Sukuma, Nyamwezi
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Categories: Languages, Tanzania
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
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)
2. Where Spoken / Localisation géographique
They are spoken in western Tanzania. (Webbook)
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)
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
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
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
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
8. Localisation resources / Ressources pour localisation
8.1 Individuals (experts) / Individuelles (experts)
8.2 Institutions / Institutions
8.3 On the internet / Sur la toile
9. Comments / Remarques
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