Taa (English pronunciation: /ˈtɑː/), also known as !Xoon or ǃXóõ (English: /ˈkoʊ/), is a Khoisan language known for its large number of phonemes, perhaps the largest in the world. As of 2007, it was spoken by about 6,000 people. These are mainly in Botswana, but a few hundred live in Namibia. The people call themselves ǃXoon (pl. ǃXooŋake) or ‘N|ohan (pl. N|umde), depending on the dialect they speak.
Until the rediscovery of a few elderly speaker...
More
Taa (English pronunciation: /ˈtɑː/), also known as !Xoon or ǃXóõ (English: /ˈkoʊ/), is a Khoisan language known for its large number of phonemes, perhaps the largest in the world. As of 2007, it was spoken by about 6,000 people. These are mainly in Botswana, but a few hundred live in Namibia. The people call themselves ǃXoon (pl. ǃXooŋake) or ‘N|ohan (pl. N|umde), depending on the dialect they speak.
Until the rediscovery of a few elderly speakers of Nǁng in the 1990s, Taa was thought to be the last surviving member of the Tuu language family.
ǀʼAuni (extinct), Kiǀhazi (extinct), Nǀgamani (extinct), Ngǀuǁen (extinct), Nǀu-san, Kakia (extinct), Xatia (Katia, Kattea, Khatia, Vaalpens, ǀKusi, ǀEikusi, Masarwa), ǃKwi.
There is much confusion with these names. For example, ǀʼAuni (which is now generally considered part of a separate language, Lower Nossob) is also the name of a dialect of Nǁng, in the ǃKwi family; and Nguen, Nǀu-san are alternate names of that language. ǃKwi may also be a...
Less
