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The purpose of this article is to discuss contemporary Khoesan languages in South Africa from a sociolinguistic perspective. In order to do so, a basic explanation of Khoesan language families and their history is provided. Based on this socio-historical and linguistic context, contemporary Khoesan languages are examined in relation to orthography and literacy practices; theory of language endangerment, documentation, maintenance, and preservation; community collaboration and motivation; as well as outside support and feedback. Based on this information, the following recommendations for language maintenance and preservation of Khoesan languages in South Africa are made: (1) a comprehensive language revitalisation assessment report is needed for each contemporary Khoesan language; (2) early childhood education for mother tongue speakers is required; (3) international collaboration with Namibia should be engaged in to share existing literacy materials at all levels to facilitate mother tongue education; (4) invitations should be extended to international specialists, encouraging cooperation with Africa-based scholars in order to improve theoretical understanding and application in an African context; (5) existing resources should be digitised and made available online with open access; and (6) an update of the national curriculum is needed to accurately represent contemporary Khoe and San people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper offers a brief but hopefully clarificatory account of the three language families generally referred to by linguists as Southern African Khoisan, and outlines ongoing and unresolved linguistic debates concerning relationships between the three families. The need is emphasised for linguists to move away from pre-theoretical assumptions based on the colonial construct of "race", and—in the context of investigating diachronic language change—to include consideration rather of the social status of different speaker communities in relation to one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]