The World’s Most Endangered Language: A Story of Survival

The Last Speaker of a 20,000-Year-Old Language
In a world where languages are disappearing at an alarming rate, there is only one person left who can fluently speak N|uu, the world’s most endangered language. This ancient tongue, with roots tracing back nearly 20,000 years, is now only perfectly spoken by Ouma Katrina Esau.

The Origins of N|uu
N|uu, characterized by its unique clicking sound between the “N” and the “uu,” was created by the San people, an indigenous hunter-gatherer group from southern Africa. The Komani people, a subgroup of the San, originally lived in the southern Kalahari desert, an area that now spans the borders of Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.

The Suppression of N|uu
Primarily a spoken language, N|uu has very few written records. Its survival was further threatened in the 19th century when the British Empire, in its efforts to colonize Africa, banned the language. Those who dared to speak N|uu faced severe punishments, including beatings and even death. This repression forced the language underground, with many speakers too afraid to use it publicly.

Rediscovery in the 1990s
In the 1990s, the language resurfaced thanks to the efforts of Dr. Nigel Crawhall, a sociolinguist, and the United Nations. When they began their search, 25 people came forward, claiming to speak N|uu fluently. However, by December 2021, only Esau remained.

Reviving a Dying Language
Dr. Kerry Jones, a linguist and head of African Tongue, a language consulting company that works with endangered languages in southern Africa, has been pivotal in preserving N|uu. She explains that the 1990s marked a significant turning point. “People began to feel safe enough to come forward,” she said. Elderly speakers, understanding that they were nearing the end of their lives, were brave enough to reveal their heritage, stating, “I’m not ‘coloured,’ I’m San. I can show that because I still speak the language.”

Cultural Identity and Separation
The borders between South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana were historically traversed by nomadic peoples. However, colonization imposed physical and political barriers, leading to the separation of family groups and the decline of languages like N|uu. This separation marked the beginning of the end for many indigenous languages as communities were fragmented.

Efforts to Preserve N|uu
Despite the challenges, efforts to revive N|uu continue. Esau has been teaching her granddaughter the language and collaborating with Dr. Jones to create a digital N|uu vocabulary. In a historic move, since May, Esau has been visiting local schools to teach children the basics of this click language. For the first time in decades, N|uu is being passed down to a new generation, offering hope for its survival.