ǀXam language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ǀXam, or ǀXam Kakǃʼe, is an extinct Khoisan language of South Africa, part of the ǃKwi language group. It was closely related to the Nǀu language, which still has a few speakers.
The bar symbol in the name "ǀXam" represents a click like the English interjection tsk! tsk! used to express pity or shame. The "x" represents the ch sound of Scottish loch, German Bach, or Hebrew Chanukkah. Run tsk! Chanukkah together into a single word, and you're very close to the sound of ǀXam.
ǀXam words were used for the South African motto adopted on 27 April 2000,
- ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke,
which is supposed to mean diverse people unite or, on a collective scale, Unity in Diversity. However, it's not known if that phrase would have been idiomatic in ǀXam.
Much of the scholarly work on the ǀXam language was performed by Dr. W. H. I. Bleek, a German linguist of the 19th century.
[edit] External links
- The Ethnologue Report for ǀXam
- South African coat of arms
- The ǀXam people and their language
- Bleek and Lloyd Archive of ǀXam and ǃKun texts online
 |
This language-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Edit | |
| ǁAni | Gǁana | Gǀwi | Hadza | ǂHõã | Juǀʼhoan | Korana | ǃKung (ǃXũũ) | Kwadi | ǂKxʼauǁʼein | Kxoe |
Nama | Naro | Nǀu | Sandawe | Seroa | Shua | Tsoa | ǀXam | ǁXegwi | Xiri | ǃXóõ |
