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Shona Shona (or chiShona) 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, namely Zezuru, Karanga, Manyika, Ndau and Korekore. Shona is a principal language of Zimbabwe, along with Ndebeleand the official language, English. Shona is spoken by a large percentage of the people in Zimbabwe and spoken by a substantial number of people in Mozambique. Other countries that host Shona language speakers are Zambia and Botswana. The total number of Shona speakers is at least 20,000,000 or more.  Shona is a written standard language with an orthography and grammar that was codified during the early 20th century and fixed in the 1950s. The first novel in Shona, Solomon Mutswairo's Feso, was published in 1957. Shona is taught in the schools but is not the general medium of instruction in other subjects. It has a literature and is described through monolingual and bilingual dictionaries (chiefly Shona - English). Modern Shona is based on the dialect spoken by the Karanga people of Masvingo Province, the region around Great Zimbabwe, and Zezuru people of central and northern Zimbabwe. However, all Shona dialects are officially considered to be of equal significance and are taught in local schools. Shona is a member of the great family of Bantu languages. In Guthrie's zonal classification of Bantu languages, zone S10 designates a dialect continuum of closely related varieties, including Shona proper, Manyika, Nambya, and Ndau, spoken in Zimbabwe and central Mozambique; Tawara and Tewe, found in Mozambique; and Ikalanga of Botswana. Shona speakers most likely moved into present day Zimbabwe during the great Bantu expansion. Before the invasion of the White English settlers, the Shona were pushed north by the Ndebeles. The speakers of the Karanga dialect were absorbed into the Ndebele culture and language.  Shona Dialects  There are many dialect differences in Shona, but a standardized dialect is recognized. According to information from Ethnologue: Hwesa dialect Karanga dialect (Chikaranga). Spoken in southern Zimbabwe, near Masvingo. Subdialects Duma, Jena, Mhari (Mari), Ngova, Venda [not the Venda language), Nyubi, Govera. Zezuru dialect (Chizezuru, Bazezuru, Bazuzura, Mazizuru, Vazezuru, Wazezuru). Spoken in Mashonaland and central Zimbabwe, near Harare. The standard language. Subdialects Shawasha, Gova, Mbire, Tsunga, Kachikwakwa, Harava, Nohwe, Njanja, Nobvu, Kwazvimba (Zimba). Korekore dialect (Northern Shona, Goba, Gova, Shangwe). Spoken in northern Zimbabwe, near Mvurwi. Subdialects: Budya, Gova, Tande, Tavara, Nyongwe, Pfunde, Shan Gwe. Languages with partial intelligibility with Shona, of which the speakers are considered to be ethnically Shona, are the Ndau language, spoken in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and the Manyika language, spoken in eastern Zimbabwe, near Mutare. Ndau literacy material has been introduced into primary schools.  Ndebele Ndebele is related to the Nguni language of Zulu spoken in South Africa. When Mzilikazi and his people separated from the Zulu, they took the Zulu language with them. Part of them remained in the region of modern Pretoria. They are now the South Ndebele. Their language combines Zulu and Sotho-Tswana elements taken over from the neighbouring peoples. The major part of the Ndebele went northward into present-day Zimbabwe. Therefore their language is Nguni without Sotho-Tswana elements. Ndebele has several unusual sounds. There are three clicks: c (IPA: ?) - sounds like the "tsk" noise made when pulling your tongue away from your front teeth q (IPA: ?) - a clucking noise made by pulling your tongue away from the roof of your mouth x (IPA: ?)- the sound we might use to call a dog; made on the side of your mouth Other interesting sounds include: hl (IPA: ?) - form your mouth to say an "l" but say an "h" instead Northern Ndebele is also spoken in the Limpopo province. It is not an official language, but recognised by PANSLAB as there are a significant number of people speaking it as a first language. Areas where the language is spoken as a first language includes Mokopane, which was previously known as Potgietersrus and Polokwane which was known as Pietersburg. Furthermore, Northern Ndebele is spoken in Gauteng in areas such as Hammanskraal and Soshanguvhe in Pretoria.  |