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Extinct IKwi language of South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ǁXegwi (pronounced /ˈzɛɡwiː/ ZEH-gwee), also known as Batwa, is an extinct ǃKwi language spoken at Lake Chrissie in South Africa, near the Swazi border. The last known speaker, Jopi Mabinda, was murdered in 1988.[2] However, a reporter for the South African newspaper Mail & Guardian reports that ǁXegwi may still be spoken in the Chrissiesmeer district.[3]
ǁXegwi | |
---|---|
giǁkwi꞉gwi kiǁkwi꞉gwi | |
Native to | South Africa |
Region | Lake Chrissie |
Ethnicity | Tlou-tle |
Extinct | 1988, with the death of Jopi Mabinda[1] |
Tuu
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | xeg |
xeg.html | |
Glottolog | xegw1238 |
The ǁXegwi name for their language has been spelled giǁkwi꞉gwi or kiǁkwi꞉gwi. Their name for themselves has been transcribed tlou tle or kxlou-kxle, presumably [k͡ʟ̝̊ouk͡ʟ̝̊e]. The Nguni (Zulu and Swazi) called them (a)batwa, amaNkqeshe, amaNgqwigqwi; the Sotho called them Baroa/Barwa.[4]
ǁXegwi lost the abrupt clicks (the various manners of ǂ and ǃ) found in its relatives. It reacquired ǃ from Nguni Bantu languages, but clicks remained relatively infrequent, compared to other Tuu languages. It also had a series of uvular plosives not found in other Tuu languages.[5]
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