Sukuma, Nyamwezi

1.  Classification / Classification

Sukuma and Nyamwezi, which form a dialect continuum, are placed in the Sukuma-Nyamwezi Group of Bantu (Guthrie F20). (Webbook?)

Ethnologue? lists the classification as: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, F, Sukuma-Nyamwezi (F.20)

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2.  Where Spoken / Localisation géographique

They are spoken in western Tanzania. (Webbook)

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3.  Number of Speakers / Nombre de locuteurs

According to Ethnologue:

• Sukuma: 3,200,000 (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)
• Nyamwezi: 1,200,000 (2001 Johnstone and Mandryk)

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4.  Dialect Survey / Enquête de dialecte

According to Ethnologue:

• Sukuma (Dialects contiguous with Nyamwezi are intelligible with it.)
  • Kiya
  • Gwe (Kigwe)
• Nyamwezi
  • Nyanyembe
  • Takama (Garaganza)
  • Mweri (Sumbwa, Konongo, Kiya)

Lexical similarity between Sukuma and Nyamwezi is 84%. Other languages in the same classification have 61% or less lexical similarity with Sukuma and or Nyamwezi: Sumbwa, Nyaturu, Kimbu, Nilamba, Langi

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5.  Usage / Utilisation

The Sukuma-Nyamwezi cluster constitutes regional languages in Tanzania. At least one major newspaper, Lumuli, is published in this language (Sukuma dialect) in Tanzania. (Webbook)

Notes from Ethnologue:

• Language use of both Sukuma and Nyamwezi is described as "vigorous"
• (Sukuma) A few young people in cities do not speak Sukuma. In the country the young people borrow more Swahili in their Sukuma

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6.  Orthography / Orthographe

6.1  Status / Statut

A standardized Latin-based orthography exists for both. (Webbook)

6.2  Sample Alphabet / Alphabet exemple

The "Language Museum" site has text samples for:

• Nyamwezi http://www.language-museum.com/n/nyamwezi.htm
• Sukuma http://www.language-museum.com/s/sukuma.htm
• Sukuma (Gwe) http://www.language-museum.com/s/sukuma-gwe.htm

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7.  Use in ICT / Utilisation dans les TIC

7.1  Fonts / Polices

Latin fonts without extended ranges (such as commonly used for English) will suffice. [verify!]

7.2  Keyboard layouts / Dispositions de clavier

An English keyboard can be used. [verify!]

7.3  Content on computers & internet / Contenu en informatique et sur l'Internet

7.4  Localized software / Logiciels localisés

Not aware of any localisation efforts.

7.5  Language codes / Codes de langue

Nyamwezi

• ISO 639-1: -
• ISO 639-2: nym
• ISO 639-3: nym

Sukuma

• ISO 639-1: -
• ISO 639-2: suk
• ISO 639-3: suk

7.6  Other / Autre

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8.  Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation

8.1  Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)

8.2  Institutions / Institutions

8.3  On the internet / Sur la toile

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9.  Comments / Remarques

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10.  References / Références

Dwyer, David (1997), Webbook of African Languages, http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/hiermenu.html (page on "Sukuma/Nyamwezi," http://www.isp.msu.edu/AfrLang/Sukuma_root.html )

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Nyamwezi," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/nym

______, "Sukuma," http://www.ethnologue.com/language/suk

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, "Nyamwezi language," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyamwezi_language

______, "Sukuma language," https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukuma_language

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Categories: Languages, Tanzania