Khoisan Language

There are an estimated 800 languages in Africa divided into six language groups. Among those is Khoisan or Click language. The language involves the use of clicking noises that use various tones to distinguish meanings and used by an estimated 120,000 people. Some believe the Click language maybe the oldest human language. Khoisan language is subdivided into three branches: San (Bushmen) and Khoikhoi, spoken in various parts of sub-Saharan Africa; Sandawe, a language found in E Africa; and Hadzabe, also spoken in E Africa. (Columbia). One other Click language did exist on the continent of Australia and was used by the aborigines for manhood initiation ceremonies though is now extinct. In recent years Hadzabe has been removed from the Khoisan group due to difference in grammar, sounds and meanings. This implies a different origin than the other click languages or a “very ancient proto-click language. (Pennisi, 2004)

With the advancement of DNA genealogy, researchers at Stanford are using DNA to find the origin of language by comparing Y chromosomes of the Bushmen and the Hadzabe. The conclusion was the genetic differences between the groups seem to imply the two groups “diverged at the dawn of humanity.” (J.T. p. 1). “The research suggests that the Hadzabe are the descendants of one of the first groups to split off.” (Pennisi, p.2) Which some estimate to have occurred 70,000 and 50,000 years ago. Alec Knight of Stanford thinks the reason why these click languages survived, while others have died, is the hunter gather lifestyle of the Khoisan tribes because using clicks work well when hunting game. (Pennisi, 2004)

The First Language? By: Pennisi, Elizabeth, Science, 00368075, 2/27/2004, Vol. 303, Issue 5662

African languages Columbia Encyclopedia

DNA hints at origin of all language. By: J. T., Science News, 10/27/2001, Vol. 160, Issue 17