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The primary
Bushman linguistic divisions are referred to as the Northern, Central
& Southern Groups. It is a broad classification to identify
the three main & distinctive language forms. There are however
other groups that do not conveniently fall within these divisions
but still apparently belong within the overall Khoisan family. They
include the Namib (now extinct Khoi tongue), Khoi, Hadza & Sandawe.
The three primary
groups, Northern, Central and Southern, have very different language
structures, with noticeably the Central group having a distinctive
Khoi (Nama-like) language. For more detail on languages it would
be best to visit the many Khoisan Language Web Sites and other academic
resources. This is not intended as an essay on Languages, but rather
a simple illustration of the range and diversity to be found amongst
the great Khoisan family. The term Clan has been applied to identify
extended family groupings that speak the same language or very close
variants.
There is also
some confusion out there in many areas including - linguistic groupings
& relationships (understandably), same names used to refer to
unrelated groups, spellings & pronunciation and incorrect identification
(There's a surprise!). I have no doubt that many errors have crept
into this list but I have every intention of identifying and correcting
them. If you have any suggestions, information, critisisms or if
you are volunteering for some research then give me a call.
Northern
Group
Broadly covering
the Bushmen of Namibia (east central, north & northeast), Angola
(south), Botswana (northwest) and Zambia (southwest). The main identified
Clans in this group are !Kung, !O Kung (Angola) & Auen.
Central
Group
Namibia (central
- east of the Okwa valley), Botswana (central and northeast), Zambia
(southeast) and filtering into Zimbabwe. Main collective groups consisted
of the K"am-ka Kwe, /Tannekwe and all central Kalahari Bushmen.
Southern
Group
Covering all
those groups (now largely extinct) that inhabited the full region
south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The one exception was the !Xo
who formed a splinter reaching up into Botswana as far as the Okwa
Valley. Primary clans identified were the /Xam-ka!ke (collective),
/Auni, !Khomani & the !Xo.
Namib
Group
These are the
Bushmen groups that were known to have inhabited the Namib coastal
regions & the central western escarpment ridge in Namibia. They
were considered extinct from about 1930 but there is much to suggest
that some may have been absorbed into the various "mixed blood"
Nama groups living on the fringes of the mountains. They were actually
reported as speaking Nama (a Khoi language) but were distinctly
Bushmen in social organisation and customs. Main identified clans
were /Geinin, /Xoma, //Obanen and  Ganin.
Khoi
Group
These are the
various groups forming the Nama, Khoi or Hottentot (old Dutch meaning
"Stutterers" - a reflection on their speech) people who
kept cattle, goats and sheep. This is very wide spread with pockets
found all over southern Africa and became very mixed during the
white occupation of the subcontinent. Other groups who spoke closely
related languages but lived as Hunter/gathers (Like the Central
and Namib groups) have been kept separate here to distinguish their
very different life styles and original locations. The exception
is the Strandloper (Cape Coastal Hunter/gatherer) group who, although
having no livestock, seemed more closely akin to the Khoi than nearby
Bushman groups.
Misc
Clans
This covers
those groups like the Sandawe and Hadza who have some linkage to
the Bushmen in terms of Language or culture but have no other more
direct links. Some of these bands are probably the remnants of hunter/gatherer
groups who had been largely absorbed by the Bantu agro-pastoralists
in pre-history. Others are possibly devolved cultures having in
the past adopted farming lifestyles but have returned to their original
survival economy for some reason.
Notes
on Clicks (Click Consonants)
The unique clicks
used in Khoi languages are varied and complex, with many varieties
and applications throughout the different Clans and groups. This
is a very simplified description of the more common ones used. They
are denoted by internationally recognised symbols.
| / |
(Forward
slash) denotes a frontal dental click similar to the English
"Tsk-Tsk" of disapproval. /? is a Glottal variation
& ?/ is a nasal type. |
| // |
(2
Forward slashes) denotes a lateral dental click similar to the
sound used to urge a horse. |
 |
(Equals
sign bisected by a forward slash) denotes a sharp alveolar click
made with the tongue against the roof of the mouth. |
| ! |
(Exclamation
mark) denotes a sharp palato-alveolar click made with the tongue
on the back of the gum ridge. Cork popping sound. |
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Ganin
Amkwe
Ao//ein