South Africa’s Constitution recognises 11 official languages: Sepedi (also known as Sesotho sa Leboa), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu.. For centuries South Africa’s official languages were European – Dutch, English, Afrikaans. It belongs to the so-called Nguni language group of the Bantu language family of Niger-Congo. South Africa’s second-largest language, Xhosa is spoken by 17.6% of all South Africans, or 7 907 149 people. (a) The national government and provincial governments may use any particular official languages for the purposes of government, taking into account usage, practicality, expense, regional circumstances and the balance of the needs and preferences of the population as a whole or in the province concerned; but the national government and each provincial government must use at least two official languages. However. The following is from the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa: Proportion of the population that speaks a. Density of first-language speakers of Nguni languages. Please help us out and disable your ad-blocker. Densely populated with uncommon consonants, Xhosa consists of the usual pulmonic egressive sounds (used in English), ejectives, 15 clicks and an implosive. Xhosa is also heard in Johannesburg and the Western Cape. It can also be the langua… Other languages spoken in South Africa not mentioned in the Constitution, include many of those already mentioned above, such as KheLobedu, SiNrebele, SiPhuthi, as well as mixed languages like Fanakalo (a pidgin language used as a lingua franca in the mining industry), and Tsotsitaal or S'Camtho, an argot that has found wider usage as an informal register. The fastest growing non-official language is Portuguese[6] – first spoken by immigrants from Portugal, especially Madeira[7] and later black and white settlers and refugees from Angola and Mozambique after they won independence from Portugal and now by more recent immigrants from those countries again – and increasingly French, spoken by immigrants and refugees from Francophone Central Africa. Most South Africans can speak more than one language,[3] and there is very often a diglossia between the official and unofficial language forms for speakers of the latter. Since the first democratic elections in 1994, in terms of the new interim constitution, English is now but one of eleven official languages in the `new South Africa' (the others being Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, siSwati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Northern Sotho, Venda, and Tsonga). The 15 clicks (which learners tend to battle with the most) are divided into three categories. The two South African languages isiZulu and isiXhosa as well as isiNdebele and siSwati, both languages spoken in Mpumalanga, are termed Nguni languages as they are spoken by the Nguni people to which the Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi and Ndebele tribes belong to. At least thirty-five languages indigenous to South Africa are spoken in the Republic, ten of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venḓa, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans. © Copyright 1995-2021 Southafrica.com. Hajji Yusuf was an Indonesian noble of royal descent, being the nephew of the Sultan Alauddin of Gowa, in today Makassar, Nusantara. rendered as Tshivenda instead of the correct Tshivenḓa. [citation needed]. Density of first-language speakers of West Germanic languages. [5] This racial term is popularly considered to mean "multiracial", as it represents to some degree a creole population, however most of whom are in fact Khoekhoen in heritage, and many (particularly Cape Muslims) are also descendants of slave populations imported by the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) from slaving posts in West and East Africa, and from its colonies of the Indian Ocean trade route. The constitution mentions "sign language" in the generic sense rather than South African Sign Language specifically. Most South Africans can speak more than one language. There are 11 official languages in South Africa, of which Xhosa is one of the most widely spoken. Other Nguni languages include Swati, Northern Ndebele and Zulu. As mentioned before, there is no appropriate term for one’s mother-tongue. Though these are still under debate, one frequently accepted dialect grouping is as follows: Xhosa (original), Bhaca, Gcaleka, Thembu, Mpondomise, Ngqika, Mpondo, Mfengu and Bomvana. It is a regional language, with a third of its speakers living in the Eastern Cape, where it is the language of 83.4% of the provincial population. It was brought to South Africa by the British who declared it the official language of the Cape Colony in 1822. The Xhosa language has been grouped into a number of dialects. Tshembha leswaku Afrika Dzonga i ya vanhu hinkwavo lava tshamaka eka rona, hi hlanganile hi ku hambana-hambana ka hina. The official languages of the Republic are. This produces something like the English “tut-tut”. Xhosa is one of South Africa's 11 official languages and one of 28 languages spoken in the country. Approximately 16 percent of South Africa’s population, or 8.3 million people, cite Xhosa as being their home language. The majority of South Africans speak a language from one of the two principal branches of the Bantu languages that are represented in South Africa: the Sotho–Tswana branch (which includes Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho and Tswana languages officially), or the Nguni branch (which includes Zulu, Xhosa, Swati and Ndebele languages officially). Fewer than two percent of South Africans speak a first language other than an official one. South African … When visiting the Eastern Cape be sure to ask an amaXhosa to teach you a few phrases, they are certain to be willing to share their unique language with you. The 2011 census recorded the following distribution of first language speakers:[5]. South Africa - South Africa - Languages: The Black African population is heterogeneous, falling mainly into four linguistic categories. Although South Africa has 11 official languages we would say the 12th should be Slang. Many tourists make their way up