Swazi language
Swati (also known as Swazi) (Swazi: SiSwati) is part of the Nguni group of Bantu languages. It is spoken by about 1.5 million people in Eswatini and South Africa. It is the official language of Eswatini and one of the eleven official languages in South Africa. It is taught in the schools of Eswatini, and in some South African schools. Swati is closely related to Phuthi, a language spoken in Lesotho, and to Zulu, Ndebele and Xhosa.
| Swazi | |
|---|---|
| SiSwati | |
| Native to | Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique |
| Native speakers | 2.3 million (2006–2011)e18 2.4 million L2 speakers in South Africa (2002)[1] |
| Language family | |
| Writing system | Latin (Swazi alphabet) Swazi Braille |
| Official status | |
| Official language in | Eswatini South Africa |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-1 | ss |
| ISO 639-2 | ssw |
| ISO 639-3 | ssw |
| Guthrie code | S.43[2] |
| Linguasphere | 99-AUT-fe |
Swati has four main varietes: Shiselweni, Hhohho, Manzini and Shiselweni. They correspond with the four administrative regions of Eswatini.
Swazi Language Media
Geographical distribution of Swazi in South Africa: proportion of the population that speaks Swazi at home.*Template:Legend-col*
Screenshot of the Swazi-language Wikipedia
References
 |
This language has its own Wikipedia project. See the Swazi language edition. |
- ↑ Webb, Vic. 2002. "Language in South Africa: the role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development." Impact: Studies in language and society, 14:78
- ↑ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
