Khwe Dictionary.

Christa Kilian-Hatz. Khwe Dictionary. With a Supplement on Khwe Place-names of West Caprivi by Matthias Brenzinger. 2003, x + 431 pp. ISBN 3-89645-083-2. Namibian African Studies 7. Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag. Price: €52.80

Book Review: San Dictionary/San-woordeboek. San–Afrikaans–English/Eng-lish–San–Afrikaans/Afrikaans–San–English.

Ferdie Weich. San Dictionary/San-woordeboek. San–Afrikaans–English/Eng-lish–San–Afrikaans/Afrikaans–San–English. First edition/eerste uitgawe. 2004, xi + 377 pp. ISBN 0 7978 2704 8. Johannesburg: Macmillan South Africa Publishers (Pty) Ltd. Price/Prys: R198

What have Eastern Kalahari Khoe languages lost linguistically?

Eastern Kalahari languages are spoken in the eastern parts of Botswana along the eastern fringes of the Kalahari Desert. These languages are closely related to the well-known and documented languages Gǀui and Gǁana which are spoken in the west. From a historical linguistic perspective, Eastern Kalahari Khoe languages form a dialectal continuum within themselves and within Gǀui and Gǁana. In this continuum, several features in the domains of phonetics/phonology and morpho-syntax are reduced from west to east. Clicks are missing or modified in some cognates, and this variation is observed from the western dialects to the eastern ones:(i) nǂɂũũ (western) → niũũ (eastern) ‘eat’    gǃãĩ (western) → gãĩ (eastern) ‘ibex’Morpho-syntactically, the presence of person-gender-number markers (PGNs) varies from the western dialects to the eastern ones:(ii) Kie kwa aba sa mũũ    1SG PROG. dog PGN-fem. see    ‘I see a dog’ (female) [western](iii) Cie kwa apa mũũ     1SG PROG. dog see     ‘I see a dog’ (gender unspecified) [eastern]Some phonetic or phonological features, such as delayed aspiration, are modified while others are introduced, such as tonal depression. This paper will examine click loss, PGN attrition and other syntactic features and variations within this zone. Systematic comparisons of these linguistic features will be presented and appropriate analyses of processes discussed with a view to account for the (non-) occurrences of these features in this dialectal continuum. While language contact phenomena may precipitate some of these feature losses, it is the thesis of the paper that there is an apparent regularity in some of these morpho-syntactic variations. The ultimate aim of this paper is to answer the question, “What have these languages lost linguistically?”Keywords: Khoisan languages, clicks, phonetics/phonology, morpho-syntax, PGN, Botswan

The Vision (2016) and the Voice(s): Prospects for Indigenous Languages in Botswana

Botswana's Vision 2016 (1997) – “Towards prosperity for all”, is at best an idealistic package that can make the Nation have sweet dreams of its future, and a vision of positive developments in languages teaching in schools. It utilizes such good statements as “an educated an informed Nation”; “a tolerant, just and caring nation”; “respect for linguistic and cultural diversity”; and above all, “a prosperous and innovative Nation”. However, in the current education blueprint, the 1994 Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE), it is clear that the pace in implementing linguistic and cultural policies to make Vision 2016 realistic in education has met with policy vacillation, hesitance and procrastination. This situation of confused adumbration has already caused some disquiet among minority languages groups, whose voices interests UNESCO and local NGOs. This paper will examine Vision 2016 and interpret it within the provisions of other policies such as the NDP 9 (2003), the Cultural Policy of 2002, and UNESCO ideals. It is hoped that the discussion will answer the question of whether there are prospects for the teaching of Botswana languages in schools by 2016. Humanities Review Journal Vol. 5 2005: pp. 14-2

The phonologization of English words in Kalanga

The Kalanga language is spoken in Botswana and Zimbabwe. In Botswana, it has no literary role, but the  majority of its speakers have learnt English at school. This has over time led to borrowing and adoption of  English words in the language. Borrowing is linked to the status of L2 which is regarded as technologically, culturally and politically prestigious. Certain classes of speakers of L1 may mark themselves socially by  phonologizing in a particular manner. When English words are acquired, they are assigned the phonological  features of Kalanga. The phonologization processes outlined in this paper relate to the nativization of foreign sounds that characterize lexical borrowings from one language into another. When these lexical items or  terms are phonologized, they take the phonological and morphological characteristics of the borrowing  language. Grammatical changes may eventually occur if these processes are widespread or are associated  with important syntactic accompaniments with borrowings. For instance, once nativized, such lexical items  also acquire features such as tone which are not part of the source language. The contrastive discussion of  phonologization is a relevant topic in the acquisition of English and provides insights on how the pronunciation of English by Kalanga L2 learners of English may be ameliorated.Keywords: consonant clusters, epenthesizing, lexical borrowing, phonologization, syllabificatio