Sandawe
Khoisan (proposed isolate or with Hadza)
Sandawe is a click language of central Tanzania, sometimes proposed as a Khoe relative or grouped with Hadza, but generally considered a language isolate. It has four phonemic click types (dental, alveolar, lateral, palatal) and a five-tone system, making it one of the phonologically most complex languages in Africa. About 60,000 Sandawe live in the rocky uplands of Dodoma Region, retaining hunter-gatherer traditions and rock-art heritage that link them culturally to the Khoesan world.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Sandawe
Sources
- G. Starostin, Annotated Swadesh wordlist for Sandawe, starlingdb.org/new100/snd.pdf (drawing on Eaton & Hunziker 2007, Kagaya 1993 A Classified Vocabulary of the Sandawe Language, Dempwolff 1916); Johansson et al. sound-symbolism dataset (lexibank johanssonsoundsymbolic), Sandawe
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Khoisan (proposed isolate or with Hadza)
| Meaning | Sandawe | Wayuu | Taa | Wichita | Itzá Maya | Mingrelian | Yucatec Maya |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | tsʼa /tsʼa/ | wuin /wuin/ | ǃqhàa /ǃqʰaː/ | kicʔa /kitsʔa/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | წყარი /tsʼqʼari/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ |
| Fire | ǁʼiŋ /ǁʼiŋ/ | siki /siki/ | ǀʼàã /ǀʼãː/ | heːcʔa /heːtsʔa/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | დაჩხირი /datʃxiri/ | kʼáakʼ /kʼaːkʼ/ |
| Sun | ǁʼakasu /ǁʼakasu/ | kaʼi /kaʔi/ | ǁʼân /ǁʼã/ | saːkhirʔa /saːkʰiɾʔa/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | ბჟა /bʒa/ | kʼiin /kʼiːn/ |
| Moon | ǃaapuso /ǃaːpuso/ | kashi /kaʃi/ | ǃqhàn /ǃqʰã/ | waːh /waːh/ | uj /uh/ | თუთა /tʰutʰa/ | uj /uh/ |
| Star | hĩǀáwã /hĩ́ǀáwã̀ː/ | jolotsü /holotsɨ/ | ǃqʰái /ǃqʰái/ | hiːkwirikʔa /hiːkʷiɾikʔa/ | ekʼ /ekʼ/ | მურიცხი /muritsxi/ | eekʼ /eːkʼ/ |
| Night | tswe /tsʷe/ | aiʼpaʼa /aiʔpaʔa/ | ǃnoe /ǃnoe/ | ckhaːrʔa /tskʰaːɾʔa/ | akʼabʼ /akʼaɓ/ | სერი /seri/ | áakʼabʼ /aːkʼaɓ/ |
| Rain | tlʼwaŋ /tɬʼwaŋ/ | huya /huja/ | ǃkxʼôe /ǃkxʼoe/ | — | — | ჭვიმა /tʃʼvima/ | cháak /tʃáːk/ |
| Wind | wekheŋ /wekʰeŋ/ | houtai /houtai/ | ǂqhùe /ǂqʰue/ | niweʔeːrʔa /niweʔeːɾʔa/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | ბორია /boria/ | iikʼ /iːkʼ/ |
| Earth | ǀʼina /ǀʼina/ | mmoo-ľuʼu /mmoo-ľuʔu/ | ǂkxʼûm /ǂkxʼum/ | — | luʼum /luʔum/ | დიხა /dixa/ | luʼum /luʔum/ |
| Stone | diin /diːn/ | ipa /ipa/ | — | — | tunich /tunitʃ/ | ქუა /kʰua/ | tuunich /tuːˈnitʃ/ |
| Mountain | gawa /ɡawa/ | uuchi /uːtʃi/ | — | — | — | გვალა /ɡvala/ | wiits /wiːts/ |
| Mother | yei /jei/ | ei /ei/ | qáe /qae/ | eciyeːh /etsijeːh/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | დიდა /dida/ | naʼ /naʔ/ |
| Father | ai /ai/ | ashi /aʃi/ | a̰a /a̰a/ | taːtah /taːtah/ | tat /tat/ | მუმა /muma/ | taata /taːta/ |
| Daughter | thamesi ǁnosu /tʰamesi ǁnosu/ | achon /atʃon/ | — | — | — | ცირა /tsira/ | x aal /ʃaːl/ |
| I | tsi /tsíː/ | taya /taja/ | ń /ŋ̩/ | nacʔih /natsʔih/ | ten /ten/ | მა /ma/ | teen /teːn/ |
