African clicking language

[coffeecup]

Hola!

I've heard quite a few times of an African language that uses clicking noises, but I was wondering if it actually has a name. Does anyone know the official name of this language? Are there more than one? It is like a family of languages, like the Romance Languages?

gracias, amigos ;)

[wrholt]

Hola!

I've heard quite a few times of an African language that uses clicking noises, but I was wondering if it actually has a name. Does anyone know the official name of this language? Are there more than one? It is like a family of languages, like the Romance Languages?

gracias, amigos ;)

There are several African languages that use "clicks", in at least 2 language families. The only language whose name I know and whose name also includes a click consonant is called "Xhosa". In this word the letter "X" spells a click sound that I can best describe as a lateral tongue click; it's the same sound that many people here in the US use as a friendly signal to horses.

Another possible click is a whole-tongue pop, which typically sounds like the sound associated with the spelling "tsk" as a way of signalling "shame on you".

A third possible click is the "kiss" sound.

[lauraashley]

Here are examples of clicks from the language Nama (from Africa.)
http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/vowels/chapter13/nama.html

Contrary to popular belief it is actually not the same sound that people use when calling horses.

Here is an xray of a click production
http://www.phonetics.ucla.edu/vowels/chapter13/movie.html