Difference between revisions of "Languages of South Africa"
| (4 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
| − | According to the ''[[ | + | According to the ''[[Wikipedia]]'' entry on "Languages of South Africa"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa], it is estimated that at least 35 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]]. |
| − | 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]]. | + | 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== | ||
| + | |||
| + | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Return to == | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries]] | ||
| − | + | Return to [[South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries]] | |
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries]] | ||
| − | + | Return to [[South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries]] | |
| − | + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | |
| − | + | Return to [[Main Page]] | |
| − | + | ||
Latest revision as of 16:52, 9 April 2025
The languages spoken in South Africa
According to the Wikipedia entry on "Languages of South Africa"[1], it is estimated that at least 35 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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
