Khoisan
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˈkɔɪsɑn/
- NSFW
- Images like these have popularized the romantic stereotype of the "Bushman" (Khoisan).
- images of Khoisan
Examples
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The army tents in the background testify to the unsettled lives of the displaced Namibian Khoisan who live at the military base in Schmidtsdrift, South Africa.
Academic text (1999) -
"Coloured" is a South African term referring to the descendants of Khoisan and mixed-race groups.
Academic text (2008) -
Now, by geographical definition, what else can the Khoisan be but "African" peoples?
Academic text (2001) -
It is not clear how much the Khoisan themselves participate in this process.
Academic text (1999) -
I think of the Khoisan, and I wonder if Saartje Bartman, who sprang from that blood, ever walked here.
Academic text (2001) -
The Khoisan are known for their rich cultural heritage and traditional hunting practices.
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Many studies focus on preserving the languages and traditions of the Khoisan peoples.
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The Khoisan, including the San and Khoikhoi, have lived as nomadic gatherers for thousands of years.
Compounds
- Specialized
1
9.9
A group of native languages from southern Africa that use click sounds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Khoisan = Khoi + San (semi-transparent) = Khoi + San
The compound formation is clear, but the collective ethnographic meaning requires knowledge of the constituent group names.
Etymology
Khoisan comes from joining the names Khoi and San, the two native groups of southern Africa. It is used for the people who were often herders (the Khoi) or hunters and gatherers (the San), so the name points to these communities today.