WHY HAS !XÓÕ NOT FOLLOWED THE NORMAL PATTERN OF IDENTITY LOSS?

Abstract

Every ethnic group is usually identified by specific features. The most conspicuous features have been described as linguistic identity, cultural identity, autonymic identity and ethnonymic identity2.  When an ethnic group is losing its identity because of pressure or attraction from a major or dominant ethnic group in a marked bilingualism situation (Batibo, 1992, 2005a), the loss is usually progressive, starting from linguistic identity and ending with ethnonymic identity. Although this pattern has been attested in a number of cases, there have been several exceptions. This paper is based on a study that was carried out in Zutshwa, in 2015, which investigated the patterns of ethnic identity loss in one of the few remaining southern Khoesan languages, namely !Xóõ. Data collection was based on a structured questionnaire aiming at extracting information of the patterns of language use, features of identity and the prevailing language attitudes towards language maintenance. The study showed that the ethnic identity loss model can be distorted, where there are factors that have strong impact on people’s lives in terms of fundamental human needs. Strong external socio-cultural pressure, such as restrictions, assimilation or deep spiritual involvement, may distort both cultural and autonymic identities. Keywords: Language shift, patterns of ethnic identity loss, Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.