Difference between revisions of "Languages of South Africa"
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| − | According to the ''[[Wikpedia]]'' entry on "Languages of South Africa"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa], at least thirty-five languages are spoken in South Africa. '''Twelve''' of these are declared official languages of the country, the rest made up of a range of unofficial and marginalised languages (among which some of Southern Africa's oldest) and immigrant languages from Europe, notably [[Dutch]], French and German. | + | According to the ''[[Wikpedia]]'' entry on "Languages of South Africa"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa], at least thirty-five languages are spoken in South Africa. '''Twelve''' of these are declared official languages of the country, the rest made up of a range of unofficial and marginalised languages (among which some of Southern Africa's oldest languages), informal languages like [[Tsotsitaal]] and various immigrant languages from Europe, notably [[Dutch]], French and German. |
| − | Under colonial rule [[Dutch]] and [[English]] were | + | Under colonial rule [[Dutch]] and [[English]] were initially used as primary means of communication by the colonists and with the coming of the [[Union of South Africa]] became the official languages, till 1925, when [[Afrikaans]] replaced [[Dutch]]. |
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| + | The official languages since 1994 are: [[Afrikaans]], [[English]], [[Ndebele]], [[Pedi]], [[Sotho]], [[South African Sign Language]] (added in 2023), [[Swazi]], [[Tsonga]], [[Tswana]], [[Venda]], [[Xhosa]] and [[Zulu]]. While all official languages are equal in legal status. English is used as the primary language parliamentary and state discourse. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Revision as of 06:29, 9 April 2025
The languages spoken in South Africa
According to the Wikpedia entry on "Languages of South Africa"[1], at least thirty-five languages are spoken in South Africa. Twelve of these are declared official languages of the country, the rest made up of a range of unofficial and marginalised languages (among which some of Southern Africa's oldest languages), informal languages like Tsotsitaal and various immigrant languages from Europe, notably Dutch, French and German.
Under colonial rule Dutch and English were initially used as primary means of communication by the colonists and with the coming of the Union of South Africa became the official languages, till 1925, when Afrikaans replaced Dutch.
The official languages since 1994 are: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, South African Sign Language (added in 2023), Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. While all official languages are equal in legal status. English is used as the primary language parliamentary and state discourse.
Sources
at least thirty-five languages are spoken currently in South Africa, twelve of which are official languages of South Africa, the rest made up of : Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, South African Sign Language, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, and English
Engl, which is the primary language used in parliamentary and state discourse, though all official languages are equal in legal status. In addition, South African Sign Language was recognised as the twelfth official language of South Africa by the National Assembly on 3 May 2023.
