African Languages

1
African Languages

• Official Languages

Official Languages
Language Groups
2
South Africa

• 9 of 11 official languages native to SA
• Zulu most spoken followed by Xhosa
• English and Afrikaans from European colonization

3
Zulu

• isiZulu is the language of SAs largest ethnic
  group, the Zulu people.
• Most widely understood language in SA.
• Related to Xhosa.

4
Xhosa

• isiXhosa is the second largest language in SA.
• First language of Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu
  and Miriam Makeba.
• From the Bantu language family.

5
Xhosa Personalities
Desmond Tutu Archbishop 1984 Nobel Peace Prize
Winner
Miriam Makeba Mama Afrika Singer
Nelson Mandela President of South Africa 1994-1999
6
English

• 45 of population has working knowledge of
  English.
• Influenced by Afrikaans and native languages.
• Countrys lingua franca and spoken most often in
  government and business and schools.

7
Afrikaans

• Roots in 17th century Dutch.
• Most spoken in the Cape district by white South
  Africans.
• Seen by many as an instrument of apartheid.
• Influenced by Malay and Portuguese traders who
  stopped in S.A.

8
South African National Anthem

• Adopted in 1997 and combines English lyrics to
  songs in Afrikaans and Xhosa.
• Uses 5 of the languages spoken in SA.
• Also called Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika (God Bless
  Africa)