Languages of Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
The three official languages of Zimbabwe
are Shona
(or chiShona), Ndebele
(or SiNdebele), and English
. There are also other indigenous languages of Zimbabwe such as Tonga
, Nambya, Kalanga, Sotho, Venda
and Xangani. There is an official position, albeit not backed by evidence, that approximately 85% of the population is Shona speaking and speaks Shona as their first language. Also it is said that around 15% are Matebele and speak Ndebele as their first language. These statistices have been officialised yet Zimbabwe has never conducted a census that enumerated people according to ethnic groups/tribes. As such while it is agreed that the Shona speaking people constitute the majority, they are certainly not as many as 85% as the official position alleges.
All three languages are acceptable in education, government, etc. but English is traditionally used for official business. It serves as a common language for most Zimbabweans. From around fourth grade, schooling is conducted almost entirely in English.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
are Shona
Shona language
Shona is a Bantu language, native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe and southern Zambia; the term is also used to identify peoples who speak one of the Shona language dialects: Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore...
(or chiShona), Ndebele
Northern Ndebele language
The Northern Ndebele language, isiNdebele, or Ndebele is an African language belonging to the Nguni group of Bantu languages, and spoken by the Ndebele or Matabele people of Zimbabwe. It is commonly known as Sindebele....
(or SiNdebele), 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...
. There are also other indigenous languages of Zimbabwe such as Tonga
Tonga language (Zambia)
The Tonga language of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a Bantu Language primarily spoken by the Tonga people in those countries who live mainly in the Southern and Western provinces of Zambia, and in northern Zimbabwe, with a few in Mozambique. The language is also spoken by the Tonga, Ila, Iwe, Toka and...
, Nambya, Kalanga, Sotho, Venda
Venda language
Venda, also known as or , is a Bantu language and an official language of South Africa. The majority of Venda speakers live in the northern part of South Africa's Limpopo Province, but about 10% of speakers live in Zimbabwe. The Venda language is related to Kalanga which is spoken in Botswana...
and Xangani. There is an official position, albeit not backed by evidence, that approximately 85% of the population is Shona speaking and speaks Shona as their first language. Also it is said that around 15% are Matebele and speak Ndebele as their first language. These statistices have been officialised yet Zimbabwe has never conducted a census that enumerated people according to ethnic groups/tribes. As such while it is agreed that the Shona speaking people constitute the majority, they are certainly not as many as 85% as the official position alleges.
All three languages are acceptable in education, government, etc. but English is traditionally used for official business. It serves as a common language for most Zimbabweans. From around fourth grade, schooling is conducted almost entirely in English.