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Clicks, prosodies and Khoisan

  • Edward D. Elderkin
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Beyond ‘Khoisan’
This chapter is in the book Beyond ‘Khoisan’

Abstract

This paper concerns itself with a point in the historical phonology of Khoisan languages: what are the basic accompaniments relevant to clicks and how might the many accompaniments described for the present day languages have arisen? In order to answer this question, the whole structure of the morph has to be considered. What is presented is an outline of an approach for a historical investigation; there is no attempt to provide full descriptions, either synchronic or diachronic. The paper finally compares aspects of the sound system of Proto-­Khoe with the systems of other languages in southern and eastern Africa.

Abstract

This paper concerns itself with a point in the historical phonology of Khoisan languages: what are the basic accompaniments relevant to clicks and how might the many accompaniments described for the present day languages have arisen? In order to answer this question, the whole structure of the morph has to be considered. What is presented is an outline of an approach for a historical investigation; there is no attempt to provide full descriptions, either synchronic or diachronic. The paper finally compares aspects of the sound system of Proto-­Khoe with the systems of other languages in southern and eastern Africa.

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.330.04eld

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
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