Languages of Swaziland
Encyclopedia
The landlocked southern Africa
n country of Swaziland
is home to several languages. These include Afrikaans
, English
, Swazi, Tsonga
and Zulu
.
language, is the national language
of Swaziland, and is spoken by approximately 95 percent of Swazis. Swazi and English
are the country's two official language
s, and proceedings of the Parliament of Swaziland
take place in both languages.
Swazi language education
is present in all national schools, and literacy
in Swati, defined as the ability to read and write the language, is "very high" in Swaziland. Swazi is also used in mass media
.
English is the medium of instruction
, and is taught in all state and private school
s. Competency in English is a prerequisite for admission into most post-secondary institutions.
, one of the eleven official languages
of South Africa
. Tsonga
, a Tswa–Ronga language and also an official language of South Africa, is spoken by 19,000 Swazis . Afrikaans
, another official language of South Africa and descended from Dutch
, is spoken by 13,000 people in Swaziland.
Chewa (or Nyanja), the national language
of Malawi
, and Sotho (Sesotho or Southern Sotho), spoken mainly in Lesotho
and Free State
, South Africa
, are immigrant language
s with 5,700 and 4,700 speakers, respectively, in Swaziland. Shimaore is also an immigrant language, and is spoken by 600 inhabitants of the country.
Prior to Swaziland's independence in 1968, French
was taught in the colony's three White
-only high schools.
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
n country of Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
is home to several languages. These include Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Swazi, Tsonga
Tsonga language
The Tsonga or Xitsonga language is spoken in southern Africa by the Tsonga people, also known as the Shangaan.- Classification :Tsonga belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger–Congo languages...
and Zulu
Zulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
.
National and official languages
Swazi (Swati or siSwati), a Southern BantuSouthern Bantu languages
The Southern Bantu languages are large group of Bantu languages, largely validated in Janson . They are nearly synonymous with Guthrie's Bantu zone S, apart from the exclusion of Shona and the inclusion of Makua...
language, is the national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
of Swaziland, and is spoken by approximately 95 percent of Swazis. Swazi and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
are the country's two official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
s, and proceedings of the Parliament of Swaziland
Parliament of Swaziland
The Parliament of Swaziland consists of two chambers:*The Senate *The House of Assembly The Houses of Parliament are located in Lobamba.-External links:*...
take place in both languages.
Swazi language education
Language education
Language education is the teaching and learning of a foreign or second language. Language education is a branch of applied linguistics.- Need for language education :...
is present in all national schools, and literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
in Swati, defined as the ability to read and write the language, is "very high" in Swaziland. Swazi is also used in mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
.
English is the medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
, and is taught in all state and private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s. Competency in English is a prerequisite for admission into most post-secondary institutions.
Minority and immigrant languages
A minority of Swazi, estimated to number 76,000 , speak ZuluZulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
, one of the eleven official languages
Languages of South Africa
South Africa has eleven official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Fewer than one percent of South Africans speak a first language other than an official one. Most South Africans can speak more than one language. Dutch and...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Tsonga
Tsonga language
The Tsonga or Xitsonga language is spoken in southern Africa by the Tsonga people, also known as the Shangaan.- Classification :Tsonga belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger–Congo languages...
, a Tswa–Ronga language and also an official language of South Africa, is spoken by 19,000 Swazis . Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
, another official language of South Africa and descended from Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, is spoken by 13,000 people in Swaziland.
Chewa (or Nyanja), the national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, and Sotho (Sesotho or Southern Sotho), spoken mainly in Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
and Free State
Free State
The Free State is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bloemfontein, which is also South Africa's judicial capital. Its historical origins lie in the Orange Free State Boer republic and later Orange Free State Province. The current borders of the province date from 1994 when the Bantustans...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, are immigrant language
Immigrant language
Immigrant languages are languages spoken by immigrant communities. Immigrant languages have arrived to the country or region relatively recently, unlike historical minority languages, which have been spoken in the country for several generations. Historical minority languages also tend to have a...
s with 5,700 and 4,700 speakers, respectively, in Swaziland. Shimaore is also an immigrant language, and is spoken by 600 inhabitants of the country.
Prior to Swaziland's independence in 1968, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
was taught in the colony's three White
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
-only high schools.
See also
- Languages of LesothoLanguages of LesothoThe landlocked southern African country of Lesotho, an enclave in South Africa, is home to several languages, including English, Phuthi, Sotho, Xhosa and Zulu—all, except for English, belong to the Niger–Congo language family....
- Languages of MozambiqueLanguages of MozambiqueMozambique is a multilingual country. A number of Bantu languages are indigenous to Mozambique. Portuguese, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language, and Mozambique is a full member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries...
- Languages of South AfricaLanguages of South AfricaSouth Africa has eleven official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Fewer than one percent of South Africans speak a first language other than an official one. Most South Africans can speak more than one language. Dutch and...