An urgent race against time is taking place in a quiet corner of South Africa.
Ninety-one-year-old Katrina Esau is fighting to preserve her native N| UU language, which has dwindled to a single speaker – herself. With each passing day, the fate of the ancient language hangs in the balance as this last fluent speaker tries to keep N|uu alive for future generations.
N|uu’s survival is not just a matter of words; it is the preservation of history, and culture and a way of understanding the world that goes back thousands of years. But with obstacles at every turn and fewer supporters than expected, the question begs: can Esau really turn the tide, or is it too late?
Ninety-one-year-old Katrina Esau is the last known N|uu speaker. Decades of colonization and apartheid nearly eradicated this native South African language. As a young girl, Katrina was taught to be ashamed of her native language and to communicate in Afrikaans instead. As an adult, Esau decided to preserve Nuu by establishing a school in her hometown of Upington and developing a Nuu dictionary.
Preservation of an endangered language
Despite having two living sisters, Esau lacks anyone to speak her language to, except family members and children to whom he communicates a few phrases. “I’m dying to talk,” she said. It’s an unpleasant feeling. You converse, you walk, you understand each other… You long for someone who can simply sit down with you and engage in conversation.
Claudia Snyman, Esau’s granddaughter, and language activist, took part in the battle to revive N|uu. They worked together to establish a language school, but it was destroyed during the pandemic, greatly hindering their progress. “The language has not yet reached its optimal state.” “If Ouma [grandmother] dies, everything ceases to exist,” Snyman stated in 2023. She is trying to protect her grandmother’s legacy. I will do everything in my power to help her save this language from extinction.
Chronicle of Nur
Nuu is a click language originating from the #Khomani people of the southern Kalahari who inhabited southern Africa before the arrival of European conquerors. They belong to the San, recognized as one of the first known groups of hunters and gatherers in the region. During the British occupation in the 19th century, individuals were stripped of their ethnic and cultural identities, including languages. Indeed, individuals have been mocked, attacked, and even killed for using Nuu.
Nuu has evolved over time, however, it retains a vital meaning from a past and a culture that has been almost forgotten.
“During colonialism and apartheid, the Ouma Katrina and otIndigenousnous groups were banned from speaking their languages, which were denigrated, leading to a significant decline in fluent speakers,” said Lorato Mokwena, a linguist at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. “With the presence of Ouma Katrina, it is imperative that we make every effort to preserve and document the language.”
Lexicon of clicks
Nuu is classified as a click language due to its distinctive click phonetics. The only primary click is really only a limited number of languages. Linguists refer to the sound as a “bilabial plosive”, commonly known as a “kiss click”. Because the language is oral rather than written, there is minimal evidence, complicating historical tracing and further understanding.
Latest N|uu speakers
In the 1990s, approximately 20 individuals, all Nuu speakers, came forward. However, in December 2021, the last one died and Esau was left alone. However, her task was already underway. For two decades she collaborated with Dr. Kerry Jones, linguist and Director of African Languages, along with other members of his community to develop the N|uu digital dictionary.
Despite her inability to read Esau, she collaborated with Snyman to write a book for Nuu children called Qhoi n/a Tijho (The Tortoise and the Ostrich).
Her granddaughter Claudia is fluent in languages. Not with fluency, but as a secondary language. Dr. Jones stated, “She’s literate and Ouma Katrina isn’t, so it’s a good combination.”
Guidelines for the new cohort
In May 2024, Esau assumed the role of primary educator for the Nuu curriculum at the local school. Dr. Jones stated, “Children acquire the ability to say hello, sing melodies, and identify the names of animals and plants.”
They will not achieve fluency and complete monolingualism in Nuu. This is not reality; but they will be able to greet others, sing songs, and understand the basic story of the child.
In March 2023, Esau was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Cape Town in recognition of her contributions and achievements. “Who would have thought that the woman present today had never set foot in a school, driven sheep to her knees, and scrubbed kitchens?” remarked Ouma Katrina at the unveiling of the complete Nuu dictionary in both hardcover and digital format. “Thank you, UCT, for recognizing your behavior towards me, an elderly woman who never acquired literacy.”
She received the Order of the Baobab in Silver from the Republic of South Africa for her outstanding contribution to the preservation of a language that is in danger of extinction. Her determination to ensure the success of the project motivated the younger generations to strive for knowledge.
What is the importance of preserving an endangered language?
Unfortunately, languages disappear every year, taking with them fragments of history and culture. Although this gradual extinction is inevitable in contemporary life, it diminishes social wealth. Language is not just a way of communication; it embodies thoughts, emotions, self-expression, and perception of the environment. It is a fundamental part of identity.
“We use codes we call ‘languages’ to communicate. Dr. Jones noted, “Your experience with this or that code forms the framework that shapes your reality; it’s interesting.” “Globalization has led to limited access to these codes.” That’s a significant loss. It’s akin to asking, “Why should we worry about the extinction of animals and plants?” It’s part of a larger network—that’s what matters.
The efforts of Katrina Esau and her family to preserve N|uu is more than just a struggle to keep the language alive—it is a testament to the resilience of an entire culture in the face of centuries of oppression, loss, and marginalization. With every word learned, every story told and every child greeted at N|uu, Esau and her supporters breathe life back into a language that embodies the heritage, identity, and worldview of the #Khomani people. Their work underscores a powerful truth: each language is a unique lens through which its speakers view the world, offering irreplaceable insights into the human experience.
When languages die, they take with them some of humanity’s collective wisdom and ways of thinking that no other language can replicate. While it may be impossible to save every endangered language, stories like Katrina Esau remind us that even one person can have a profound impact, serving as a guardian of history and a bridge for future generations.
As we grapple with the effects of globalization, Esau’s message illuminates the importance of cultural diversity. Her story encourages us to consider not only the preservation of words but also the lives, values , and wisdom these words carry. When we honor N|uu, we honor all languages and appreciate the unique richness they bring to our shared human tapestry.