the crest of spectacular Sani Pass to enjoy a meal at Southern Africa's highest pub. The Xhosa language is one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe.It is a Nguni Bantu language known for its click consonants. South African Culture and Tradition Explored. Unofficial and marginalised languages include what are considered some of Southern Africa's First Nation languages: Khoekhoegowab, !Orakobab, Xirikobab, N|uuki, !Xunthali, and Khwedam; and other African languages, such as SiPhuthi, IsiHlubi, SiBhaca, SiLala, SiNhlangwini ("IsiZansi"), SiNrebele (SiSumayela), IsiMpondo/IsiMpondro, KheLobedu, SePulana, HiPai, SeKutswe, SeṰokwa, SeHananwa, SiThonga, SiLaNgomane, SheKgalagari, XiRhonga, SeKopa( Sekgaga) and others. Primary of these was the founder of Islam at the Cape, Sheikh Abadin Tadia Tjoessoep (known as Sheikh Yusuf). By clicking Agree you are accepting Terms of Service. At least thirty-five languages indigenous to South Africa are spoken in the Republic, ten of which are official languages of South Africa: Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venḓa, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans. Tsotsitaal in its original form as "Flaaitaal" was based on Afrikaans, a language derived from Dutch, which is the most widely spoken language in the western half of the country (Western and Northern Cape). The Zulu refer to the Eastern Cape as KwaXhosa which is translated to “place of the Xhosa”. Re dumela fa Aforika Borwa e le ya botlhe ba ba tshelang mo go yona, re le ngata e le nngwe ka go farologana. With 11 official languages, South Africa is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. When it is the dominant language spoken at home, is it the father’s or the mother’s language. The indigenous African languages of South Africa which are official, and therefore dominant, can be divided into two geographical zones, with Nguni languages being predominant in the south-eastern third of the country (Indian Ocean coast) and Sotho-Tswana languages being predominant in the northern third of the country located further inland, as also in Botswana and Lesotho. The 2011 census of South African Languages accounted for 4.8 million fluent English speakers. Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. Thanks to the variety of languages spoken in South Africa, locals tend to borrow words from each language, resulting in slang words or phrases known as 'South Africanisms'. South African English is spoken in a variety of accents, and is usually peppered with words from Afrikaans and African languages. Our highly qualified professional linguists are at the pinnacle of language expertise and cultural heritage in South Africa and thought leaders in their respective linguistic fields. More importantly, these languages have significant local functions in specific communities whose identity is tightly bound around the linguistic and cultural identity that these non-official SA languages signal. Xhosa is spoken widely by local staff and personnel. The last is a lateral click with the tongue at the side of the mouth. Xhosa is written using a Latin alphabet. They were housed on the farm Zandvliet, far outside of Cape Town, in an attempt to minimise his influence on the VOC's slaves. This site is supported by ads. Xhosa is a member of the Southeastern, or Nguni, subgroup of the Bantu group of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. Sikholelwa ekutseni iNingizimu Afrika yabo bonkhe labahlala kuyo, sihlangene ngekwehlukahlukana kwetfu; Re dumela gore Afrika-Borwa ke ya batho bohle ba ba dulago go yona, re le ngata e tee e nago le pharologano. Interestingly, the word Xhosa is from the Khoisan language and means “The angry men”. Boasting stunning scenery galore, this scenic route is enjoyed by many visitors to the region. Glo dat Suid-Afrika behoort aan almal wat daarin woon, verenig in ons verskeidenheid. Erken die ongeregtighede van ons verlede; Siyakwazi ukungakaphatheki kwethu ngokomThetho kwesikhathi sakade; Siyaziqonda iintswela-bulungisa zexesha elidlulileyo; Siyazamukela izenzo ezingalungile zesikhathi esadlula; Siyakubona kungabi khona kwebulungiswa esikhatsini lesengcile; Re lemoga ditlhokatoka tša rena tša bogologolo; Re elellwa ho ba le leeme ha rona nakong e fetileng; Re itse ditshiamololo tsa rona tse di fetileng; Ri dzhiela nṱha u shaea ha vhulamukanyi kha tshifhinga tsho fhelaho; Hi lemuka ku pfumaleka ka vululami ka nkarhi lowu nga hundza; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Huldig diegene wat vir geregtigheid en vryheid in ons land gely het; Sihlonipha labo abahlukumezekako ngerhuluphelo yokobana kube khona ubulungiswa nekululeko enarhenekhethu; Sibothulel’ umnqwazi abo baye bev’ ubunzima ukuze kubekho ubulungisa nenkululeko elizweni lethu; Siphakamisa labo abahluphekela ubulungiswa nenkululeko emhlabeni wethu; Setfulela sigcoko labo labahlushwa kuze sitfole bulungiswa nenkhululeko eveni lakitsi; Re tlotla bao ba ilego ba hlokofaletšwa toka le tokologo nageng ya gaborena; Re tlotla ba hlokofaditsweng ka lebaka la toka le tokoloho naheng ya rona; Re tlotla ba ba bogileng ka ntlha ya tshiamo le kgololosego mo lefatsheng la rona; Ri ṱhonifha havho vhe vha tambulela vhulamukanyi na mbofholowo kha shango ḽashu; Hi xixima lava xanisekeke hikwalaho ko hisekela vululami na ntshunxeko etikweni ra hina; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and, Respekteer diegene wat hul beywer het om ons land op te bou en te ontwikkel; en, Sihlonipha labo abasebenzileko ekwakhiweni nekuthuthukisweni kwephasi lekhethu; begodu, Siyabahlonela abo baye basebenzela ukwakha nokuphucula ilizwe lethu; kwaye, Sihlonipha labo abasebenzele ukwakha nokuthuthukisa izwe lethu; futhi, Sihlonipha labo labaye basebentela kwakha nekutfutfukisa live lakitsi; futsi, Re hlompha bao ba ilego ba katanela go aga le go hlabolla naga ya gaborena; mme, Re tlotla ba ileng ba sebeletsa ho aha le ho ntshetsa pele naha ya rona; mme, Re tlotla ba ba diretseng go aga le go tlhabolola naga ya rona; mme, Ri ṱhonifha havho vhe vha shuma vha tshi itela u fhaṱa na u bveledzisa shango ḽashu; na, Hi hlonipha lava tirheke ku aka no hluvukisa tiko ra hina; no. 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