N|uu dictionary

The N|uu dictionary is the first dictionary for the N|uu language. This language is a highly endangered language, currently spoken only by one fluent speaker, Dr. Ouma Katrina Esau, which used to be spoken in the north of South Africa.

The dictionary is quadrilingual, containing information on N|uu (as the main language with two dialects, an eastern and a western dialect), Namagowab, Afrikaans (including words of a local dialect "Onse Afrikaans" which has not been published before), and (South African) English. The information in the dictionary has been collected over more than 20 years by several researchers. For the dictionary, all linguistic information that has been collected over the years has been combined and checked with the local community (also for the Afrikaans and Namagowab part of the dictionary).

The N|uu dictionary is available in three forms:

• Physical dictionary

  • Sands, Bonny & Kerry Jones (chief editors) in collaboration with Antjie Kassie, Griet Seekoei, Hannie Koerant, Andries Olyn, Hanna Koper, Kheis Brou, Vytjie ǀAbaka Koper, ǀUna Rooi, Simon Sauls, Elsie Vaalbooi, Katrina Esau, Claudia Snyman, David van Wyk, Mietjie Sussie Bok, Izak Kruiper, Lydia (Sakkas) Kruiper, Leonard Gewersk, Lys (Oulet) Kruiper Pietersen, Fritz Jagers, Magdalena James, Hannetjie van der Westhuizen, Chris Collins, Alena Witzlack-Makarevich, Sylvanus Job, Francoise (Betta) Steyn, Dietloff van der Berg, Dotty Mantzel, Willem Damarah, Menno van Zaanen, Amanda Miller, Levi Namaseb, Johanna Brugman & Mats Exter. (2022). Nǀuuki Namagowab Afrikaans English ǂXoakiǂxanisi/Mîdi di ǂKhanis/Woordeboek/Dictionary. Stellenbosch: African Sun Media for African Tongue. ISBN: 978-0-6397-1245-1 (print) ISBN: 978-0-6397-1245-1 (e-book) 

• Online dictionary portal

  • https://dictionary.sadilar.org

• Mobile phone app: Saasi Epsi

  • Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sadilar.mdaf&hl=en_US

  • iOS: https://apps.apple.com/kw/app/saasi-epsi/id6465290193) 

All forms of the dictionary have the same information with the dictionary portal and the dictionary apps also having audio recordings of several speakers (most of which have passed away). The physical dictionary also contains background information on the language and the speakers.

To ensure that the local community can use the resources, training material has been developed (which is made available as YouTube videos, see below) and in-person training with the local community took place. Note that in the north of South Africa, internet access is severely limited (also there is very limited mobile phone reception). The mobile phone apps therefor contain all the information including the audio recordings. Once downloaded, no internet access is required.

This project was a collaboration with Kerry Jones (African Tongue), Bonny Sands (Northern Arizona University), and Menno van Zaanen (South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR)). It was funded by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC), South Africa

Some more information related to the project can be found in the videos below.