Home Linguistics & Semiotics Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area

  • Brigitte Pakendorf
View more publications by John Benjamins Publishing Company
Search
Beyond ‘Khoisan’
This chapter is in the book Beyond ‘Khoisan’

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.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Foreword and acknowledgments ix
  4. Abbreviations xi
  5. ‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification today 1
  6. PART I. Cross-areal perspectives
  7. Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area 45
  8. ‘Khoisan’ sibling terminologies in historical perspective 69
  9. Clicks, prosodies and Khoisan 103
  10. PART II. The Khoe-Kwadi family
  11. Verb serialisation in northern dialects of Khoekhoegowab 125
  12. Areal and inherited aspects of compound verbs in Khoekhoe 153
  13. PART III. The Kx’a family
  14. Demonstrative and relative constructions in Ju 181
  15. N!aqriaxe (ǂ’Amkoe) spatial terms from a genealogical and areal perspective 209
  16. ǂ’Amkoe body part terminology in comparative perspective 233
  17. PART IV. The Tuu family
  18. The Lower Nossob varieties of Tuu 257
  19. Towards a genealogical classification of Taa dialects 283
  20. Master list of references 303
  21. Language (group) index 325
  22. Subject index 329
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.330.02pak

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents vii
  3. Foreword and acknowledgments ix
  4. Abbreviations xi
  5. ‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification today 1
  6. PART I. Cross-areal perspectives
  7. Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin area 45
  8. ‘Khoisan’ sibling terminologies in historical perspective 69
  9. Clicks, prosodies and Khoisan 103
  10. PART II. The Khoe-Kwadi family
  11. Verb serialisation in northern dialects of Khoekhoegowab 125
  12. Areal and inherited aspects of compound verbs in Khoekhoe 153
  13. PART III. The Kx’a family
  14. Demonstrative and relative constructions in Ju 181
  15. N!aqriaxe (ǂ’Amkoe) spatial terms from a genealogical and areal perspective 209
  16. ǂ’Amkoe body part terminology in comparative perspective 233
  17. PART IV. The Tuu family
  18. The Lower Nossob varieties of Tuu 257
  19. Towards a genealogical classification of Taa dialects 283
  20. Master list of references 303
  21. Language (group) index 325
  22. Subject index 329
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 11.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/cilt.330.02pak/html
Scroll to top button