Beyond ‘Khoisan’
Historical relations in the Kalahari Basin
Editors
Tom Güldemann | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin & Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig
Anne-Maria Fehn | Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin & Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology Leipzig
Greenberg’s (1954) concept of a ‘Khoisan’ language family, while heartily embraced by non-specialists, has been harshly criticized by linguists working on these languages. Evidence for Greenberg's hypothesis has proved to be seriously insufficient and little progress has been made in the intervening years in substantiating his claim by means of the standard comparative method. This volume goes beyond “Khoisan” in the linguistic sense by exploring a more complex history that includes multiple and widespread events of language contact in southern Africa epitomized in the areal concept ‘Kalahari Basin’. The papers contained herein present new data on languages from all three relevant lineages, Tuu, Kx’a and Khoe-Kwadi, complemented by non-linguistic research from molecular and cultural anthropology. A recurrent theme is to disentangle genealogical and areal historical relations — a major challenge for historical linguistics in general. The multi-disciplinary approach reflected in this volume strengthens the hypothesis that Greenberg’s “Southern African Khoisan” is better explained in terms of complex linguistic, cultural and genetic convergence.
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 330] 2014. xii, 331 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Published online on 11 August 2014
Published online on 11 August 2014
© John Benjamins
Table of Contents
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Foreword and acknowledgments | pp. ix–x
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Abbreviations | pp. xi–xii
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‘Khoisan’ linguistic classification todayTom Güldemann | pp. 1–40
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PART I. Cross-areal perspectives
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Molecular anthropological perspectives on the Kalahari Basin areaBrigitte Pakendorf | pp. 45–68
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‘Khoisan’ sibling terminologies in historical perspective: A combined anthropological, linguistic and phylogenetic comparative approachGertrud Boden, Tom Güldemann and Fiona Jordan | pp. 69–102
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Clicks, prosodies and KhoisanEdward D. Elderkin | pp. 103–124
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PART II. The Khoe-Kwadi family
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Verb serialisation in northern dialects of Khoekhoegowab: Convergence or divergence?Wilfrid Haacke | pp. 125–152
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Areal and inherited aspects of compound verbs in KhoekhoeChristian J. Rapold | pp. 153–180
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PART III. The Kx’a family
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Demonstrative and relative constructions in Ju: A diachronic accountFlorian Lionnet | pp. 181–209
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N!aqriaxe (ǂ’Amkoe) spatial terms from a genealogical and areal perspectiveLinda Gerlach and Falko Berthold | pp. 209–232
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ǂ’Amkoe body part terminology in comparative perspectiveBonny Sands and Henry Honken | pp. 233–256
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PART IV. The Tuu family
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The Lower Nossob varieties of Tuu: !Ui, Taa or neither?Tom Güldemann | pp. 257–282
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Towards a genealogical classification of Taa dialectsChristfried Naumann | pp. 283–302
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Master list of references
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Language (group) index | pp. 325–329
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Subject index | pp. 329–331
“This well-designed and data-rich book is a most welcome addition to the literature, and will undoubtedly stimulate a vibrant debate. [...] [T]he book may become a catalyst for a new phase of informed and progressive multidisciplinary research touching on the pre-colonial past of southern Africa.”
Menán du Plessis, Stellenbosch University, in South African Journal of Science, Volume 111, Number 3/4, March/April 2015
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This list is based on CrossRef data as of 26 october 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects
Main BIC Subject
CFF: Historical & comparative linguistics
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General