Preserving the Last N|uu Speaker’s Legacy
Ninety-one-year-old Katrina Esau stands as the final known speaker of the N|uu language, an indigenous tongue of South Africa. The impacts of colonialism and apartheid nearly eradicated this language. As a child, Katrina was discouraged from speaking N|uu and was instead encouraged to use Afrikaans. In her later years, however, Esau dedicated herself to preserving N|uu by establishing a local school in Upington and compiling a dictionary.
A Fight for an Endangered Tongue
Although Esau has two surviving sisters, she has no regular conversational partners in N|uu besides a few family members and students she has taught. “I miss conversing with someone,” she expressed. “It’s a lonely feeling. You talk and move about, but you miss having someone to speak N|uu with.”
Her granddaughter, Claudia Snyman, an advocate for language preservation, has joined forces with Esau to revive N|uu. Despite their efforts to establish a language school, it was damaged during the pandemic, hampering their progress. “The language isn’t where it should be yet. If Ouma [grandmother] passes away, everything will be lost,” Snyman remarked in 2023. She is determined to uphold her grandmother’s legacy and is committed to preserving the language.
Origins of N|uu
N|uu is a click language originating from the Khomani people of the southern Kalahari, who inhabited Southern Africa long before European colonization. They belong to the San, one of the earliest hunter-gatherer societies in the region. British colonial rule in the 19th century severely disrupted their cultural and linguistic identity, with severe repercussions for using N|uu. This suppression nearly led to the extinction of the language.
Despite changes over time, N|uu retains deep historical and cultural value. “Colonialism and apartheid targeted indigenous languages, leading to their decline,” said Lorato Mokwena, a linguist at the University of the Western Cape. “It’s crucial to preserve and document the language while Ouma Katrina is still with us.”
Characteristics of Click Languages
N|uu is known for its distinctive click sounds. One notable click, the “bilabial plosive,” resembles a kiss, and is rare in world languages. Due to its primarily oral tradition, documentation of N|uu is sparse, complicating historical tracking and understanding.
The Final N|uu Speaker
By the 1990s, around 20 people spoke N|uu, but by late 2021, only Esau remained. Her dedication to the language has been ongoing for two decades, working with Dr. Kerry Jones, a linguist, and her community to create a digital N|uu dictionary. Although Esau never learned to read, she and Snyman co-authored a children’s book in N|uu, titled Qhoi n/a Tiho (Tortoise and Ostrich).
“Claudia can speak the language to some extent, and while Ouma Katrina is not literate, their combined efforts are effective,” noted Dr. Jones.
Educating Future Generations
In May 2024, Esau began leading a N|uu educational program at a local school. “Children are learning basic greetings, songs, and names for animals and plants,” Dr. Jones explained. “While fluency in N|uu may not be achieved, they will acquire foundational skills and understanding of simple stories.”
In March 2023, Esau received an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town for her contributions, and the N|uu dictionary was unveiled. “Who would have imagined that a woman who never attended school and worked with her hands would achieve this?” Esau said during the ceremony. She was also honored with the Order of the Baobab in Silver by South Africa for her dedication to preserving the language.
The Value of Language Preservation
Languages face extinction each year, taking with them pieces of history and culture. While this trend is part of the modern world, it represents a significant loss. Language is not just a mode of communication but a reflection of how people think and perceive the world. “Languages are codes that shape our reality,” Dr. Jones stated. “Globalization threatens these codes, much like the extinction of species. Both are crucial parts of a larger network of life.”
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