ǃXóõ

Noun

ǂàã ‎(tone II, class 2, plural ǂàm-tê)

1. bone (alienated)

   • Èh ń ǁʻàa ká ǂàã.
     • (lit.) He has no bone, i.e. he has no strength.

Noun

ǂàã ‎(tone II, class 2, plural ǂân-sà or ǂâm-tê)

1. language (inalienable), word (possessed), voice (possessed)

   • ǂnái ń ǂʻàma ǂâã ǂʻé.
     • (lit.) We two (dual) are having words about him, i.e. complaining about him.
   • ǂâã ǁʻàa!
     • (lit.) no words! (i.e. no problemǃ)

Usage notes

When a bone is possessed, the word is ǂâã, and when alienated, the word is ǂàã. Word or voice, however, are represented oppositely; a possessed voice is ǂàã and an alienated one is ǂâã. This is an important differenceǃ Furthermore, the alienated word for language ǂâã is a member of Tone Class I, not II.

Derived terms

• ǀnàn ǂàã = skull (lit. head's bone)
• ǃXóɲa ǂàã = the ǃXóõ language
• ǂàã ǃxàã = a serious issue

References

• A ǃXóõ Dictionary, ISBN 978-3-89645-869-8