Languages of Zambia
Languages of Zambia | |
---|---|
Signed | Zambian Sign Language |
Keyboard layout |
Indigenous Zambian languages
Zambia has 72 languages, some of which have a long history in Zambia, while others, such as Silozi, arose as a result of 18th- and 19th-century migrations. All of Zambia's major languages by native-speaker population are members of the Bantu family and are closely related to one another.[2]
Seven native languages are officially recognized as regional languages.
According to the 2000 census, Zambia's most widely spoken languages are
In some languages, particularly
An urban variety of
Significance of Zambian languages
Local Zambian languages play an important role in different sectors of society.[8] For instance, in the education sector, local languages allow pupils to express themselves freely.[citation needed]
Zambian English
English, the former colonial language, serves as a common language among educated Zambians. At independence in 1964, English was declared the national language. English is the first language of only 2% of Zambians but is the most commonly used second language.[9]
The English spoken in Zambia has some distinctive features, such as the omission of certain object pronouns that would be obligatory in Western English ("Did you reach?"), the simplification of some
Percentage distribution of major language groups
Language Group | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|
Bemba | 39.9 | 38.5 | 31.0 |
Nyanja | 20.1 | 20.6 | 25.3 |
Tonga | 14.8 | 13.9 | 17.5 |
Kaonde | 8.8 | 9.7 | 6.6 |
Barotse | 7.5 | 6.9 | 9.3 |
Tumbuka | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
Mambwe | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.2 |
English | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
Other | 0.8 | 4.3 | 0.3 |
Source: 2010 Census[11]
List of languages
The established languages of Zambia are:[12]
- Aushi
- Bemba
- Bwile
- Chichewa
- Chokwe
- Congo Swahili
- English
- Fwe
- Ila
- Kaonde
- Khwedam
- Kuhane
- Kunda
- Lala-Bisa
- Lamba
- Lambya
- Lenje
- Lozi
- Luchazi
- Lunda
- Luvale
- Luyana
- Mambwe-Lungu
- Mashi
- Mbowe
- Mbukushu
- Mbunda
- Nkoya
- Nsenga
- Nyamwanga
- Nyiha
- Nyika
- Pidgin Zulu
- Sala
- Settla
- Shona
- Simaa
- Soli
- Taabwa
- Tonga
- Totela
- Tumbuka
- Yao
- Yauma
- Zambian Sign Language
References
- ^ a b Safaris, Discover Africa. "Languages in Zambia | Everything to know | Discover Africa Safaris". www.discoverafrica.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ a b c "Zambian Languages". Zambian Translators International. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ Chanda and Mkandawire (2013)
- ^ Chimuka (1977)
- ^ Kashoki (1981).
- ^ "Zambia - Census of Population and Housing 2000". catalog.ihsn.org. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ JSTOR 43102583.
- ^ Mkandawire(2017a)
- ^ "One Zambia, One Nation, Many Languages". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
- ^ "Now what is braaivleis all about?". George Herald. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ Central Statistical Office, Government of Zambia. "2010 Census Population Summaries" (PDF). Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ Ethnologue, ed. 25, 2022
Bibliography
- Chimuka, S. S. (1977). Zambian languages: orthography approved by the Ministry of Education. Lusaka : National Educational Company of Zambia (NECZAM).
- Kashoki, Mubanga E. and Ohannessian, Sirarpa. (1978) Language in Zambia. London: International African Institute.
- Kashoki, Mubanga E. (1981). Harmonization of African languages: standardization of orthography in Zambia in In African Languages: Proceedings of the Meeting of Experts on the Transcription and Harmonization of African Languages, Niamey (Niger), 17–21 July 1978, (pp. 164–75). Paris: UNESCO.
- Kashoki, Mubanga E. (1990) The Factor of Language in Zambia. Lusaka: Kenneth Kaunda Foundation.
- Marten, Lutz; Kula, Nancy C. (2008) "One Zambia, One Nation, Many Languages" in Simpson, A. ed., 2008, Language and National Identity in Africa, Oxford: OUP, 291–313.
- Chanda, Vincent M. and Mkandawire, Sitwe Benson. (2013). 'Speak Zambian Languages'. Lusaka: UNZAPRESS
- Mkandawire, S. B. (2017). "Familiar Language Based Instruction versus Unfamiliar Language for the Teaching of Reading and Writing Skills: A Focus on Zambian Languages and English at two Primary Schools in Lusaka". Zambian Journal of Language Studies, 1(1), 53–82. ISSN 2415-668X
- Mkandawire, Sitwe Benson (2017b). "Terminological Dilemma on Familiar language based instruction and English language: A reflection on Language of Initial Literacy Instruction in Zambia" Journal of Lexicography and Terminology, 1(1), 45–58. ISSN 2517-9306
- Tambulukani, Geoffrey Kazembe (2015). "First Language Teaching of Initial Reading: Blessing or Curse for the Zambian Children under Primary Reading Programme?" Ph.D. thesis, University of Zambia.
- Tordoff, William (ed.) (1974) Politics in Zambia. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
- Republic of Zambia. Constitution of Zambia 1991 (as amended by Act no. 18 of 1996).