Rwanda, Rundi
< Runyakitara | Major Languages | Sango >
Categories: Languages, Burundi, Rwanda
On this page... (hide)
- 1. Classification / Classification
- 2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique
- 3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs
- 4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte
- 5. Usage / Utilisation
- 6. Orthography / Orthographe
- 7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC
- 8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation
- 9. Comments / Remarques
- 10. References / Références
Kinyarwanda, Kirundi
1. Classification / Classification
Ruanda and Rundi (properly, Kinyarwanda and Kirundi) are of the Rwanda-Rundi Group of Bantu (Guthrie D60). (Webbook). Note: English Wikipedia lists Rwanda as D61 and Rundi as D62
Ethnologue lists the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Rwanda-Rundi (J.60)
2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique
They are the mutually intelligible national languages of Rwanda and Burundi, respectively. Ruanda is also spoken in Tanzania, Uganda, and Dem. Rep. of the Congo (DRC); Rundi is also spoken in Uganda. (Webbook)
3. Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs
According to Ethnologue:
- Rwanda
- 6,491,700 in Rwanda (1998)
- 532,692 in Uganda (1991 census)
- 250,000 in DRC (UBS)
- Population total all countries: 7,275,292
- Rundi
- 4,600,000 in Burundi (1986)
- 100,903 in Uganda (1991 census)
- Population total all countries: 4,850,903
4. Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte
Kimenyi (1983) states that the three major ethnic groups in both countries share the same language and culture. (Webbook)
According to Ethnologue:
- Rwanda:
- Bwisha (Kinyabwisha) [R]
- Mulenge (Kinyamulenge) [R]
- Twa [R,U]
- Rufumbira [U]
- Rundi: Dialects of the Hutu and Tutsi are similar. Twa is distinct but all are inherently intelligible, and also intelligible with Kinyarwanda (Rwanda)
5. Usage / Utilisation
They are official languages.
Literacy rate of Rundi speakers (according to Ethnologue, accessed 2007):
- L1: 55%
- L2: ?
6. Orthography / Orthographe
6.1 Status / Statut
A standardized orthography has existed since the 1940s, although Goldsmith (personal communication, 1985) notes that the Roman Catholic and Protestant missions use "slightly different orthographic systems." (Webbook) [Not clear whether this refers to both Kinyarwanda and Kirundi, or if one of them, which one]
A standardised spelling system for Kinyarwanda has been in use since the 1940s, though the spelling used by Roman Catholic and Protestant missions differ somewhat. (Omniglot)
There has been a standardised spelling system for Kirundi since the 1940s, though Roman Catholic and Protestant missions use slightly different systems. (Omniglot)
6.2 Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple
Omniglot lists this alphabet (including digraphs) for Kinyarwanda at http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kinyarwanda.htm :
a b c cy d e f g h i j jy k l m n nk nt ny o p r s sh t u v w y z
Omniglot lists this alphabet (including digraphs) for Kirundi at http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kirundi.php :
a b c cy d e f g h i j jy k l m mp n nk nt ny o p r s sh shy t u v w y z
Sample texts are shown on the "Language Museum" site as follows (these may or may not reflect current standards and use):
7. Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC
7.1 Fonts / Polices
Standard Latin fonts will suffice.
7.2 Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier
7.3 Content on computers & internet / Contenu en informatique et sur l'Internet
Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- (rw) ITANGAZO RYAMAMAZA HOSE AGACIRO K'UMUNTU http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/rua1.htm
- (rn) 7IBIMENYESHEJWE N'AMAKUNGU KU NGINGO ZUBAHIRIZA ZINA MUNTU WESE http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/rud1.htm
Wikipedia in:
- Kinyarwanda http://rw.wikipedia.org/ (37 articles as of 5-2007)
- Kirundi http://rn.wikipedia.org/ (11 articles as of 5-2007)
7.4 Localized software / Logiciels localisés
An OpenOffice localisation effort for Kinyarwanda has been underway since 2003.
7.5 Language codes / Codes de langue
Rwanda (Kinyarwanda)
- ISO 639-1: rw
- ISO 639-2: kin
- ISO 639-3: kin
Rundi (Kirundi)
- ISO 639-1: rn
- ISO 639-2: run
- ISO 639-3: run
7.6 Other / Autre
There is an effort to develop an online Kinyarwanda dictionary (a meeting about this was held at Yale University [US] on 2006/12/14-15; see http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/african/events.shtml )
8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation
8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)
Software localisation
- Stephen Holt
Online dictionary
- Ibulaimu Kakoma, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Geoffrey Rugege, Grambling State University
- Martin Benjamin, Kamusi
8.2 Institutions / Institutions
8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile
Open-Tran.eu supports Kinyarwanda http://rw.open-tran.eu
9. Comments / Remarques
Given the importance and similarity of these two languages, it would make sense to harmonise translations used in localisation, if not to consolidate them.
10. References / Références
Becker, David. 2004. "Se habla open source?" CNET News.com, February 16, 2004, http://news.com.com/2100-7344_3-5159179.html [discusses early stages of Kinyarwanda localisation of OpenOffice
Dwyer, David (1997), Webbook of African Languages, http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/hiermenu.html (page on "Rwanda/Rundi," http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/Ruanda_root.html )
Omniglot, "Kinyarwanda (Ikinyarwanda)," http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kinyarwanda.htm
______, "Kirundi (íkiRǔndi)," http://www.omniglot.com/writing/kirundi.php
SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Rundi," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/run
______, "Rwanda," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/kin
SIL International, "ISO 639 Code Tables," http://www-01.sil.org/iso639-3/codes.asp
U.S. Library of Congress, "ISO 639.2: Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages: Alpha-3 codes arranged alphabetically by the English name of language," http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/English_list.php
Wikipedia, "Ikinyarwanda," https://rw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikinyarwanda
______, "Ikirundi," https://rn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikirundi
______, "Kinyarwanda," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinyarwanda
______, "Kinyarwanda," https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinyarwanda
______, "Kirundi," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirundi
______, "Kirundi," https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirundi
______, "Langues rwanda-rundi," https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langues_rwanda-rundi
______, "Rwanda-Rundi," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda-Rundi
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