Tjwao dialect

{{Short description|Moribund Khoe language of western Zimbabwe}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox language | name = Tjwao | altname = Tshwao | nativename = | states = Zimbabwe | speakers = <20 | date = 2014 | ref = <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iaaw.hu-berlin.de/de/afrika/linguistik-und-sprachen/veranstaltungen/afrikalinguistischeskolloquium/papers-wintersemester-2014-15/presentation_nyota_10_02_2015.pdf|title=Tshawo, the Endangered Language of Zimbabwe|date=2015}}</ref> | familycolor = Khoisan | fam1 = Khoe | fam2 = Kalahari (Tshu–Khwe) | fam3 = East | fam4 = Tsoa | dia1 = | dia2 = | dia3 = | nation = {{Flag|Zimbabwe}} (as "Koisan") | lc1 = | ld1 = | lc2 = | ld2 = | notice = | glotto = tjwa1234 | glottorefname = Tjwao |isoexception=dialect }}

'''Tjwao''' (formerly '''Tshwao''') is an endangered Khoe language spoken by fewer than 8 people in the Tsholotsho District of Zimbabwe, all over 60 years of age.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.channelzim.net/home/16-featured/4131-khosian-tshwao-language-in-near-extinction|title=Khosian Tshwao language in near extinction|last=Dialogue|first=Radio|access-date=2017-06-16|language=en-gb|archive-date=19 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119083423/http://www.channelzim.net/home/16-featured/4131-khosian-tshwao-language-in-near-extinction|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southerneye.co.zw/2014/05/14/daunting-task-crafting-san-language-syllabus/|title=Daunting task in crafting San language syllabus|date=2014-05-14|website=Southern Eye|access-date=2017-06-16}}</ref> A slightly larger group of 100 have passive or partial knowledge of the language.

It is the only Khoisan language in Zimbabwe, where "Koisan" is an officially recognised language in the constitution.

Tjwao belongs to the Tshwa (Tsoa-Kua) cluster of East Kalahari Khoe languages. It is very similar to the varieties of Ganade noted by Westphal and Traill. Although mentioned by scholars for several decades, documentation of the language only began in 2012.

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Languages of Zimbabwe Category:Khoisan languages Category:Endangered languages of Africa