Linguistic research for literary empowerment of Khoesaan languages of Namibia

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Periodical article

Title:	Linguistic research for literary empowerment of Khoesaan languages of Namibia
Author:	Haacke, W.H.G.
Year:	2005
Periodical:	African Studies
Volume:	64
Issue:	2
Period:	December
Pages:	157-176
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Namibia
Subjects:	literacy Khoisan languages Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Bibliography/Research
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/00020180500355652
Abstract:	This paper examines literary empowerment of Khoesaan (Khoesan) languages of Namibia. It focuses on the direct influence that linguistic research since the late 1960s has had on laying foundations for the development of written forms of some of these languages. Khoekhoegowab (formerly Nama or Damara) has become the only Khoesaan language for which language practitioners were appointed to work fulltime on its literary development. Literacy development of the Namibian Saan (or San) Ju/'Hoan (or !Xun) and Khwe through their mother tongues has not enjoyed formal governmental support until recently and still relies primarily on the expertise and initiative of academics and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). For literary empowerment to be fruitful, linguistic and cultural competence of indigenous speakers must be backed up by accountable scholarly methodology and approaches, so as to produce authoritative texts. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]