Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area
-
Brigitte Pakendorf
Abstract
This paper discusses the insights into Khoisan prehistory obtained from molecular anthropological data. It focuses on two major questions at the heart of ongoing interdisciplinary research into the history of the Kalahari Basin area: To which extent can the linguistic similarities among the three Khoisan language families be explained by areal convergence rather than by shared inheritance from a common ancestor? Is there any genetic evidence in favour of the hypothesis that the Khoe-Kwadi languages were brought to southern Africa by a pre-Bantu pastoralist immigration? The currently available data show clear evidence for intense contact and language shift in the Kalahari Basin area involving both Khoisan and Bantu-speaking groups. Furthermore, there is tentative evidence for a connection of the Khoe-speaking populations, and especially the Khwe, with East African pastoralists. The genetic data thus underline the importance of conducting detailed investigations of contact-induced changes and substratum effects in the Khoisan languages.
Abstract
This paper discusses the insights into Khoisan prehistory obtained from molecular anthropological data. It focuses on two major questions at the heart of ongoing interdisciplinary research into the history of the Kalahari Basin area: To which extent can the linguistic similarities among the three Khoisan language families be explained by areal convergence rather than by shared inheritance from a common ancestor? Is there any genetic evidence in favour of the hypothesis that the Khoe-Kwadi languages were brought to southern Africa by a pre-Bantu pastoralist immigration? The currently available data show clear evidence for intense contact and language shift in the Kalahari Basin area involving both Khoisan and Bantu-speaking groups. Furthermore, there is tentative evidence for a connection of the Khoe-speaking populations, and especially the Khwe, with East African pastoralists. The genetic data thus underline the importance of conducting detailed investigations of contact-induced changes and substratum effects in the Khoisan languages.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Foreword and acknowledgments ix
- Abbreviations xi
- ‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification today 1
-
PART I. Cross-areal perspectives
- Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area 45
- ‘Khoisan’ sibling terminologies in historical perspective 69
- Clicks, prosodies and Khoisan 103
-
PART II. The Khoe-Kwadi family
- Verb serialisation in northern dialects of Khoekhoegowab 125
- Areal and inherited aspects of compound verbs in Khoekhoe 153
-
PART III. The Kx’a family
- Demonstrative and relative constructions in Ju 181
- N!aqriaxe (ǂ’Amkoe) spatial terms from a genealogical and areal perspective 209
- ǂ’Amkoe body part terminology in comparative perspective 233
-
PART IV. The Tuu family
- The Lower Nossob varieties of Tuu 257
- Towards a genealogical classification of Taa dialects 283
- Master list of references 303
- Language (group) index 325
- Subject index 329
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Foreword and acknowledgments ix
- Abbreviations xi
- ‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification today 1
-
PART I. Cross-areal perspectives
- Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area 45
- ‘Khoisan’ sibling terminologies in historical perspective 69
- Clicks, prosodies and Khoisan 103
-
PART II. The Khoe-Kwadi family
- Verb serialisation in northern dialects of Khoekhoegowab 125
- Areal and inherited aspects of compound verbs in Khoekhoe 153
-
PART III. The Kx’a family
- Demonstrative and relative constructions in Ju 181
- N!aqriaxe (ǂ’Amkoe) spatial terms from a genealogical and areal perspective 209
- ǂ’Amkoe body part terminology in comparative perspective 233
-
PART IV. The Tuu family
- The Lower Nossob varieties of Tuu 257
- Towards a genealogical classification of Taa dialects 283
- Master list of references 303
- Language (group) index 325
- Subject index 329