| You | hapu /hapu/ | pia /pia/ | a /aː/ | nasʔih /nasʔih/ | tech /tetʃ/ | სი /si/ | teech /teːtʃ/ |
| We | sũ /sṹ/ | waya /waja/ | īh /iː/ | — /—/ | toʼon /toʔon/ | ჩქი /tʃkʰi/ | toʼon /toʔon/ |
| Name | ǁwâ /ǁʷâ/ | anülia /anɨlia/ | ǀqʼûle /ǀʛûle/ | hissaːrʔa /hissaːɾʔa/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | ჯოხო /dʒoxo/ | kʼaabaʼ /kʼaːɓaʔ/ |
| Person | ǀnomese /ǀⁿomese/ | wayuu /wajuː/ | tâa /taː/ | ihaas /ihaas/ | — | კოჩი /kʼotʃi/ | máak /maːk/ |
| Head | tsee /tseː/ | ekii /ekiː/ | ǀnàn /ǀnã/ | — | — | დუდი /dudi/ | pool /poːl/ |
| Eye | ǀʷěː /ǀʷěː/ | oʼu /oʔu/ | ǃʼûĩ /ǃʼũĩ/ | kirikʔa /kiɾikʔa/ | ich /itʃ/ | თოლი /tʰoli/ | ich /itʃ/ |
| Ear | keke /keke/ | ta-čeʼe /ta-tʃeʔe/ | — | — | xikin /ʃikin/ | ჸუჯი /ʔudʒi/ | xikin /ʃikin/ |
| Nose | ǀnati /ǀⁿati/ | eʼichi /eʔitʃi/ | — | — | niʼ /niʔ/ | ჩხვინდი /tʃxvindi/ | niʼ /niʔ/ |
| Mouth | ǃnum /ǃⁿum/ | aaniikii /aːniːkiː/ | ǂûe /ǂue/ | — | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | პიჯი /pʼidʒi/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ |
| Tooth | ǃakaŋ /ǃakaŋ/ | ai /ai/ | ǃxu /ǃχu/ | aːkʔa /aːkʔa/ | koh /koh/ | კიბირი /kʼibiri/ | koh /koh/ |
| Tongue | ǃheŋ /ǃʰeŋ/ | ayee /ajeː/ | ǃnani /ǃnani/ | hacʼa /hatsʔa/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | ნინა /nina/ | aakʼ /aːkʼ/ |
| Hand | kxʼaa /kxʼaː/ | ajapü /axapɨ/ | ǀkxʼàa /ǀkxʼaː/ | iskʔa /iskʔa/ | kʼab /kʼab/ | ხე /xe/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ |
| Foot | ǁhata /ǁʰata/ | ooʼui /oːʔui/ | ǂnùũ /ǂnũũ/ | asʔa /asʔa/ | — | კუჩხი /kʼutʃxi/ | ook /oːk/ |
| Heart | jigida /ɟiɡida/ | aaʼin /aːʔin/ | ǀqʼàn /ǀqʼã/ | sikicʔa /sikitsʔa/ | pukʼsikʼal /pukʼsikʼal/ | გური /ɡuri/ | puksiʼikʼal /puksiʔikʼal/ |
| Bone | ǃi /ǃi/ | ipü /ipɨ/ | ǂàã /ǂãã/ | kiːsʔa /kiːsʔa/ | bʼak /ɓak/ | ძვალი /dzvali/ | bʼaak /ɓaːk/ |
| Blood | ǁʼekʼa /ǁʼekʼa/ | isha /iʃaː/ | ǃxãu /ǃχãũ/ | waːckicʔa /waːtskitsʔa/ | kʼikʼ /kʼikʼ/ | ზისხირი /zisxiri/ | kʼiʼikʼ /kʼiʔikʼ/ |
| Love | kalokisi /kalokisi/ | alasüin /alasɨin/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | yakunti /jakunti/ | ჸოროფა /ʔoropʰa/ | yaakuntej /jaːkunteh/ |
| Tree | thee /tʰeː/ | wunuʼu /wunuʔu/ | ʼʘnàje /ʔʘnaje/ | tiyaːhkw /tijaːhkʷ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | ჯა /dʒa/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ |
| Dog | ǀɔɔ /ǀɔː/ | erü /eɾɨː/ | ǂqhài /ǂqʰai/ | kiciyeːh /kitsijeːh/ | pekʼ /pekʼ/ | ჯოღორი /dʒoɣori/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ |
| Cat | misho /miʃo/ | misho /miʃo/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | mis /mis/ | კატუ /kʼatʼu/ | miis /miːs/ |
| Fish | somba /somba/ | jime /hime/ | ǀqhaa /ǀqʰaa/ | kaːcʔa /kaːtsʔa/ | käy /kɨj/ | ჩხომი /tʃxomi/ | kay /kaj/ |
| Bird | thwii /tʰwiː/ | wuchii /wutʃiː/ | — | ichir /itsʰiɾ/ | chʼiichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | ჩიტი /tʃitʼi/ | chʼíichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ |
| Butterfly | karapupu /karapupu/ | julirü /huliɾɨ/ | — | — | — | ფარფალია /pʰarpʰalia/ | péepen /peːpen/ |
| Egg | diʼa /diʔa/ | ashuku /aʃuku/ | ᶢǂúã /ᶢǂũã/ | nikwiːkʔa /nikʷiːkʔa/ | jeʼ /heʔ/ | მარქვალი /markʰvali/ | jeʼ /heʔ/ |
