by Kxoe and Namibian government; also in East Caprivi. Also in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest
Dialects

||Anikhwe, ||Xo-Kxoe, ||Xom-Kxoe, Buga-Kxoe, Buma-Kxoe. Minor dialect differences within Khwe. Related to ||Ani [hnh], Naro [nhr], and Nama [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. Positive attitudes. Also use Afrikaans [afr], Tswana [tsn], Pidgin Bantu [fng] and English [eng].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%–20%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%–20%. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2010.
Writing
Latin script, developed in 2006.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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