| House | khoo /kʰoː/ | miichi /miːtʃi/ | — /—/ | akhaːrʔa /akʰaːɾʔa/ | nah /nah/ | ოხორი /oxori/ | naj /nah/ |
| Milk | jikʼe /ɟikʼe/ | leechi /leːtʃi/ | gǂqhèẽ /ɡǂqʰeẽ/ | — | — | ბჟა /bʒa/ | leche /letʃe/ |
| Salt | uuhlii /uːɬiː/ | ichii /itʃiː/ | — | — | tab /tab/ | ჯიმუ /dʒimu/ | taʼab /taʔaɓ/ |
| Iron | keeya /keːja/ | kachueera /katʃueːra/ | — | — | — | რკინა /rkʼina/ | máaskab /maːskab/ |
| Book | kitabu /kitabu/ | karaloukta /karaloukta/ | — | — | Juʼumilxok /huʔumilʃok/ | წინგი /tsʼinɡi/ | juʼun /huʔun/ |
| Eat | mánčʰâ /mántʃʰâ/ | ekaa /ekaː/ | ʼâã /ʔãː/ | kaʔac /kaʔats/ | jant /hant/ | ჭკომუა /tʃʼkʼomua/ | jaant /haːnt/ |
| Drink | tsʼee /tsʼeː/ | asaa /asaː/ | kxʼāhã /kxʼaːhã/ | kikʔa /kikʔa/ | ukʼ /ukʼ/ | წუმა /tsʼuma/ | ukʼul /ukʼul/ |
| Sleep | ǁʼo /ǁʔo/ | atunkaa /atuŋkaː/ | ʘân /ʘã/ | — | wenel /wenel/ | — | wenel /wenel/ |
| One | tsʼekʼe /tsʼekʼe/ | wanee /waneː/ | ǂʼûã /ǂʼũã/ | chiʔass /tsʰiʔass/ | jun /hun/ | ართი /artʰi/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | kisó /kísôxì/ | piama /piama/ | ǂnûm /ǂûm/ | wic /wits/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | ჟირი /ʒiri/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ |
| Three | swamkixi /sʷamkixi/ | apünüin /apɨnɨin/ | ǁaeˀe /ǁaeʔe/ | taw /taw/ | ox /oʃ/ | სუმი /sumi/ | óox /ʔoːʃ/ |
| Four | hakaxi /hakaxi/ | pienchi /pieɲtʃi/ | — | taːkwic /taːkʷits/ | kan /kan/ | ოთხი /otʰxi/ | kan /kan/ |
| Five | kwaʼana /kʷaʔana/ | jaʼrai /haʔrai/ | — | — | — | ხუთი /xutʰi/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ |
| Hundred | kom kom /kom kom/ | poloo shikii /poloː ʃikiː/ | — | — | — | ოში /oʃi/ | joʼokʼáal /hoʔokʼaːl/ |
| Hello | gabaeesa /ɡabaeːsa/ | jamaya /xamaja/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | bʼix a tʼan /biʃ a tʼan/ | გომორძგუა /ɡomordzɡua/ | baʼax ka waʼalik /baʔaʃ ka waʔalik/ |
| Thank you | musʼokoyo /musʼokojo/ | talé /tale/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | dios bʼotik /dios botik/ | მარდი /mardi/ | dios boʼotik /dios boʔotik/ |
| Good | ɬáû /ɬáû/ | anasü /anasɨ/ | — /—/ | acs /atss/ | malobʼ /malob/ | ჯგირი /dʒɡiri/ | maʼalob /maʔalob/ |
| New | ǁae /ǁaé/ | jeketü /heketɨ/ | — | — | — | ახალი /axali/ | túumben /tuːmben/ |
| Red | butlʼi /butɬʼi/ | ishoʼusü /iʃoˈʔusɨ/ | ǀàa /ǀàa/ | kwhaːc /kʷʰaːts/ | chäk /tʃɨk/ | ჭითა /tʃʼitʰa/ | chak /tʃak/ |
| White | phoo /pʰoː/ | kasuusü /kasuːsɨ/ | — | — | säk /sək/ | ჩე /tʃe/ | sak /sak/ |
| Black | kʼaŋkʼara /kʼaŋkʼara/ | mütsiiasü /mɨtsiːasɨ/ | — | — | — | უჩა /utʃa/ | box /boʃ/ |
| Green | jaanga /ɟaːŋɡa/ | wüitüsü /wɨitɨsɨ/ | ᶢǀa̤ʕi /ᶢǀa̤ʕi/ | — | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | წვანე /tsʼvane/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ |
| Blue | bulu /bulu/ | wüitüsü /wɨitɨsɨ/ | ᶢǀa̤ʕi /ᶢǀa̤ʕi/ | — | — | ლურჯი /lurdʒi/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ |
| Sugar | sukar /sukar/ | suukala /suːkala/ | — | — | chʼuuk /tʃʼuːk/ | შანქარი /ʃankʰari/ | asukaar /asukaːr/ |
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